Liposuction Surgical Vacuuming of Fat
Liposuction OR LıPOPLASTY is the surgical vacuuming of fat from beneath
the surface of the skin. It is used to reduce fullness in any area of the
body. It is an excellent method of spot reduction but is not an effective
method of weight loss.
Generally
people who have localized areas of protruding fat achieve the most dramatic
results. Patients who are slightly overweight can benefit from liposuction.
It is best to be at or near your normal weight. Good skin elasticity permits
the skin to shrink easily to the reduced contour. There are no absolute
age limits for liposuction. In women, the single most frequently treated
areas are the outer thighs, followed by the stomach. In men, the flank area
or "love handles" are treated most frequently. If there is excess fat in
the area under the chin and the skin is taught, liposuction alone can produce
a more sculpted, angular, and youthful jaw line. If, however, the skin of
the neck is loose, hanging, or crepey, even if there is excess fat, liposuction
alone will not produce the desired result. Patients with loose skin usually
require a face and neck lift in addition to or instead of liposuction. In
general, most patients who benefit from liposuction of the neck are under
40. Most patients over 40 will require some surgical skin tightening.
Although liposuction is very safe and effective, it is a surgical procedure
and can cause complications such as infection, bleeding, and nerve damage.
In addition, aesthetic complications such as skin irregularity or waviness
can occur if too much fat has been removed. Fortunately, complications are
uncommon and most patients are satisfied with their results.
Suction-assisted
lipectomy-also known as liposuction, fat suction, or suction lipectomy-is
a technique to remove unwanted fat deposits from specific areas of the body,
including the chin, neck, and cheeks; the upper arms and above the breasts;
the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs; and the knees, calves, and ankles.
Liposuction is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method of removing
localized fat that doesn't respond to dieting and exercise. If you're considering
liposuction, this information will give you a basic understanding of the
procedure-when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can
expect.
Liposuction can enhance your appearance and your 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 of relatively normal weight but have
pockets of excess fat in particular areas. You should be physically healthy,
psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations. Most important,
having firm, elastic skin will result in a better final contour. (Hanging
skin won't reshape to your body's new contours, and may require an additional
procedure to surgically remove the excess skin. This procedure will leave
visible scars.) Suction lipectomy is not recommended if you've had recent
surgery on the spot to be sculpted, if you have poor blood circulation in
that area, or if you have heart or lung disease. You should also understand
that liposuction by itself will not improve the dimpled skin known as cellulite,
though some plastic surgeons offer other techniques that may improve this
condition.
Suction-assisted
lipectomy is normally safe, as long as patients are carefully selected,
the operating facility is properly equipped, and the physician is adequately
trained in body contouring as well as general surgery. Nevertheless, in
rare instances, the procedure may cause severe trauma, particularly when
multiple or very extensive areas are suctioned at one time. Other infrequent,
but possible, complications include fluid accumulation (which must be drained)
and injury to the skin. Although serious complications are infrequent, infection
or excessive fluid loss can lead to severe illness. You can reduce your
risks by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon who has been granted privileges
to perform liposuction at an accredited hospital, and by closely following
his or her advice. The scars from liposuction are small and strategically
placed to be hidden from view, even in a bikini. However, other cosmetic
problems may occur, even if your surgeon is very skilled. They may include
rippling or bagginess of the skin over the treated area, and pigmentation
changes (such as brown spots) that may become permanent if exposed to the
sun. Asymmetry (uneven contour or shape) sometimes requires a second procedure.
If
your procedure is not too extensive-that is, the amount of fat and fluid
removed does not exceed an amount your doctor will define based on your
health, body size, and surgical procedure-liposuction can be performed under
local anesthesia, which numbs the area, combined with a sedative to make
you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and will feel minimal discomfort.
Some surgeons may instead use an epidural block, similar to the anesthesia
used in childbirth. If your doctor plans to suction a large area, or to
treat several sites, you'll probably have general anesthesia. In that case,
you'll sleep through the operation.
Suction-assisted lipectomy usually takes an hour or two, but the time required
may vary considerably- from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on
the area and amount being suctioned. To begin the procedure, the surgeon
makes a small incision, just large enough to allow the insertion of a hollow
tube called a cannula. The opposite end of the cannula is attached to a
machine that creates a strong vacuum. The surgeon manipulates the cannula
deep within the fat layers under the skin, breaking up the fat and suctioning
it out. Sometimes additional incisions are needed to remove all areas of
fat. If you've had local anesthesia, you'll feel some vibration and friction
during the procedure. You may also feel a stinging sensation as the cannula
moves closer to the muscle. You'll lose fluid along with the fat during
liposuction, and it's crucial that this fluid be replaced to keep your body
from going into shock. You'll be given fluids intravenously, and if needed
you may also receive a blood transfusions (usually the blood you've donated
in advance).
After
surgery, a drainage tube may be inserted beneath your skin for one to three
days to remove any fluid build-up that occurs. A snug elastic dressing,
girdle, or body stocking must be worn over the treated area to control swelling
and bleeding, and to help your skin shrink to fit your new contour. You
may need to wear this garment continuously for two to three weeks, then
just in the daytime for a few weeks more, depending on your surgeon's instructions.
Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Don't expect
to look or feel great right after surgery. You'll even be heavier for a
while, because of the extra fluids you've been given. The suctioned areas
will be swollen and bruised, and you may feel a burning sensation. The pain
can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon, though you
may still feel stiff and sore for a few days. You may temporarily lose all
feeling in the suctioned area; don't worry-it will return. It's not unusual
to feel depressed in the days or weeks following surgery. Try to keep in
mind that this is normal and will subside as you begin to look and feel
better.
Healing is a gradual process. Your surgeon will probably tell you to start
walking around as soon as possible (to help prevent blood clots from forming
in your legs), but to avoid more strenuous activity for two to four weeks.
Any stitches will be removed in five to ten days or dissolve, and you should
be back at work in 2 - 3 days, or as much as two weeks after your surgery.
When you resume activity depends on the extent of your procedure, how you
feel and what your doctor recommends. While most of the swelling and discoloration
will be gone a month or two after surgery, some swelling can 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, don't hesitate to call your doctor.
Suction-assisted lipectomy is a highly effective technique for giving you
a new body contour with very little scarring. The results can be permanent,
providing you eat sensibly and exercise regularly. If you do gain weight,
you'll probably gain it more uniformly throughout your body, not just in
the former "bulges." Most patients are very satisfied with the results of
their liposuction-they feel more comfortable in a wide variety of clothes,
and more at ease with their bodies. As long as your expectations are realistic,
you should be happy with your new shape.
