Hagopian Plastic Surgery: Thomas Hagopian, MD
99 Krog St. NE, Unit C110
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404) 885-8542
Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Do you feel you do your best to stay in shape yet still struggle to slim down stubborn pockets of fat? You’re not alone. You can put the finishing touches on your healthy body with SAFELipo liposuction in Atlanta, GA. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Hagopian performs this evidence-based technique to help people finally reduce frustrating areas that resist even the best diet and exercise efforts.
On this page, you’ll find answers to all your questions about liposuction, from what sets SAFELipo apart to what to expect before, during, and after your surgery.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
SAFELipo is a liposuction technique that reduces fat in 3 steps:
Dr. Hagopian performs this as an outpatient procedure, typically while you are under general anesthesia.
This approach optimizes fat removal, minimizes your risk of complications, and delivers comprehensive results without the contour irregularities often associated with other techniques.
SAFELipo can effectively slim down many of the most common areas people store stubborn fat, including the:
If you are looking to add volume in one area while reducing it in another, you can have your harvested fat transferred to your buttocks via a Brazilian butt lift or your breasts via fat transfer breast augmentation.
At our Atlanta practice, the cost of SAFELipo starts at $6,000 for the abdomen and flanks. Full body liposuction (abdomen, flanks, chest, arms, back, inner thighs) starts at $9,000. The cost varies depending on the size and number of your treatment areas and other factors. After consulting with you about your goals, we will provide you with a personalized pricing estimate.
Full body lipo including arms and legs will be more than $6k (it would actually be $9k). 360 trunk will be $6k to start.
Ideal SAFELipo candidates are people in good general health who want to address localized areas of excess fat. It’s important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss treatment. Instead, think of it as a cosmetic complement to a healthy lifestyle.
Plastic surgery is the perfect field for Dr. Hagopian, who has a knack for fixing things and helping people. He’s a former firefighter/paramedic, and he had a business building highly sought-after custom taillights in medical school. He met his wife, Nurse Hagopian, at Emory University, and they bonded over many shared interests, including a commitment to exceptional patient care.
Meet Dr. Thomas Hagopian
Nurse Hagopian is an Atlanta native, a self-identified nursing ethics nerd, and an ANCC board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She’s passionate about studying informed consent, empowering fellow nurses to use their voices, and collaborating with people in addressing their aesthetic care needs.
Meet Nurse HagopianSAFELipo recovery is typically a bit shorter than the recovery for other liposuction techniques. Most people return to desk work after just a few days and feel like their usual selves again within a week. You can gradually resume your workout routine after about 2 weeks.
Liposuction incisions are typically less than a half-inch long, and while they do scar, these scars generally are very inconspicuous. We offer silicone gel strips from the Silagen® scar refinement system, laser treatments, steroid injections, and other forms of scar therapy to fade and flatten any scarring.
If you would like to learn more about shaping your silhouette in Atlanta with SAFELipo, please call (404) 885-8542 or request a consultation online. We look forward to meeting you and helping you make your cosmetic goals a reality.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
Liposuction involves the removal of fat. Someone with excess fat that hinders their personal or aesthetic goals may be a suitable candidate for liposuction. The ideal candidate for liposuction alone is a younger patient with excellent skin quality and some stubborn fat that simply won’t diminish. Ideally, this individual does not possess excessive extra skin, and their skin quality is good (no stretch marks and minimal sun damage or wrinkles).
Who is not a good candidate for liposuction?
It is important to note that liposuction is unlikely to improve a protuberant or round abdomen. The primary cause of this issue is almost always rectus abdominis diastasis, characterized by the separation of the abdominal wall muscles, or intraabdominal fat (also known as visceral fat, which accumulates around the stomach and intestines). Additionally, liposuction does not address excess skin. If you are concerned about the possibility of having extra skin following liposuction, the presence of striae (also known as stretch marks) in your area of concern may indicate the likelihood of excess skin. Typically, the skin tightens by approximately 10-15% after liposuction, and this can increase to up to 25% when BodyTite is added to the procedure.
For excess skin, the appropriate solution is a skin removal procedure (such as abdominoplasty, thigh lift, arm lift, etc.). Any questions about which procedure is right for you are best addressed during a consultation with Dr. Hagopian.
The majority of patients who come to our practice for a consultation on liposuction would also benefit from skin tightening or skin removal.
What are the biggest risks of liposuction?
Contour irregularity represents the most significant risk associated with liposuction. Occasionally, liposuction can result in lumps and bumps. I employ the SAFELipo technique, specifically designed to minimize contour irregularities; however, even with a powerful technique like SAFELipo, contour irregularities can still occur.
Another significant risk is the formation of seromas, which are fluid collections. Typically, proper compression can resolve a small seroma or prevent its formation in the first place. In other cases, seromas may need to be drained in the office. This is a painless procedure that may need to be repeated before the seroma completely dissipates. The most effective way to prevent seromas is through consistent and early application of good compression and lymphatic massage following the procedure.
How is liposuction performed at Hagopian Plastic Sugery?
Dr. Hagopian performs SAFELipo technique. You can watch our YouTube video to learn more or check out Simeon Wall’s website.
How long should I wait to workout following my procedure?
You should refrain from heavy exercise for a total of 6 weeks. At the 3-week mark, you may start engaging in light cardiovascular exercise, such as housecleaning or taking a leisurely walk. The more active you are, the more likely your body will experience swelling in the area where liposuction was performed. This is expected, normal, and will improve over time.
Is is safe to receive a massage after my liposuction?
Manual lymphatic drainage or post-operative massage is a great way to reduce swelling. You should initiate massage within 1 week after liposuction and continue receiving massages for up to 6 weeks, 1-3 times per week. This will assist you in achieving the best results and reducing swelling. We have several excellent post-operative massage practitioners we can recommend for this purpose.
What kind of compression do I need during recovery? How long do I need to wear compression?
Compression can be individualized, but our recommended level of compression is approximately 20mmHg immediately post-op. The initial post-operative garment will be provided by Marena. After 2 weeks, many patients choose to transition to a tighter garment, shaper, or faja, and we encourage this. You should wear compression continuously for 6 weeks, except when showering.
Will I be under anesthesia during my SAFELipo procedure?
For liposuction on large portions of the body, our practice prefers that our patients be asleep in the operating room under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. This approach allows our team to take their time while targeting the areas of concern. Touch-ups and minor revisions may be carried out in the office, either with the use of anti-anxiety medication or with the patient fully conscious under local anesthesia (direct numbing).
For smaller areas of liposuction, we can perform the procedure in the office with the patient awake, using tumescent anesthesia along with light sedation. This approach is comfortable and generally well tolerated for small areas, such as the chin, lower abdomen, and flanks.
