If you're battling a bulge that just won't budge, liposuction
surgery may have crossed your mind. By removing unwanted deposits of
excess fat, liposuction improves body appearance and smoothes irregular
or distorted body shapes. Safe liposuction surgery demands an attention
to detail and care for the patient. Also, liposuction is mainly a form
of body contouring and not a weight loss method.
Liposuction, The Facts
The
liposuction procedure has changed dramatically since it was first
introduced in 1979. The old surgeries for fat and skin removal, such as
the "tummy tuck", are significantly more risky than liposuction alone.
Making an informed decision about having liposuction surgery requires
that you feel secure in your knowledge and understanding of the
procedure.
If properly done, the liposuction shrinks the skin and
results in a reasonably good lower abdomen shape, but this requires an
experienced surgeon. The best candidates for liposuction are
normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess
fat in certain areas.
The majority of liposuction surgeries are
performed on an outpatient basis. If your surgeon performed a
large-volume liposuction (over 5 liters) then you should stay in the
hospital overnight for observation and safety.
Most commonly liposuction is performed by a dermatologist, a cosmetic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon.
Thigh
liposuction is often performed in conjunction with buttock liposuction.
Pock marks or wrinkling of the skin where the fat is removed may
require another procedure to firm up the skin following liposuction.
Before
surgery, the doctor may mark circles and lines on the areas of your
body to undergo liposuction. Prior to the surgery a solution is infused
into the area of the liposuction.
You must understand fully the
pre-operative preparations, the liposuction procedure, and the precise
post-operative care. A liposuction cannula is a stainless steel tube
inserted through an incision in the skin that is employed to suction the
fat. A small incision is first made where the instrument is inserted,
so liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia.
A liposuction procedure may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back, and thighs all on the same day.
Ultrasonic Liposuction
Ultrasonic
assisted liposuction (UAL) is a two-step technique that uses the energy
from sound waves to liquefy fat deposits before they are suctioned.
Some surgeons may advise ultrasonic liposuction for large volume
extractions, especially in tough areas such as the back, flanks and
hips.
External ultrasonic energy can be applied and is recommended
by some surgeons before or after the fat is removed by regular
liposuction. Ultrasonic liposuction must ordinarily be combined with
traditional liposuction when deep and surface fat is being removed.
With
ultrasonic liposuction it is possible to remove fat from difficult
areas such as the upper abdomen, flanks, hip and back. Ultrasonic
liposuction is not a replacement for traditional liposuction but it is
an addition. The results of ultrasonic liposuction are the same as
traditional liposuction.
Tumescent Liposuction
One of
the most significant improvements in liposuction in recent years has
been the use of tumescent anesthesia, introduced by dermatologist Dr.
Tumescent. Tumescent liposuction is now the most common form of
liposuction.
The technique of tumescent liposuction has become
especially popular, in part because of its purported safety. And now,
tumescent technique has improved almost every aspect of liposuction. In
fact, even if ultrasound is used, it will be followed by tumescent
liposuction.
As judged by current world-wide experience, tumescent
liposuction is very safe. Since its inception, liposuction performed
with the tumescent technique has had an excellent safety profile.
Complications of liposuction performed with a pure tumescent technique
have been minimal.
Much less bleeding occurs as a result of
tumescent liposuction. Other situations exist that may benefit from
tumescent liposuction.
Risks and Side Effects
Although
it is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, liposuction
is often times misrepresented in the popular media. However,
liposuction is a serious surgical procedure and possibly may involve a
painful recovery.
As with any surgical procedure, liposuction is
associated with certain expected side-effects such as bruising,
swelling, and temporary numbness. Although irregularities of the skin
are possible following liposuction, this side-effect is minimized by the
tumescent technique, especially when performed with small cannulas.
Skin injury, pigment change, fluid retention, rippling or bagginess of the skin are possible following liposuction.
Excessive
surgical trauma (excessive liposuction) is dangerous and is an
important cause for serious liposuction complications. Unrelated
surgical procedures on the same day as liposuction should not be
performed.
How Expensive Is It?
Health insurance does
not usually cover cosmetic surgery such as liposuction. There fore the
price of liposuction surgery may very from case to case.
Selecting A Surgeon
While
some physicians' professional societies may recommend training before
performing liposuction surgery, no standardized training is required.
The
important distinction between liposuction surgeons who are board
certified is the liposuction technique that they use. In order to
master an artistic liposuction technique, the surgeon must have the
skill and intelligence to avoid exposing patients to unnecessary
dangers.
No matter which technique is used, liposuction is
considered completely cosmetic and therefore entirely optional
(elective). Choosing your liposuction surgeon should be a careful
decision.
By
Jon Leger