Information about Liposuction / Liposculpture
Liposuction or liposculpture removes pockets of unwanted fat cells from specific areas like thighs, hips, abdomen, knees, neck and upper arms. This fat removal surgery is completed through a stainless steel suction tube called cannula. This body contouring surgery varies according to the cosmetic aim and the possibility of combining liposuction with other plastic surgery procedures.
Many advances in liposuction procedures have been made in the last decades, making it one of the safest and most popular in the world.
The ideal candidates for Liposuction:
• The finest candidates for liposuction or liposculpture are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin, physically healthy and psychologically stable. And, at the same time, have specific “trouble areas” such as the tummy, thighs, and butt that will not respond to changes in diet and exercise.
• A person who expects realistic expectation of submitting liposuction. Although dramatic results may be achieved, they may not be as immediate or obvious as it is estimated.
• Liposuction improves the silhouette of the body, but does not necessarily eliminate the pre-existing subtle "puckering" of the skin that is often referred to as "cellulite."
• The removing of an amount of fat, relatively small compared to a person's total body weight from a woman's saddlebag area or from a man's love handle area, may produce a dramatic change in the patient's silhouette.
Liposuction is not appropriate for people with a weakened immune system, diabetes, heart or artery problems, or a history of blood clots or restricted blood flow.
• Liposculpture is also appropriate for women who are considering breast reduction, and for men who suffer from gynecomastia, or male breast development.
• In case of obesity, usually the patient regain the weight that is removed by liposuction unless there is a dramatic reduction in calorie intake (by dieting) or a significant increase in calorie expenditure (by exercising). Whenever used, it is dangerous to remove more than 8 to 10 pounds of fat by liposuction in a single day. In consequence, liposuction is reasonable but not the main treatment, nor the solution in the effort to lose weight. Liposuction in an obese patient is reasonable when the goal is to improve a troublesome body contour area.
• Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.
The procedure
For making the Liposuction is used a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula (which is an specific tub or cane). First of all, the most common technique (tumescent technique) works by introducing proscribed amounts of a special fluid under the skin. This fluid causes the fat swelling which facilitates the removing process. This fluid also anesthetized and constricts blood flow to the area to reduce blood loss. Due to the modest blood loss, there is minimal bruising. Medication is also added to this fluid such as the post-operative pain is reduced for 18 to 24 hours after surgery. After the fluid is injected, the cannula, typically connected to a powerful suction pump, is inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin, and fat is removed by suction the specific instrument (the cannula) creates minuscule tunnels all the way through the fat. During the healing process after liposuction, these tiny tunnels shrink and disappear, resulting in an improved body contour.
Anesthesia: Local anesthesia and complementary sedation for simple cases. General anesthesia if the area that is going to be treated is too large.
Length: Between 30 minutes and 3 hours, according to the complexity of the case.
After the surgery
A compression garment, or girdle, is put on the patient. The tiny tunnels collapse under the pressure of the garment. The garment is worn most of the time for the next 6 weeks. It is possible that a fluid drainage from the incisions.
Antibiotics are prescribed by the surgeon in order to prevent infection, also some medications for reducing discomforts. Despite this, the patient may experience swelling, small bleeding and temporary numbness.
Returning to Normal Routine
Healing is a gradual process. The surgeon advices to start walking around immediately to reduce swelling and to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. The patient begins to feel better in about a week or two and returns to work within a few days after the surgery. The stitches are removed or dissolve themselves in about a week or 10 days.
The patient should avoid more strenuous activity during a month as the body continues its healing. Regularly, the bruising and swelling disappear within three weeks, although some swelling may remain for six months or more. The following up is scheduled by the surgeon, in order to monitor the progress.
What are the possible side-effects and complications of liposuction?
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although this operation doesn’t have practically any type of side-effects some of the risks and potential complications that can occur are infection, fluid accumulation, rippling or loose skin, irregular pigmentation, changes in skin sensation, skin discoloration and/or swelling, etc.
What cannot be expected from a fat removal surgery?
• If there is excess skin the liposuction will not remove it. A tummy tuck must be done to stretch and tighten the tummy muscles and to remove the extra skin.
• The liposuction is not the solution to the obesity problem. Read about Bariatric Surgery for weight loss treatments.
Last Update: 05/07/2012
Note: This information is directed to support and not to replace your doctor opinion.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the exact same result as the pictures below, since it varies depending on the patient.
