Liposuction Surgery

As you get older, it is more likely that small pockets of fat will develop in different locations on your body. These problem areas can be difficult to get rid of with diet and exercise alone, especially if it is an inherited trait. Liposuction, also known as "lipoplasty" or "suction lipectomy," can remove this fat, sculpting your body into a more pleasing contour. This procedure will not, however, counteract obesity - it is for smaller, localized areas of fat in the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, neck, etc. It is also not a cure for cellulite.

One of the great things about liposuction surgery is that there are a variety of options. The basic procedure is the same in all cases - the doctor inserts the cannula, a narrow tube, and uses it to suction out the unwanted fat. In addition to the various areas on which liposuction can be performed, there are also a variety of techniques that can be used:

• Fluid Injection Technique - This liposuction technique is performed by inserting fluid into the fat deposit prior to removal. This will allow your surgeon to extract fat easier. This technique helps to reduce blood loss and minimize any bruises.
• Tumescent Liposuction Technique - If you don't want to be put under general anesthesia, tumescent liposuction could be the best option for you. Liquid containing large amounts of anesthesia and medicine are injected in the same way as with the Fluid Injection Technique. This means that no additional anesthesia is required, allowing you to stay awake for the duration of the surgery. This is especially important if you have negative reactions or you have a family history of complications with general anesthesia.
• Super-Wet Technique - This liposuction technique is almost identical to the tumescent technique, except it takes significantly less time to perform. It is one of the safer techniques because less fluid is introduced into the body. Because it's so much quicker, sedation or local anesthesia is often all that is required.
• Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL) Technique - In order to make fat removal easier, a special cannula has been developed for liposuction surgery that emits ultrasonic energy. This basically liquefies the fat, allowing it be removed much easier, especially from any areas that are more fibrous or need a bit more precision. This is very often performed in conjunction with other liposuction techniques and will take a little longer to complete.

Clearly, there are many options to consider in your pursuit of liposuction surgery. The doctors at California Surgical Institute can help address your individual concerns and conditions to determine which technique will work best for your body. The end result will be less fat, a better body contour, and improved self-esteem.

Is Liposuction Right for Me?

If you have been thinking about undergoing liposuction, the most important thing you need to have is realistic expectations about what liposuction can do for you. Liposuction can dramatically enhance your appearance but, like all other surgeries, it's not a magical fit for everything that bothers you about your body.

As far as physical requirements go, the ideal prospects for liposuction are individuals whose weight falls in a normal range but have excess fat on specific areas of their body. Individuals with skin that is elastic and firm will achieve the best results from liposuction.

This procedure poses more risks for patients that have recently had surgery close to the site where the liposuction will be performed. Other factors that increase the risk of this surgery include sub-par blood circulation, diabetes, lung disease or heart disease.

What are the Risks of Having Liposuction?

Although a certified and experienced surgeon working in a proper environment can minimize the risks of this procedure, all surgeries present certain risks and complications. When a larger area or multiple areas are worked on during liposuction, the chance of encountering a complication with the procedure increases.

In the case of having liposuction performed on multiple or large areas, potential risks include blood clots or fat clots, delayed healing, large loss of fluids, negative reaction to a medication, perforation of a vital organ, friction burns or infection. Risks are rare and uncommon, but should be acknowledged when considering this procedure.

Certain types of liposuction also present their own specific risks. Because Ultrasonic Liposuction (UAL) uses ultrasonic heat to dissolve fat cells, in addition to potentially causing deep tissue or skin injuries, it may pose negative long-term effects that have not yet been identified; however, no conditions have currently been linked to this type of liposuction. Since anesthetic fluid is used during the super-wet and tumescent methods of liposuction, there is the potential for lidocaine toxicity or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This condition is extremely rare and this risk is significantly decreased by selecting a qualified plastic surgeon for your liposuction procedure.

Since liposuction does require making small incisions in your skin, you will have scars after your procedure. However, most surgeons do their best to make these incisions as small and inconspicuous as possible. Depending on your specific procedure and the type of skin you have, you may experience areas of skin that are asymmetric, baggy or irregular (these conditions are more common in older patients with less elastic skin).

How Do I Get Started?

The first step towards having this procedure done is choosing a plastic surgeon. It's important to select a doctor with certification by the ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery). This certification ensures that the surgeon has completed all of the necessary education and training to properly perform plastic surgery.

Once you have selected your surgeon, you will have your initial consultation. This allows your surgeon to evaluate your body, overall health and mind. By discussing your goals for having this procedure, your surgeon will be able to help you select the best method for getting the results you desire.

In addition to discussing the method for your procedure, your surgeon will also talk to you about the costs, risks and effectiveness of liposuction. You should ask your surgeon all of the questions you have on your mind, and if you feel like your surgeon hasn't fully covered a topic, don't be afraid to ask them to elaborate on it. By thoroughly discussing your potential liposuction during your initial consultation, you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to go through with having the procedure.

Before Liposuction Surgery

If you decide during your initial consultation that you do want to have the liposuction procedure, your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to prepare. These instructions will include rules about medications and vitamins you can and cannot take, as well as instructions for eating and drinking. Patients will be instructed to refrain from smoking for at least 2 weeks.

In the event that any part of your body gets infected or you develop a cold before your surgery, it's important to inform your surgeon of what's happened. They may make the decision to temporarily postpone your surgery in order to help protect your health.

Since you will be sore and weak for the first few days after surgery, it's important to find at least one person that can not only take you home from the hospital, but also help you at home during your first few days of recovery.

The Liposuction Procedure

Before your procedure begins, you will be given a specific type of anesthesia. Although you will need to discuss which type of anesthesia is best for you with your surgeon, there are generally three types that can be used during liposuction. For patients who do not want to be awake during the surgery or are having a large amount of liposuction done, general anesthesia is usually the best option. For liposuction done on just a small part of the body, local anesthesia can be used to numb the site of the procedure. And for patients looking for an option between general and local anesthesia, a regional anesthesia (such as an epidural block, which is also used during pregnancies) can be used to completely numb a large percentage of the body without the need to be put to sleep.

When your procedure begins, the surgeon will make a small incision in your skin. A narrow tube will be inserted through this incision, and is then used to vacuum out a deep layer of fat. As the tube is pushed back and forth, it will break up the cells of fat, which makes it easier to vacuum them out. This procedure is repeated on each area of the body that you and your surgeon have agreed to work on.

Because the scope of liposuction can vary so greatly depending on the amount of fat being taken out and the number of areas that are worked on, it's not realistic to give a general estimate for how long liposuction takes to complete. However, during your initial consultation, your doctor will be able to give you a reliable estimate of how long it will take to finish your procedure.

Liposuction Recovery

After your procedure is complete, your surgeon will most likely instruct you to start walking as soon as possible. Although it won't feel great, this will help avoid blood clots in your legs and also help to reduce the swelling caused by your procedure. In most cases, you should be able to return to your job after a few days of recovery. Your body will still be feeling the effects of the procedure, but this will gradually go away over the two weeks following your procedure. If your surgeon did not use dissolvable stitches to close your incisions, you will need to go back and get them removed after the first seven to ten days of recovery.

While it doesn't take long to start walking and working again, you need to give your body quite a bit more time to heal before you start engaging in any strenuous activity again. Your doctor will give you directions on how long you need to wait before engaging in activities that put physical stress on your body.

As with any surgical procedure, if you notice any strange symptoms once your procedure has been completed (such as excessive pain or bleeding), you need to get in contact with your doctor as soon as possible. If you experience complications as a result of your liposuction, the sooner they are identified, the easier it is for your doctor to deal with them successfully.

As you continue to heal, you will notice most of your bruising will fade after three weeks. However, some bruises may remain on your body a longer period of time. Even though you can see a change in the shape of your body shortly after your procedure has been completed, it takes four to six weeks of healing and letting the swelling subside before you can see the true shape of your newly contoured body.

In order to maintain your newly rejuvenated shape, it is important for you to exercise regularly (once your doctor has said you can resume strenuous activities) and to eat a healthy and balanced diet. If you are unsure of how to get started in either of these areas, your doctor will be able to recommend exercise and nutrition professionals that can help you preserve the new shape of your body.

Women may have liposuction performed under the chin, on their hips, thighs, and stomach, and in the under arm and breast area.

For men, common sites include under the chin and around the waist. Liposuction may also be used in< the reduction of enlarged male breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia.

Healthy, normal-weight people with elastic skin and pockets of excess fat are good candidates for surgery.

The best candidates for liposuction are of normal weight with localized areas of excess fat-- for example, in the buttocks, hips, and thighs.

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.

A snug compression garment worn after surgery helps reduce swelling.

Improvement will become apparent after about six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.

As healing progresses, a more proportional look will emerge.

A slimmer body contour can help you feel more confident and comfortable.