Liposuction (Lipoplasty)

Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat deposits located between the skin and muscle. Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula. The liposuction cannula, which is typically connected to a powerful suction pump, is inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. The fat is then removed by suction as the cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fat. During the healing process after liposuction, these tiny tunnels shrink and disappear, resulting in an improved body contour.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

The information presented below is only for informational purposes. Your surgeon will talk to you about details regarding your specific procedure.

Who are the best candidates for Liposuction?

The best candidates for liposuction are in good health and have realistic expectations of what liposuction can accomplish. Liposuction can provide a good candidate with a significant improvement, but it is unlikely to achieve perfection. A good candidate usually has one or more localized accumulations of fat that can be removed by liposuction. There is no definite age or weight limit for patients who are good candidates for liposuction. Many liposuction patients are of average size but are concerned about localized accumulations of fat.

People who are overly obese or those that have serious medical problems are not good candidates for liposuction. Liposuction is not a good treatment of obesity. Liposuction is not effective, even as a last resort, for people who are unable to lose weight by dieting and exercise. Obese patients almost always regain the weight that is removed by liposuction unless there is a dramatic reduction in calorie intake (by dieting) or a significant increase in calorie expenditure (by exercising). Whenever large-volume liposuction has been used in an attempt to treat obesity by surgery, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of serious surgical complications. It is not safe to remove huge amounts of fat by liposuction. It is dangerous to remove more than 8 to 10 pounds of fat by liposuction in a single day. Thus, liposuction will not be of any significant benefit for an obese patient who believes that liposuction will aid in the effort to lose weight. все рекламные услуги в Осетии рекламу бесплатно

An overweight person whose weight has been stable for many years and has certain problem-areas of fat may be a good candidate for liposuction. Liposuction in an obese patient is reasonable when the goal is to improve a troublesome body contour area. It is not reasonable to use liposuction as a surgical technique for weight loss.

Is liposuction surgery painful?

After the procedure, you will most likely feel like you have a large bruise. Strong pain medications are generally needed for a few days, and then most patients become more comfortable. The older methods of liposuction usually required general anesthesia. But using the "tumescent technique", liposuction is less painful than the older methods, and can easily be done under "twilight" and local anesthetic, so that patients can be comfortable and awake through the operation. This is quite suitable for the hour or two that is required to treat an area. However, some procedures can require several hours, especially if more than one area is being treated, and that is a long time to lie on an operating table, so some patients prefer general anesthesia. стоматология стоматолги в Краснодаре

Where are the scars after liposuction?

The scars with the tumescent technique liposuction are about 3/16 inch long. For liposuction under the chin, they are located behind each earlobe, and often another just under the chin. For liposuction of the breasts, they are located in the under-breast crease and out to the side. For the upper arms, they are located at several points along the arm. For the abdomen, they are located at the navel, at the pubic hairline, and one on each side of the abdomen. For the thighs, there are several depending upon the extent of the fat excess, located around the periphery of the area being treated. For the knees, there are two per knee, usually in skin creases. The scars for ultrasonic liposuction are somewhat longer. Наша консалтинговая фирма выполняет бухгалтерские услуги для компаний в Краснодаре

Does liposuction produce permanent results?

After liposuction the body’s new shape is more or less permanent. If a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. As long as the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent. Of course even after liposuction, advancing age will produce the usual changes in the shape of the body associated with the aging process. If a person gains weight after liposuction, she/he will not accumulate as much fat in the treated areas as would have happened if liposuction had not been done.

Does the fat come back in other spots after liposuction?

If a patient does not gain weight after liposuction, then fat does not accumulate in other areas of the body. However, if a patient gains a significant amount of weight, say more than 10 pounds (5 kg), after liposuction, then the fat must go somewhere. In fact, the fat accumulates in every area of the body in proportion to the amount of fat cells in each area. Areas where fat cells have been removed by liposuction will accumulate relatively little fat, while areas not treated by liposuction will collect relatively more fat. For example, if a woman gains weight after liposuction of her hips, outer thighs, and abdomen, then most of the fat will be deposited elsewhere such as the woman’s breasts, face, back and legs.

What is the recovery period after liposuction and when can I resume my normal activities?

Recovery time depends on the individual, but usually follows a general pattern. For the first few days, you will take some pain medication. During this time, you will be asked not to drive a car or operate machinery. After one week post-op, you can start light exercise, such as walking, treadmill, stationary bike, but not impact exercises like running or aerobics. The second week, weights or exercise machines can be added, and then after three weeks, running and aerobics can be done. The point at which work can be resumed depends upon how the work activities fit into the progression described above, and this depends on each individual’s situation. The surgeon will recommend that a compression bandage, or elastic binder, or girdle-type garment be worn nearly continuously for the first two or three weeks, and generally for much of the time during several weeks or months thereafter.