Liposuction & Body Contouring
Liposuction is a process by which fat is permanently removed through a suctioning process. It is not a substitute for weight loss, but rather a method of reshaping the body contours
Liposuction
As we advance in life the body tends to deposit most of the excess fat tissue. The flanks, lower abdomen and thighs are the common targets in women. The abdomen, flanks and chest in men.
The areas of the body may be changed with the help of liposuction procedure are hips, lower legs, buttocks, abdomen, back, chest, upper arms, neck, cheeks and jaw lines. Liposuction is used to remove fat in the parts of the body that have tight skin like the hips, flanks and saddleback areas. Liposuction procedure can be performed under local, as well as general anesthesia.
Almost all of the body fat is located just above the muscle tissues, right under the dermis. Liposuction is the removal of fat from deposits beneath the skin using a hollow stainless steel cannula and a powerful vacuum.
The procedure is not a method of weight reduction. Rather it will remove the stubborn fatty deposits that remain despite dieting, exercise or massage
Nowadays liposuction uses much finer cannulas that cause fewer traumas to the tissues and allows fat to be removed in a much more controlled manner unlike the earlier days. These finer cannulas can be used closer to the skin surface to provide a superior result with the Tumescent Technique
In Tumescent liposuction, the area to be treated is injected before any fat is removed. This solution contains Adrenaline to control bleeding and a long-acting local Anesthetic to minimize discomfort after the procedure.
Is Liposuction Safe?
Yes liposuction can be 100% safe.
During your consultation
Your surgeon will ask about
1. Your general health
2. Any conditions that might interfere with liposuction 3.Your goals for the surgery and the specific areas of liposuction
4. He may tell you that you could require more than one liposuction session to achieve your goal without risk.
5. Your surgeon may also recommend an alternative procedure such as a tummy tuck, if the abdominal skin has become too loose.
6. If you have loose skin and dimpling (cellulite), you are not an ideal candidate for liposuction. Indeed, liposuction could make these conditions worse. In these situations, abdominoplasty, thigh lift or body lift may be a better procedure for you.
Operation
Liposuction may be performed under general or local anesthesia and it takes between 30 minutes and several hours depending on the number of areas treated and the volume of reduction. Less extensive liposuction may be performed as a day care. For larger volume reductions or multiple areas treated, an overnight hospital stay is recommended
After your surgery
1. The most important aspect of treatment after your procedure is the wearing of pressure garments. These may be needed for up to six weeks- three weeks day and night, three weeks overnight only. How fast you recover depends on how extensive your procedure was.
2. Tenderness, bruising and swelling are normal after your procedure but should subside in the following weeks.
3. You should walk around as soon as possible to reduce swelling and restore the circulation to normal. This reduces the risk of clots in the leg veins (Deep vein thrombosis).
4. You will need adequate rest in the days and weeks after your procedure as well as regular, gentle exercise
5. You may experience some leakage of fluid from your incisions.
6. Numbness and itching of the area treated may be expected after surgery but should disappear gradually.
7. Once the swelling has subsided, temporary patchy firmness of the treated area is usual. Massage at this stage helps soften and flatten the area.
8. If large amounts of fat are removed, loose skin may be a problem depending on your skin and the area of the body where the surgery was performed.
9. If you have elastic skin which contracts well. If your skin is not elastic (people with stretch marks) you may require skin tightening procedures in addition to the liposuction. These skin tightening procedures may include thigh and abdominal tucks.
10. Once you have completely recovered from surgery, it is very important to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Result
Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck
Many people think that liposuction and abdominoplasty are the same; however, this is not true.
With liposuction, fat can be removed and the skin and the muscles can become tight again. Abdominoplasty is used to get rid of extra skin, fat and is also used to tighten muscles that have been stretched out through weight gain or pregnancy.
Tightening both the skin and muscles is the key focus with a tummy tuck. However, this surgery can leave a scar on the lower abdomen; the scar can be hidden behind a swimsuit. With abdominoplasty, the recovery time is significantly greater than that with liposuction. With liposuction, patients can get back to work in a shorter amount of time and are left with little to no scarring.
Abdominoplasty requires patients to spend the night at the hospital, as well as take two or more weeks off from work and their duties around the home to allow the body to recover.
