Liposuction Surgery
Liposuction has been one of the most popular aesthetic procedures performed for years. Liposuction surgery has also gained more publicity since many Hollywood starts have undergone this procedure. Like all types of cosmetic and plastic surgery, Liposuction surgery has been publicized as famous personalities talk about why they got Liposuction surgery, how was they process and most importantly, they can show the impressive results achieved after their Liposuction surgery.
Liposuction surgery is a procedure that becomes more popular every day. Liposuction surgery has become so popular that it is the most performed type of cosmetic surgery not only in the United States but all over the world.
As people become more and more body conscious (especially after dieting and working out - literally putting hard work into getting into good shape) the ability to fix problem areas that don't respond to exercise or to sculpt certain parts of their body becomes more and more popular. Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, 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 Power-assisted lipoplasty (PAL), 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.
Liposuction surgery is a surgical procedure that suctions out the fat from the body. The goal of Liposuction surgery is that by suctioning out the fat, the patient will achieve a sculpted and slim looking body.
Liposuction surgery is a procedure that requires the patient's commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dietary guidelines in order to make the results achieved long lasting.
Liposuction surgery is not a weight loss technique. Liposuction surgery will not make a person thin instantly.
Liposuction surgery alone is not recommended for people who are severely obese. When performed in addition to a dietary and exercise plan, liposuction is the first step that will enable a person that is obese to lose the excess fat in one simple procedure.
Although a Liposuction surgery can be performed multiple times on a patient, it is not recommended that a patient considers liposuction as their only mean to be slimmer.
When you gain weight after liposuction, it is unlikely that the new fat will deposit in the area where liposuction was performed. However, the new fat may deposit in the patient's inner organs making it impossible to be suctioned out by more liposuction.
There are several types of Liposuction surgery. Some types of Liposuction surgery involve a traditional approach where a larger cannula and general anesthesia is used. In another type of Liposuction surgery a tumescent solution, smaller cannula and local anesthesia are used. Another type of Liposuction surgery involves the use of lasers to melt and loosen the fat. New types of liposuction involve the use of water and other elements to help remove the fat and reduce the impact of the surgery on the patient.
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is now recognized world wide as the technique permitting the greatest safety, the most rapid recovery, the least pain and the best aesthetic results. Tumescent liposuction is also the only technique that, in the hands of an expert surgeon, permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia, avoiding the dangers of general anesthesia, IV sedation and narcotic analgesics. There are surgeons who prefer to simultaneously use general anesthesia and tumescent liposuction. Some surgeons rely on general anesthesia because they do not have the skill to achieve complete anesthesia with tumescent liposuction. Others recommend general anesthesia just because they prefer patients to be unconscious. Still others use general anesthesia because it permits liposuction to be completed more rapidly.
However, the use of general anesthesia ought not to be based on what is most convenient for the surgeon, but rather what is best for the patient. Ultimately, the patient should choose the type of anesthesia based on all the information at his or her disposal.
Good 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.
Liposuction Totally By Local Anesthesia
Although liposuction is a relatively new form of cosmetic surgery, there have been several recent improvements in the technique. One of the most significant improvements has been the introduction of tumescent liposuction. It permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has tumescent liposuction proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimized post operative recovery time, and has produced optimal cosmetic results.
The word tumescent means swollen and firm. Tumescent liposuction uses large volumes of a dilute solution of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug epinephrine, which temporarily shrinks capillaries.
Local anesthesia used in tumescent liposuction for liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, or general anesthesia. Over the years, numerous patients who previously had liposuction with general anesthesia have had second treatments with tumescent liposuction. Virtually every one of these patients has found tumescent liposuction to be less painful, to provide better results and to result in more rapid healing and recovery.
Virtually No Blood Loss
As a result of the widespread capillary constriction caused by the epinephrine in the anesthetic solution, there is minimal bleeding during and after surgery. This is a major improvement in the liposuction technique compared to older methods that simply use general anesthesia.
In the past Liposuction included a cannula (the instrument used to remove the excess fat) and a surgeon's manual effort to separate the fat from the other tissues. Technological advancements continue to refine both the instruments available and the manual effort of the surgeon. By making the tools do more of the work the surgeon is freer to sculpt and create fine, smoother, better silhouettes.
Make sure that you go over all details about the Liposuction surgery with your surgeon. He or she can answer all your questions about the Liposuction surgery, what to expect, how long the Liposuction recovery will be, what medications to take after your Liposuction as well as many other important details.
The Liposuction consultation is a very important part of the Liposuction procedure where you will learn if you are a good candidate for liposuction and what results you can expect. You should try to make the most of it in order to have a successful Liposuction surgery.
Liposuction Surgery Process
Whatever the reasons are for a person to decide to get Liposuction surgery; the main goal of liposuction is to give the patient a slimmer sculpted body. Because Liposuction surgery was designed to remove the excess fat from a patient it is important that the patient watches their weight, stays active and lives a healthy lifestyle if they want their results to be long lasting.
Liposuction surgery cannot be taken as a simple slim quick method.
For some people, Liposuction surgery is the only hope left after struggling to lose stubborn fat with traditional methods like diet or exercise and failing.
Getting Liposuction surgery should be a well thought decision. Consult with a Liposuction surgery specialist and make sure that all your questions about Liposuction surgery are answered.
After A Liposuction Surgery
Just like any person that wants to lose weight and keep a healthy lifestyle, a Liposuction surgery patient must watch what they eat, exercise regularly and try to keep an active lifestyle. This will not only accelerate the weight loss started with the surgery, but will help them be healthier.
Liposuction surgery is a safe, easy and effective choice to get a slim body back.
Although liposuction surgery us suitable for almost everyone there are exceptions. Make an appointment with a Liposuction surgeon to know if you are a good candidate for Liposuction surgery.
Besides all the medical complications, patients that undergo Liposuction surgery in most cases also suffer from low self esteem, low body image, and a lot of pain caused by their excess weight. Liposuction surgery patients many times also have a difficulty fitting in their old clothes, wearing a swim suit or just feeling good about their bodies. All of these factors affect people in many numerous ways making their lives sad. Liposuction surgery presents them also with the opportunity to gain their self confidence back and happiness by allowing them to lose the excess fat.
Liposuction Surgery Costs
Liposuction is not a medical procedure that insurances cover. However, most Liposuction surgery specialists and centers offer self-pay plans and financing options that allow individuals to be able to afford a Liposuction surgery with as low as 0% interest.
Ask your Liposuction surgery doctor about financing and payment options.
Before Liposuction Surgery
You must take certain preparations before Liposuction surgery or any type of elective surgery. Important measures before Liposuction surgery include eliminating smoking, eliminating the use of aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Motrin and Advil, and using only vitamins and other natural remedies that have been approved by your Liposuction surgeon.
Liposuction Surgery Procedure
Traditional Liposuction surgery is a procedure where general anesthesia is commonly used. Newer Liposuction surgery techniques often require only local anesthesia with a mild sedative.
After your anesthesia has been administered, your Liposuction surgeon then places the Liposuction surgery incisions in the area to be treated. Liposuction surgery incisions are always small in size (about or less than one inch) and are not noticeable after they heal.
After the Liposuction surgeon creates the incisions, he or she inserts a cannula that will suction out the fat and reshape the body.
The different body areas can be contoured with various techniques during Liposuction surgery. Finally, your Liposuction surgeon closes the incisions with sutures and places a dressing over your Liposuction surgery incisions.
Liposuction Surgery Length
The length of time required to perform the Liposuction surgery varies with the amount of fat that is to be removed and the number of areas to be treated. Most Liposuction surgeries take from 30 minutes up to 2 hours, but extensive procedures can take longer.
The length of time required also varies with the manner in which the anesthetic is injected. In some cases, the Liposuction surgeon may divide the treatment into different stages if the patient desires to have several areas treated. For example; in some cases a Liposuction surgeon may treat the hip, thighs and back area first, and treat arms, neck and chin in a different surgery.
Liposuction Surgery Recovery
After your Liposuction surgery, you will feel some discomfort. Your physician will prescribe pain medication to make you more comfortable or recommend over-the-counter medication. Your Liposuction surgery incisions will be covered with a large dressing that is worn for the first 24 hours. On the second day, this dressing is replaced with an elastic wrap. For larger areas treated, you will be asked to wear a compression garment for at least one week.
Many Liposuction patients experience bruising and swelling in the first 24 hours that may extent for a few days after their surgery. Drainage tubes to reduce swelling and excess blood may be in place, and these may remain for a few days following Liposuction surgery.
Generally, Liposuction surgery patients can resume hair washing 48 hours after Liposuction surgery. Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for up to four to six weeks until the swelling is gone. Most Liposuction surgery patients can resume office work and other light activities within one to two days after Liposuction surgery.
Full healing might take up to three months, so be sure to schedule your Liposuction surgery well in advance of any major social events such as a high school reunion.
After Liposuction Surgery
After the Liposuction surgery, the patient will need to wear a compression garment continuously for two to three weeks for larger areas and about one week for smaller areas. If ankles or calves were treated, compression hose will need to be worn for up to six weeks. The compression garments can be removed during bathing 24 hours after the Liposuction surgery. In some cases where large amounts of fat have been removed; a drainage tube under the skin in the area of the Liposuction surgery may be inserted to prevent fluid build-up.
Mild side effects after surgery can include a burning, prickling sensation on the treated areas after the Liposuction surgery and for up to one month. The patient should expect swelling of the tissues below the area treated for up to six to eight weeks after Liposuction surgery. Wearing the special elastic compression garments at all times will help reduce this swelling and help achieve the desired final results.
The incisions involved in a Liposuction surgery are tiny (they can be compared to a big mosquito bite), but in rare some, the Liposuction surgeon may close them with stitches. These will be removed typically a few days after Liposuction surgery. However, most Liposuction surgeons use no sutures. They rely on dressings to cover the incisions.
After the Liposuction surgery minor bleeding or seepage through the incision site(s) is common. Wearing the compression garment also helps reduce fluid loss after surgery. Blood clot formation after Liposuction surgery is exceedingly rare. The risk of blood clot formation is reduced by wearing the compression garment after the surgery, and with the resumption of normal mild activity soon after a Liposuction surgery. Excess fluid and blood accumulation generally comes from not wearing the compression garments. If necessary, this excess fluid can be drained off with a needle in the doctor's office.
Liposuction Surgery & Pain
Liposuction surgery is virtually painless and requires minimal or no downtime. However, for the first postoperative day, there may be some discomfort that will require light pain medication. Your surgeon will prescribe you oral pain management medications to take after liposuction surgery.
A Liposuction surgery does not require any hospital time. The patient may stand up after the surgery and walk. It is required that after the surgery the patient has arranged for transportation back home. It is also recommended that someone stays with you the first night. Soreness or aching may persist for several days. A person can usually return to normal activity within a week.
Postoperative bruising after a Liposuction surgery will go away within 10 to 14 days. Your Liposuction surgeon may prescribe you with additional medication to help heal the bruising and swelling faster. Postoperative swelling begins to go down after a week. It may take three to six months for the final results to be reached.
Some patients lose sensation in the area that has been suctioned after surgery, but most feeling usually returns with time.
Liposuction Surgery Considerations
Liposuction surgery under local anesthesia considered to be exceptionally safe. Studies have concluded that there are no serious complications or deaths with Liposuction and the calculated the risk of any complication is 1%.
However, like with any surgery, Liposuction surgery risks include:
Blood clots
Excess fluid and blood accumulation
Infection
Shock (if too much fat is removed)
Swelling
Bruising
Perforation (rare)
Damage superficial nerves
Numbness
Choosing the right Liposuction surgeon increases your chances of success. Browse or surgeon directory to find a Liposuction doctor near you!
What is Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-Assisted Liposuction is a real breakthrough for both physicians and patients. Power-Assisted Liposuction involves a mechanized cannula that rapidly vibrates at a rate of 3,000 to 5,000 times per minute, helping to separate the fat from the other tissues. When used in conjunction with the Tumescent Technique (an saline-solution injection that includes local anesthesia and adrenaline), Power-Assisted Liposuction allows the surgeon to remove the unwanted fat much faster than with a manual cannula. This means that less time is needed under anesthesia, there is less bleeding, less trauma to the treated area, more precision in the fat removal, and a shorter recovery time for the patient. In other words, Power-Assisted Liposuction lets you heal faster so that you can see better results quicker.
Why Power Liposuction
In studies, patients that received Power-Assisted Liposuction had less bruising and healed much faster than patients who received traditional liposuction. Doctors were able to remove more fat because the Power-Assisted Liposuction let them work more precisely and quickly.
A Time to Heal
After the procedure healing will depend on how much liposuction was performed. Your physician will discuss your needs with you more in depth during your consultation as well as after the surgery. Keep in mind that you will need several days off from work and you may need to wait two to four weeks before you can get back to more strenuous activities. Your body will heal slowly and subtly and it may surprise you that it may not heal symmetrically. So, one thigh may heal faster than the other thigh or one side of the abdomen may heal faster than the other side. This is normal and your body will "even" out over the next few months.
PAL – More Than Good Vibrations
Power-assisted liposuction not only allows surgeon to complete your procedure faster and more gently, it also helps provide precise results and speeds recovery. The PAL device causes small, rapid vibrations in the cannula, the tube used to break up and suction out excess fat tissue. When the cosmetic surgeon inserts the cannula underneath the skin, its vibrations loosen fat cells while preserving surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and other tissue. The benefit to you: decreased risk of complications and increased safety.
Benefits of Power-Assisted Liposuction
Patients choose PAL for a number of reasons:
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More precisely sculpt treated areas
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Experience less bruising, swelling and discomfort compared to the traditional method
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Complete their procedure faster because fat removal is more efficient
- Decrease recovery time and improve safety with minimal disruption of surrounding tissue
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 anesthesia and the technique used. There are several liposuction techniques that can be used to improve the ease of the procedure and to enhance outcome.
Liposuction is a procedure in which localized collections of fat are removed to recontour or reshape 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 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.
1. 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.
2. A snug compression garment worn after surgery helps reduce swelling.
Technique variations
The basic technique of liposuction, as described above, is used in all patients undergoing this procedure. However, as the procedure has been developed and refined, several variations have been introduced.
Fluid Injection, a technique in which a medicated solution is injected into fatty areas before the fat is removed, is commonly used by Cosmetic surgeons today.
The fluid — a mixture of intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (a drug that contracts blood vessels) — helps the fat be removed more easily, reduces blood loss and provides anesthesia during and after surgery. Fluid injection also helps to reduce the amount of bruising after surgery.
The amount of fluid that is injected varies depending on the preference of the surgeon. Large volumes of fluid -- sometimes as much as three times the amount of fat to be removed -- are injected in the tumescent technique. Tumescent liposuction, typically performed on patients who need only a local anesthetic, usually takes significantly longer than traditional liposuction (sometimes as long as 4 to 5 hours). However, because the injected fluid contains an adequate amount of anesthetic, additional anesthesia may not be necessary. The name of this technique refers to the swollen and firm or "tumesced" state of the fatty tissues when they are filled with solution.
The super-wet technique is similar to the tumescent technique, except that lesser amounts of fluid are used. Usually the amount of fluid injected is equal to the amount of fat to be removed. This technique often requires IV sedation or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours of surgery time.
After Your Liposuction
There will be fluid drainage from the incisions after the procedure. It may be beneficial to place plastic on your bed so it doesn't get soaked from the drainage. 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. Surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
The level of pain experience will vary from person to person. 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 Dr. , 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. Dr. recommends that 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 a few days 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.
Cosmetic 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.
Risks and Complications
There are risks and complications associated with all elective procedures. While they happen very rarely, hematoma, infection, and skin surface abnormalities are some of the risks associated with Liposuction. However, by choosing a qualified, experienced physician and by following post-op instructions carefully you can help to minimize the actuality of any complications.
Ultimately, making the decision to have aesthetic work done on one's body is a personal decision. Liposuction can get rid of problem areas on your body that don't respond to diet and exercise. Power-Assisted Liposuction can give you the results you are looking for with less trauma to your body, letting you heal faster and see those results quicker.
