Microliposuction in Irvine and Ladera Ranch
Some small pockets of fat stay put, even at a stable weight with regular exercise. Microliposuction removes those pockets through fine cannulas, typically 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide, to refine the contour of one area. It suits patients near their ideal weight with firm, elastic skin, and it treats areas such as under the chin, the jawline, the upper arms, the inner thighs, and the lower legs. At South Coast Plastic Surgery, Dr. Mark Song performs microliposuction under local anesthesia. He is board certified in emergency medicine and has more than 36 years of medical experience. Most patients stay awake throughout.
- Board Certified in Emergency Medicine
- Local Anesthesia, Same-Day Discharge
- Personalized Treatment Plans
What is Microliposuction?
Microliposuction is a small-volume form of liposuction. It removes defined pockets of fat through microcannulas, slender suction tubes typically 1.5 to 3 millimeters in diameter. Dr. Mark Song first fills the treatment area with tumescent fluid, a dilute local anesthetic solution that numbs the tissue and narrows small blood vessels to reduce bleeding. He then passes the microcannulas through tiny entry points to remove fat cells and reshape the area.
Microliposuction is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. It uses small incisions and instruments placed beneath the skin to refine the contour of one or a few small areas. It is not a weight-loss treatment, and it cannot tighten loose skin. At your consultation, Dr. Mark Song examines the area and checks your skin elasticity. He'll tell you whether microliposuction suits your goals, and what he would recommend if it does not. If standard liposuction or a neck lift would serve you better, our board-certified plastic surgeons work in the same practice.
Why Choose South Coast Plastic Surgery for Your Microliposuction?
Dr. Mark Song is board certified in emergency medicine and has more than 36 years of medical experience, including more than 20 years in aesthetic medicine. He earned his medical degree at UC Davis and served as chief of staff at St. Jude Medical Center. Orange Coast Magazine named him a Physician of Excellence in 2005. He works alongside his son, Dr. Kyle Song, a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, so your care stays with one team and one record.
Target Small Areas That Resist Diet and Exercise
Some pockets of fat stay the same at a stable weight. Microliposuction focuses on one defined area, such as fullness under the chin or along the jawline, so the treated area sits in proportion with the rest of your body.
Stay Awake Under Local Anesthesia
Most patients stay awake, and some receive an oral medicine to help them relax. This approach can suit patients who prefer to avoid general anesthesia. Microliposuction is still surgery, so Dr. Mark Song reviews your health history and full medication list beforehand.
Tiny Entry Points, Small Scars
Entry points measure about 1.5 to 2 millimeters and sit in natural skin creases where possible. Scars usually fade over the following months, and many are barely visible after about a year.
Home the Same Day
Microliposuction is an outpatient procedure. Most patients go home the same day with a responsible adult, wearing a compression garment, and many return to desk work within a few days.
Long-Lasting Results with Stable Weight
The fat cells removed do not return. Some fat cells remain in the treated area and can still enlarge with weight gain, so a stable weight is the main way to protect your result.
One Team for the Next Step
If loose skin or a larger area is your main concern, Dr. Mark Song can refer you to Dr. Kyle Song or Dr. Paige Benyamein, both board-certified plastic surgeons, for standard liposuction or a neck lift. Your records and your care stay within the same practice.
How much does Microliposuction cost in Irvine, CA?
Your final investment depends on the number and size of the areas treated and whether Dr. Mark Song recommends combining microliposuction with another treatment. At your consultation, he builds your personalized plan, and our Patient Care Coordinators give you exact pricing.
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- —A comfortable introduction with our friendly staff
- —Comprehensive review of your goals with one of our excellent providers, examining real patient before-and-after results
- —Detailed discussion about suitable procedures tailored to your body and aesthetic desires
- —Financial consultation with our Patient Care Coordinators, Grace Crume or Cierra Brooks, covering pricing and financing options
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Microliposuction contours one or a few small areas. Professional guidance positions liposuction for people at or near their ideal body weight who want to refine a specific area. If weight loss is your goal, our wellness program, led by Natalia Srabian, FNP-BC, offers weight loss support.
Yes. Microliposuction is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. It uses small incisions and instruments placed beneath the skin, and it carries the risks of surgery, even under local anesthesia.
The principle is the same. Microliposuction uses smaller cannulas on smaller areas, usually under local anesthesia. Standard liposuction suits several areas or larger volumes and often uses general anesthesia. At consultation, Dr. Mark Song tells you which approach fits your anatomy and goals.
Dr. Mark Song marks the area, usually while you stand, and cleanses the skin. He then fills the area with tumescent local anesthetic fluid until it is numb and firm. Most patients find this step the least comfortable part. After that, patients usually feel only pressure and movement while he removes fat through tiny entry points with microcannulas. He usually leaves the entry points open so fluid can drain and dresses them before fitting your compression garment.
Usually, yes. Dr. Mark Song typically performs microliposuction under tumescent local anesthesia. Some patients receive an oral medicine to help them relax. If you receive one, arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home.
Common areas include under the chin, the neck and jawline, the upper arms, the inner and outer thighs, the hips, small areas of the abdomen and flanks, the back and bra line, the inner knees, and the calves and ankles.
No. Liposuction removes fat and cannot improve loose skin. If loose skin is your main concern, Dr. Mark Song may refer you to one of our plastic surgeons to discuss a neck lift or Renuvion skin tightening instead of, or alongside, fat removal.
Expect bruising and soreness similar to a deep bruise for the first few days, plus some fluid drainage from the entry points. Many patients return to desk work within a few days, depending on their job and the areas treated. Bruising is usually gone by about four to five weeks, and swelling keeps settling over several months.
Yes. You wear a compression garment or, for the chin and neck, a chin and neck support, usually day and night at first. Most patients wear it for one to four weeks in total, about two weeks on average.
Walk gently from the first day to support circulation. Most patients return to exercise gradually over weeks two to four, once Dr. Mark Song clears them. Avoid strenuous exercise until then.
You may notice an improved contour soon after the procedure, but swelling hides the final result at first. A clearer result often shows at around three months, and some swelling can come and go with activity for six to nine months.
The fat cells removed do not return. Some fat cells remain in the treated area and can still enlarge with weight gain, and the body tends to store extra weight in other areas. Keeping a stable weight is the main way to protect your result. Pregnancy can also change results, so talk to Dr. Mark Song about timing if you plan a pregnancy.
Yes, but they are small. Entry points measure about 1.5 to 2 millimeters and sit in natural creases where possible. Scars usually fade significantly over the following months and are often barely visible after about a year. Visible scarring and dark or light spots at entry points are more likely on darker skin.
Bruising, swelling, soreness, and temporary firmness are expected. Less common risks include contour irregularity (uneven or lumpy areas), asymmetry, fluid collection (seroma), blood collection (hematoma), changes in skin color, infection, and visible scars. Rare but serious risks include local anesthetic toxicity and blood clots. Chin and neck treatment carries a small risk of temporary weakness in the nerve that moves the lower lip, reported in five of 987 patients in one study. Published complication rates for liposuction vary by study, from 0.16% in one large series under local anesthesia to pooled rates of 2.62% and 12% in two reviews of liposuction generally. Dr. Mark Song reviews your personal risk at consultation.
Dr. Mark Song reviews your medical and bleeding history and your full list of medications and supplements before treatment, because some medicines change how the body clears local anesthetic. He keeps the local anesthetic within weight-based dose limits. You may need blood tests or a pregnancy test beforehand. After treatment, report fever, spreading redness, increasing pain, calf pain or swelling, shortness of breath, or weakness of the lower lip right away.
Good candidates are in good general health, at or close to a stable, healthy weight, with a small, well-defined pocket of fat and firm, elastic skin. Not smoking is required. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy soon, Dr. Mark Song will usually advise waiting.
Microliposuction is a cosmetic procedure, so insurance does not usually cover it. Our Patient Care Coordinators can walk you through pricing at your consultation.
We offer financing options to help you plan. See our pricing and financing page, or ask our Patient Care Coordinators at your consultation.
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