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VASER LIPOSUCTION · LITTLE ROCK, AR
Liposuction
Stubborn fat that survives a good diet and a real exercise habit is not a discipline problem. Some deposits do not respond to either, and liposuction is the only thing that removes them. Dr. Homayoun Pournik, a fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon, performs ultrasound-assisted liposuction using the VASER® LipoSelection system at the practice’s accredited Little Rock surgery center.
1–5 hrs
Depending on areas treated
~ 2-3 days
Back to normal activity for many patients
3-6 mos
Final results once swelling resolves
Where liposuction works
Liposuction is versatile enough to target nearly any area holding stubborn fat. A small incision near the area lets a thin hollow tube called a cannula suction the fat cells out. It is not a treatment for obesity and not a substitute for diet and exercise; it is what handles what those two cannot.
TORSO
Abdomen, waist, flanks, back
The most requested areas, and the reason Lipo 360 exists; the front of the abdomen is rarely the only place holding on.
LIMBS
Hips, thighs, upper arms, knees
Areas where fat sits stubbornly regardless of training, and where precision matters more than volume.
ABOVE & BELOW
Neck, chin, chest, buttocks
Includes male breast reduction, and the delicate work under the chin where LipoSelection’s precision does the most.
One system, several techniques
The practice performs ultrasound-assisted tumescent liposuction using the VASER® LipoSelection system. VASER combines ultrasound energy with tumescent liposuction to break up and emulsify fat cells before they are suctioned out. It targets fat specifically and leaves other tissue intact, which minimizes trauma, simplifies recovery, and makes the skin easier to smooth. Patients report less pain and bruising than with traditional tumescent liposuction, and it allows precision in delicate areas, upper and lower abdomen, buttocks, inner thighs, back, arms, chin, and neck.
Lipo 360°
A 360-degree treatment covering the entire torso: front, sides, and back. For most people the front of the abdomen is not the only trouble area, and treating it alone leaves the problem half-solved. One of the most popular options here.
- Treats: the whole torso
- Best for: circumferential fat
- Popular: yes
VASER Hi-Def™ Liposculpture
Removes superficial and deep fat cells around muscle groups so the underlying musculature becomes visible. Produces a sculpted, athletic result rather than simply a smaller one. Requires advanced training.
- Treats: fat around muscle groups
- Best for: an athletic result
- Requires: advanced training
SmartLipo
The first laser-assisted liposuction procedure. A laser guided through a small cannula liquefies fat deposits, and the laser energy also interacts with the dermis to smooth and tighten skin; reducing the looseness that can follow traditional liposuction. Less swelling, bleeding, and bruising, and a quicker recovery.
- Treats: fat plus skin laxity
- Best for: skin tightening alongside
- Recovery: quicker
Liposuction with fat transfer
A two-for-one. Fat is harvested with a very thin cannula and low suction to keep the cells intact, spun in a centrifuge to separate whole cells from damaged ones, then injected to add volume elsewhere; face, breasts, or buttocks. A natural alternative to implants.
- Treats: fat, then adds volume
- Best for: a natural alternative to implants
- Cross-link: BBL
Are you a candidate?
Liposuction fine-tunes your shape when healthy habits alone are not getting you there. It is designed for people already close to their ideal weight who want a smoother, more sculpted look in specific areas, the finishing touch that lets you actually see the work you have already done.
The general guidelines:
- A BMI under 30.
- Within 30% of your ideal weight.
- In good overall health.
- Sufficient skin elasticity.
- Not smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
- Not pregnant or nursing.
- At least 18 years old.
Not everyone is a good candidate. If your skin does not contract properly after surgery, you can be left with drooping, sagging tissue, and additional body contouring may be needed afterward. Dr. Pournik will tell you which of those you are at consultation.
Worried about loose skin?
Skin laxity is the thing that decides whether liposuction alone gets you the result. Two options can be performed during the same procedure.
- Renuvion
Helium plasma energy delivers an instant tightening effect without the large incisions and tissue removal that surgical skin tightening requires, and spurs collagen production. Light activity at 2 to 3 days; results improve over 3 to 6 months. - Quantum RF
Radiofrequency energy delivered deep into tissue via a specialized wand, stimulating collagen and elastin while reducing small fat deposits. Immediate tightening, continued improvement over 3 to 6 months, minimal downtime.
What to expect on procedure day
Liposuction is performed at the practice’s accredited Little Rock surgery center under general anesthesia, as an outpatient procedure; you go home the same day. Length depends on how many areas are treated and how large they are: as little as an hour, up to four or five for extensive contouring or when combined with other surgery.
Dr. Pournik makes a few small, discreet incisions near the treatment areas. A cannula goes through these to gently loosen and remove the fat by suction. Once the contour is right, the incisions are closed and covered with small dressings, and a compression garment is applied to minimize swelling and support the new shape as you heal.
- Maintain a stable, healthy weight before surgery.
- Stop smoking at least several weeks before and after surgery to promote healing.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements; NSAIDs, vitamin E, fish oil, St. John’s wort and others, as directed.
- Arrange transportation to and from your procedure, and have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours.
- Set up a recovery space at home with pillows, entertainment, and other essentials within reach.
Recovery and results
Follow the instructions as given over the course of about twelve months. Modern technique has a significantly lower impact on the body than traditional liposuction, but it still takes a few days.
- FIRST FEW DAYS
Rest. Mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness are normal and subside fairly quickly. Discomfort is generally described as similar to sunburn, and is controlled with prescribed medication. - DAYS 2 TO 3
Many patients return to normal activity. - WEEK 1
A post-surgery visit to confirm you are healing properly and on track. - 2 WEEKS
Strenuous physical activity stays off the table until at least this point, or until you are cleared. - WEEKS 4 TO 6
Noticeable results as swelling decreases and the new contours emerge. - MONTHS 4 TO 6
Final results as residual swelling fully resolves. Follow-up as needed; enjoy a long-lasting outcome. - MONTHS 3 TO 6
Final results, once all swelling has resolved. The removed fat cells are gone for good, but the remaining ones can still enlarge with weight gain, so a stable weight is what protects the result.
Why choose a board-certified surgeon
The surgeon you choose is the single biggest factor in a safe, natural result. Dr. Pournik is certified by the American Board of Surgery, and that surgical training, combined with a conservative approach to anesthesia, works to protect your outcome and keep any risk as low as possible.
Liposuction is a well-established procedure with a long safety record. As with any surgery, uncommon complications are possible, and Dr. Pournik reviews your specific risks with you at consultation so you can decide with full, honest information.
WHAT SETS DR. POURNIK APART
- Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery
- Specialized training in body contouring and fat removal techniques
- Treatment plan built around your body type and goals, not a one-size template
- Conservative, safety-first approach to anesthesia
Combining with other procedures
Liposuction is frequently one part of a plan. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and repairs abdominal muscles that liposuction cannot touchm, popular after pregnancy or significant weight loss. A mommy makeover combines liposuction with breast work and a tummy tuck. And after major weight loss, liposuction runs alongside other body contouring and skin tightening to clear the remaining fat while the excess skin is removed. That last group is where Dr. Pournik’s fellowship was concentrated.
WHY CHOOSE DR. POURNIK
Homayoun Pournik, MD
Liposuction rewards judgment about tissue more than it rewards force. How much to take, where to leave it, and how the skin above will behave once the volume underneath is gone; get those wrong and the result is a contour irregularity rather than a shape.
Dr. Pournik’s cosmetic fellowship covered roughly 1,800 procedures in a single year at one of the country’s highest-volume body contouring centers, with high-definition liposuction among his named specialties; sculpting that respects natural anatomy, informed by a deep understanding of how tissue responds under tension. Before that, twelve years in transplant surgery: around 300 organ transplants, hundreds of robotic hernia repairs, and the first robotic kidney transplant performed in either California or North Carolina.
“It’s very hard to scare me in the operating room, because I’ve taken the engine out and put it back in.”
He asks every patient the same question at every follow-up: day one, one week, six months. Are you happy?
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
REAL PATIENTS
Before & After
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These before and after photos contain nudity. Please click/tap to view the images.
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These before and after photos contain nudity. Please click/tap to view the images.
CONTACT US
Request your liposuction consultation
Dr. Pournik will listen to your goals and your trouble areas, review your medical history, examine you, and build a plan around what you actually want. There are several tools and techniques available, and which one suits you is a conversation rather than a menu.
Frequently asked questions
An injection of a solution containing local anesthetic and epinephrine causes the treatment area to swell and become firm, and temporarily shrinks the blood vessels. The result is less bleeding, less swelling, and a shortened recovery.
Yes, but very small ones. With the right care, hardly noticeable. Avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreen are the most important things you can do to keep them virtually invisible.
Infection, bleeding, contour irregularities, fluid accumulation, or changes in skin sensation. Major complications are rare, and Dr. Pournik will go through the risks specific to you at consultation.
Liposuction removes fat only. A tummy tuck tightens skin and repairs separated abdominal muscles, and usually includes liposuction anyway. If you have stretched skin and separated muscles from weight loss or childbirth, a tummy tuck is what you need. If it is only unresponsive fat, liposuction alone may do it.
No. It removes excess fat and improves contours, but it does not address the tightened fibrous bands beneath the skin that cause the dimpling. Specialized cellulite treatments can be paired with your procedure.
You can expect swelling and soreness, but most patients describe the discomfort as similar to sunburn. Over-the-counter or prescription pain medication manages it.
The removed fat cells are gone for good. But the fat cells that remain can still enlarge with weight gain, so healthy eating and exercise are what keep the result.
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