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Candidates:
Liposuction is a procedure for women and men who are of
relatively normal weight but have deposits of localized fat in certain areas of
the body that do not respond to dieting or exercise. Liposuction is the way to
eliminate them. Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity. Candidates of almost
any age can benefit from this procedure, providing their skin is elastic enough
to retract to the normal position. Patients with loose flaccid skin might have
to undergo a combined procedure, which involves skin resection. Patients who
also have depressions in their bodies can benefit from liposculpture. Fat can be
injected to improve contour.
Objective:
To improve cheeks, jowls,
neck, arms, breast, back, abdomen, waist, hips and buttocks, inner and outer
thighs, knees, calves and ankles. It can also be used to treat the male breast
enlargement, or gynecomastia. It can be performed on several areas of the body
at the same time, or together with other aesthetic plastic
surgery.
Incisions and technique:
Fat is removed through a small
hollow tube, called cannula, inserted through one or more small incisions near
the area to be suctioned. Incisions are usually 4 to 8-mm long and are often
hidden in skin folds or lines. For liposculpture the aspirator was substituted
by disposable syringes connected to the cannula to aspirate the excess fat. With
syringe liposculpture and we can measure precisely how much fat is aspirated and
there is the possibility of re-injecting fat. Fat can be injected in the face to
smooth folds and wrinkles and in the body to improve contour of areas such as
buttocks, thighs, hips, legs, ankles and hands. Superficial liposculpture allows
us to remove more fat and improve body contour of patients with a more flaccid
skin tone. For fibrous body areas an external ultrasound machine may be used to
"melt" the fat before aspiration.
Operating Time:
1 to 3
hours.
Anesthesia:
Local with sedation. Tumescent anesthesia made
the procedure safer.
In/Outpatient:
Usually outpatient. Extensive
procedures may require short inpatient stay.
Recovery:
Walking a mile: two days. Temporary mild pain,
especially in the first 48 hours can be treated with analgesics. Swelling,
soreness, numbness, bruising usually last a few weeks. Dressings are applied on
the small incisions. There will be a leak of the anesthetic fluid through the
incisions in the first 24 hours. Dressings will be changed daily. Shower is
allowed after 24 hours. You may have to wear a girdle for a few weeks. Stitches
will be removed between the 5th and 7th day. Back to work: 2 to 3 weeks.
Exercise and sunbathing: 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of the
little scars: 3 months to 2 years.
Risks:
Significant
complications from liposuction are infrequent. Potential complications are
asymmetry, rippling, and pigmentation of the skin, bleeding, infection and
problems with anesthesia. Temporary numbness of the skin and hematomas (blood
accumulations) are possible mild complications. Irregularities of the skin can
happen in some patients, but can be treated if necessary. More serious
complications involve loss of fluid or blood that can provoke shock, although
this is now very rare with the tumescent anesthesia. Infection is very
rare.
Details:
Liposuction improves body contour
and increases self-confidence. The results may take a few months to show because
there is the possibility of fluid retention following surgery with prolonged
swelling. Occasionally, a secondary procedure, or "touchup" may be indicated to
improve certain areas, most times under local anesthesia. A special massage,
called manual lymphatic drainage helps with the swelling and bruising in the
post-operative period, increasing comfort.
Duration of Results:
If the
weight remains the same results should be permanent, especially when combined
with diet and exercise.
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