Liposuction Expertise: Dr. Thomas Su's Approach

Dr. Thomas Su on Awake 360° Lipedema Liposuction, Staging, Recovery, and Insurance ChallengesHosts Cindy and Kristy introduce Dr. Thomas Su of Art Lipo in Tampa. Dr. Su describes training in internal medicine, a fine arts background, and 20 years specializing in circumferential, high-definition arm and leg liposuction, evolving from cosmetic work to lipedema cases starting around 2017. He explains why he prefers awake, office-based procedures using local anesthetic and nitrous oxide, notes lipedema “staging” reflects size more than symptom severity, and outlines how larger cases may require multiple surgeries or hospital-based large-volume surgeons. He details his photo-based consult process with hand-drawn visual “renders,” typical recovery marked by swelling for months, a ~3-month minimum between blended leg procedures, two-week minimum compression (provided by his office), selective use of MLD for severe swelling, and ongoing insurance denial tactics despite pending coding changes.00:00 Show Introduction00:55 Sponsor Message01:42 Meet Dr Thomas Su03:49 Training And Credentials06:46 Circumferential Technique07:42 Stages And Case Limits13:42 Awake Office Surgery16:32 Why Lipedema Work20:50 Loose Skin Challenges22:26 Complete Removal Skills25:43 Consultation Process26:25 Visualizing New Shape28:44 Surgery Staging Strategy30:52 Insurance Coverage Reality37:44 Recovery and Swelling40:08 Timing Between Procedures42:10 Compression Guidelines47:28 MLD and Fibrosis Debate50:03 Advice and Farewell Follow us on Social media!!! Kristy's Contact information: IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dellalunawellness/⁠⁠⁠ FB Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1F3pseJKUd/?mibextid=wwXIfr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website Kristy Dellacroce, MS,OTR/L, MLD-C ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dellalunawellness.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lipedema Advocate 856-297-7437 Cindy contact information ⁠FB:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/withcindyhowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Private FB Group:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/7021999704562921⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_withcindyhowell/⁠⁠⁠ Cindy Howell RN, CLT, MPHC Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.withcindyhowell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lipedema advocate: 860-550-1161 Top 5 Foods to Avoid for Managing Lipedema! Link:⁠⁠⁠ https://withcindyhowell.com/checklist/⁠⁠⁠ Free surgery course:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.bttr.to/6cATB⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/stronger_than_lipedema_podcast/ This episode is proudly sponsored by Lipoelastic Compression ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lipoelastic_usa/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lipoelastic/⁠⁠ https://artlipo.com/https://www.instagram.com/artlipo_lipedema_surgery/https://www.facebook.com/ArtLipoLipedemaSurgery/ https://www.tiktok.com/@artlipo_lipedema_surgery https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNh7wlWroshm5vVwbWNfExQ