Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.
During the past decade, liposuction, which is also known as "lipoplasty" or "suction lipectomy," has benefited from several new refinements. Today, a number of new techniques, including ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique, are helping many plastic surgeons to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times.

Although no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.
If you're considering liposuction, this site will give you a basic understanding of the procedure -- when it can help, how it is performed and how you might look and feel after surgery.
It won't answer all of your questions, since much depends on your individual circumstances.
Please ask your doctor if there is anything about the procedure you don't understand.

The best candidates for liposuction
To be a good candidate for liposuction, you must have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do for you. It's important to understand that liposuction can enhance your appearance and self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently.
Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas. You should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations. Your age is not a major consideration; however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.
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.

Women may have liposuction performed under the chin, on their hips, thighs, and stomach, and in the under arm and breast area.

Planning your surgery
In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your health, determine where your fat deposits lie and assess the condition of your skin. Your surgeon will explain the body-contouring methods that may be most appropriate for you. For example, if you believe you want liposuction in the abdominal area, you may learn that an abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" may more effectively meet your goals; or that a combination of traditional liposuction and UAL would be the best choice for you.
Be frank in discussing your expectations with your surgeon. He or she should be equally frank with you, describing the procedure in detail and explaining its risks and limitations.

Getting the answers you need
Individuals considering liposuction often feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of options and techniques being promoted today. However, your plastic surgeon can help. In deciding which is the right treatment approach for you, your doctor will consider effectiveness, safety, cost and appropriateness for your needs. This is called surgical judgment, a skill that is developed through surgical training and experience. Your doctor also uses this judgement to prevent complications; to handle unexpected occurrences during surgery; and to treat complications when they occur.

For men, common sites include under the chin and around the waist. Liposuction may also be used in the reduction of enlarged male breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia.
Your surgeon's education and training have helped to form his or her surgical judgement, so take the time to do some background checking.

For men, common sites include under the chin and around the waist. Liposuction may also be used in the reduction of enlarged male breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia.

Preparing for your surgery
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding vitamins, iron tablets and certain medications.
If you develop a cold or an infection of any kind, especially a skin infection, your surgery may have to be postponed.
Though it is rarely necessary, your doctor may recommend that you have blood drawn ahead of time in case it is needed during surgery.
Also, while you are making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and, if needed, to help you at home for a day or two.Where your surgery will be performed

Liposuction may be performed in a surgeon's office-based facility, in an outpatient surgery centre, or in a hospital. Smaller-volume liposuction is usually done on an outpatient basis for reasons of cost and convenience. However, if a large volume of fat will be removed, or if the liposuction is being performed in conjunction with other procedures, a stay in a hospital or overnight nursing facility may be required.

Anaesthesia for liposuction
Various types of anaesthesia can be used for liposuction procedures. Together, you and your surgeon will select the type of anaesthesia that provides the most safe and effective level of comfort for your surgery.
If only a small amount of fat and a limited number of body sites are involved, liposuction can be performed under local anaesthetic, which numbs only the affected areas. However, if you prefer, the local is usually used along with intravenous sedation to keep you more relaxed during the procedure. Regional anaesthetic can be a good choice for more extensive procedures. One type of regional anaesthetic is the epidural block, the same type of anaesthetic commonly used in childbirth.

However, some patients prefer general anaesthetic, particularly if a large volume of fat is being removed.
If this is the case, the anaesthesiologist will be called in to make sure you are completely asleep during the procedure.
Healthy, normal-weight people with elastic skin and pockets of excess fat are good candidates for surgery.
The best candidates for liposuction are of normal weight with localized areas of excess fat-- for example, in the buttocks, hips, and thighs.

The surgeon inserts a cannula through small incisions in the skin. At the other end of the tube is a vacuum-pressure unit that suctions off the fat. A snug compression garment worn after surgery helps reduce swelling.

The surgery
The time required to perform liposuction may vary considerably, depending on the size of the area, the amount of fat being removed, the type of anaesthesia and the technique used.
There are several liposuction techniques that can be used to improve the ease of the procedure and to enhance outcome, these can be discussed with your surgeon.
Liposuction is a procedure in which localized deposits of fat are removed to recontour one or more areas of the body.
Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube or cannula is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin.
The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out.
The suction action is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe, depending on the surgeon's preference.
If many sites are being treated, your surgeon will then move on to the next area, working to keep the incisions as inconspicuous as possible.
Fluid is lost along with the fat, and it's crucial that this fluid be replaced during the procedure to prevent shock.
For this reason, patients need to be carefully monitored and receive intravenous fluids during and immediately after surgery.

Surgery
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
Liposuction is normally safe, as long as patients are carefully selected, the operating facility is properly equipped and the physician is adequately trained.

As a minimum, your surgeon should have basic (core) accredited surgical training with special training in body contouring. Also, even though many body-contouring procedures are performed outside the hospital setting, be certain that your surgeon has been granted privileges to perform liposuction at an accredited hospital.
Your doctor must have advanced surgical skills to perform procedures that involve the removal of a large amount of fat (more than 5 litres or 5,000 ccs); ask your doctor about his or her other patients who have had similar procedures and what their results were. Also, more extensive liposuction procedures require attentive after-care. Find out how your surgeon plans to monitor your condition closely after the procedure.

However, it's important to keep in mind that even though a well-trained surgeon and a state-of-the art facility can improve your chance of having a good result, there are no guarantees. Though they are rare, complications can and do occur. Risks increase if a greater number of areas are treated at the same time, or if the operative sites are larger in size. Removal of a large amount of fat and fluid may require longer operating times than may be required for smaller operations.

The scars from liposuction are small and strategically placed to be hidden from view.
However, imperfections in the final appearance are not uncommon after lipoplasty.
The skin surface may be irregular, asymmetric or even "baggy," especially in the older patient.
Numbness and pigmentation changes may occur. Sometimes, additional surgery may be recommended.
Improvement will become apparent after about six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.

After your surgery
After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions.
Occasionally, a small drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin for a couple of days to prevent fluid build-up. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you may be fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear over the treated area for a few weeks.
Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Don't expect to look or feel great right after surgery. Even though the newer techniques are believed to reduce some post-operative discomforts, you may still experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness.
Pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon, though you may still feel stiff and sore for a few days.
It is normal to feel a bit anxious or depressed in the days or weeks following surgery. However, this feeling will subside as you begin to look and feel better.

Getting back to normal
Healing is a gradual process. Your surgeon will probably tell you to start walking around as soon as possible to reduce swelling and to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.
You will begin to feel better after about a week or two and you should be back at work within a few days following your surgery.
The stitches are removed or dissolve on their own within the first week to 10 days.
Activity that is more strenuous should be avoided for about a month as your body continues to heal.
Although most of the bruising and swelling usually disappears within three weeks, some swelling may remain for six months or more.
Your surgeon will schedule follow-up visits to monitor your progress and to see if any additional procedures are needed.
If you have any unusual symptoms between visits -- for example, heavy bleeding or a sudden increase in pain -- or any questions about what you can and can't do, call your doctor.

Your new look
You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body quite soon after surgery.
However, improvement will become even more apparent after about four to six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.
After about three months, any persistent mild swelling usually disappears and the final contour will be visible.
If your expectations are realistic, you will probably be very pleased with the results of your surgery.
You may find that you are more comfortable in a wide variety of clothes and more at ease with your body.
And, by eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, you can help to maintain your new shape.
As healing progresses, a more proportional look will emerge.
A slimmer body contour can help you feel more confident and comfortable.

Resources

Liposculpture4you
A comprehensive guide to liposculpture (liposuction) including before and after pictures, side effects and possible complications and results.

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