Advances in Liposuction Techniques

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Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure in plastic surgery in which doctors typically use a hollow, thin tube (cannula) to suction out the excess fats under the skin in order to improve the body’s contour.  This treatment usually targets the fatty deposits in the abdomen, thigh, arms, buttocks, male breasts, calves, ankles, back, chin, and neck.

While this plastic surgery approach aims to eliminate the excess fats under the skin, this should not be treated as a substitute to weight loss surgery since it cannot remove the visceral fat (the one that covers the organs) which only responds to diet and exercise.

With the advances in liposuction techniques, modern procedures are significantly more effective and safer compared to earlier fat removal surgeries which even required blood transfusion due to the considerable bleeding.

To date, most plastic surgeons use the tumescent liposuction technique which is said to be the safest way to remove the excess fats.  In this procedure, they inject the fatty area with a solution consisting of epinephrine to constrict the blood vessels and prevent bleeding, and lidocaine to numb the treated area.

The combination of these two drugs is almost perfect; the epinephrine spreads the effect of lidocaine (a type of local anesthesia) for up to 36 hours, and as a result, the risk of toxicity and over-dosage is almost eliminated and the patients can avoid taking additional pain medications during this period.

Despite the safety of this solution, plastic surgeons still limit the amount of lidocaine to 50 milligrams for every kilogram weight of a patient in order to prevent toxicity.  With this medical standard, the tumescent liposuction has been noted for its unprecedented safety record that no death has been reported unlike with the use of general anesthesia or IV sedation.

Aside from the tumescent technique, the fat removal surgery has also been safer with the acknowledgement of the body’s limit.  For example, doctors have realized that collecting more than 3 or 4 liters of fats in a single day can expose their patients to a high level of surgical trauma and bleeding.  With this consideration, it is now a common practice to perform several liposuction treatments (performed a few months apart) if there is a need to remove more amounts of fats.

But even with the introduction of tumescent solution and new liposuction standard, this plastic surgery procedure still requires recovery and involves certain risks.  For these reasons, doctors always conduct screening tests to determine a patient’s physical and emotional health.

To be on the safe side, patients should only consult with board-certified plastic surgeons who have at least five years of practicing liposuction surgery.

Cosmetic Surgery Blogger @ October 25, 2011