LIPOSUCTION

Treatment Overview

During liposuction, fats from the body are removed with the use of a small, thin, blunt-tipped tubes (cannula)which are inserted through tiny cuts in the skin. The doctor moves the tubes around under the skin to target specific fat deposits and suctioned it.

In recent years, techniques in liposuction have been improved that makes it safer, easier, and less painful. These techniques include:

• Tumescent liposuction. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area of your body where the tube will be inserted. Then, a large amount of an anesthetic solution containing lidocaine and epinephrine is injected into the fatty tissue before traditional liposuction is done. Tumescent liposuction may not require general anesthesia (which makes you sleep through the procedure).
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Ultrasound are used to liquefy the fat. This will make the fat easier to remove. This technique may be particularly helpful in removing fat from the neck, upper abdomen, sides, and back.
• Laser-assisted liposuction. Low-energy waves are used to liquefy the fat. It was removed through a small cannula.

Liposuction procedure can be done in a properly equipped doctor’s office, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital. Generally, the patient does not require an overnight hospital stay unless a large volume of fat is being removed. In some cases, local anesthesia is used. Sedatives may and may not be given although it helps the patient to relax. General anesthesia or deep sedation are only used when traeting a large area or volume of fat

What To Expect After Treatment

• The area of the body that was treated is firmly wrapped after the procedure. Elastic bandages and tape, support hose (such as those used to treat varicose veins), a special girdle, or another type of firm-fitting garment may be used, depending on which part of the body was treated. This will help reduce swelling, bruising, and pain.
• You may have to wear the compression garment or wrap for 3 to 4 weeks. Expect a lot of bruising and swelling for at least the first 7 to 10 days.
• Fluid may drain from the incision sites for several days. You may be given antibioticsto reduce the risk of infection.
• Most people are able to get up and move around as soon as the treatment is finished. You can return to your normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable or the effects of the anesthesia and any sedation have worn off. This may take several days to a few weeks. Recovery may take longer if large areas were treated.

Why It Is Done

Liposuction’s main purpose is to reshape one or more areas of your body and not to reduce body weight. It is not used to treat obesity. It will not get rid of cellulite or stretch marks. You will likely to gain weight even after the procedure.

It’s typical used is to reshape “problem” areas that have not responded well to diet and exercise. The face, neck, abdomen, back, buttocks, legs, and upper arms are all commonly treated areas. Body parts that are often treated on women are the outer thighs and hips while the waist and back on men.

Liposuction is sometimes combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures, such as a “tummy tuck” (abdominoplasty), breast reduction, or face-lift.

Liposuction may also be used to treat certain medical conditions, including:

• Benign fatty tumors (lipomas).
• Abnormal enlargement of the male breasts(gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia).
• Problems with metabolismof fat in the body (lipodystrophy).
• Excessive sweatingin the armpit area (axillary hyperhidrosis).

Liposuction is not used to treat obesity. It will not get rid of cellulite or stretch marks.

Risks

Risks of complications increases when you are having more than one area or a very large area treated. Nevertheless, liposuction done by an experienced doctor in a properly equipped facility is usually safe.

Common side effects of liposuction include:

• Temporary swelling, bruising, soreness, and numbness in and around the treated areas.
• Irritation and minor scarring around the incision sites where the cannulas were inserted.
• Baggy or rippling skin. The skin will usually tighten and retract after a few months. But in some people the skin may remain somewhat loose.

Less common side effects include:

• Permanent color changes in the skin.
• Uneven skin surface over the treated area.
• Damage to the nerves and skin. The heat generated during ultrasound-assisted liposuction may burn the skin or damage the tissue under the skin.

New fat can grow deep inside your body, around your organs, such as your heart or liver. This is the reason why you may gain weight even after liposuction. Fats may store in a different place than where you had fat cells removed. This type of fat can be more harmful to your body than fat that is stored near the surface of your body, such as on your hips or thighs. People who have liposuction need to be careful not to gain extra weight.

Dangerous complications

Serious complications may be brought by health problems or if you have a large amount of fat removed.

Although death is very rare with liposuction, it can happen. Possible complications include:

• Excessive blood and fluid loss. This may lead to shock but this is extremely unlikely.
• Fat clots or blood clots. This may travel to the lungs(pulmonary embolism) and become life-threatening.
• Build up of fluid in the lungs or(pulmonary edema). This is most likely to occur when a large volume of fluid is injected into the body.
• Infection. Antibiotics, in some cases, may be given before or after liposuction to help prevent infection.
• Toxic reaction to the injected solution (lidocaine toxicity). This may happen especially if large areas or many areas are treated at one time.
• A puncture into the cavity containing the abdominal organs or damage to an organ such as the spleen.

Liposuction is not advisable for people who have severe heart problems, have blood-clotting disorders (such as thrombophilia, a disorder in which the blood clots easily or excessively), or pregnant.

What To Think About

Only expert doctors should perform liposuction.  Complications will be less risky if liposuction is not done at the same time as other cosmetic procedures.

Liposuction is not for people trying to lose weight. It will never be a substitute for exercise and a balanced diet. In fact, most cosmetic surgeons agree that the best candidates for liposuction are healthy people who are at or close to a healthy weight but who have stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to exercise.