What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove pockets of fat beneath the skin to contour specific areas of the body. Fat is removed using suction and a small tube called a cannula and then a small incision will be made near the area to be treated to allow the cannula to fit through the skin. Using suction, the surgeon will remove unwanted fat cells. Then the incision will be closed.

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Is liposuction used as weight reduction procedure?

Liposuction is not meant for weight loss, but it is to reshape areas of the body through the removal of fat deposits.

What are the benefits?

Liposuction can eliminate small deposits of fat from stubborn areas that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. And it also provides a way to override genetics and take control of the shape of your body.

The amount of fat to remove:

Fat removal is limited to 3,000 to 5,000 cc per operation for safety reasons. If there is a need to remove additional fat, then subsequent surgeries may be necessary.

Will the fat reaccumulate after liposuction?

Liposuction removes the fat cells from specific areas of the body. These fat cells will not be formed again. However, if the patient does not follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly, the remaining fat cells could expand and lead to weight gain in the other areas of the body.

Procedure:

Various types of anesthesia can be used for liposuction procedures. Liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia. However, the local anesthesia is usually used along with intravenous sedation to keep the person more relaxed during the procedure.
Regional anesthesia like epidural or spinal can be a good choice for more extensive procedures. However, some patients require general anesthesia, particularly if a large volume of fat is being removed.
The time required to perform liposuction may vary considerably, depending on the amount of fat being removed, the size of the area, the type of anesthesia and the technique changed.

How do we do liposuction?

We use the Power-Assisted Lipoplasty( PAL) Device to perform this procedure. It uses powered cannula at 2 mm, reciprocating movement at 4000 cycles per minute to facilitate the procedure. This means that less force is required, especially in areas with more fibrous tissue. The PAL is not ultrasonic. No heat is generated by the instrument or cannula, so burning isn’t a concern.

Patient Benefits:

• Less Trauma, Better Results.
• No Heat means No Risk of Burning.
• Liposuction done by this method is very safe.

Post-operative:

The local anesthesia injected into the tissue greatly reduce post- operative pain. After liposuction, most patients are generally conscious and alert. Patients are encouraged to walk immediately after surgery. Patients can usually return to a desk-type job within a few days. Mild physical exercise may be resumed three to seven days after the procedure. The stitches if any are removed or dissolved on their own within the first week to 10 days. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new shape, Pressure elastic garments are needed for 8 weeks.

What are the different liposuction techniques?

• Suction assisted lipectomy.
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction.
• Power assisted liposuction.

Areas Treated with Liposuction:

Abdomen.
Male Breast enlargement.
Hips.
Breast reduction.
Inner thighs.
Chin.
Outer thighs.
Outer 2/3 of buttocks.

Will liposuction eliminate stretch marks and cellulite?

Liposuction is generally not used for elimination of Cellulite and Stretch marks.

Age Limitations:

The patient should be an adult. There is no upper age limitation although the younger age gives the better results. Patients over 50 years of age are at increased risk for loose hanging skin and skin irregularities (dimpling or rippling of the skin).

Persons Not Suitable for Liposuction:

• A person who is on anticoagulants.
• Persons with bleeding tendencies.
• A person with Lidocaine (Local Anaesthesia) Allergy.
• Pregnant Ladies and Lactating mothers.

What risks are associated with liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure as a result, it carries the same risks as any other surgery. Serious but rare complications are Pulmonary embolism, Perforation of organs, Anaesthetic complication, Lidocaine toxicity, Fluid imbalance. Bleeding, Bruises, Seroma, Infection, Pigmentation, Burns, Scars, Nerve injuries, etc. are less common. However, with experience and all necessary precautions, the complication rate is 1-2 % only.

Your new look:

You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body quite soon after surgery. However, the improvement will become even more apparent after about four to six weeks when most of the swelling has subsided. Any persistent mild swelling usually disappears after about three months, and the final contour will be visible.

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