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Liposuction

In Association with the Cosmetic Medical Group

Liposuction is a well known procedure that removes unwanted fatty deposits from the body using surgical procedures.  Unfortunately sometimes exercise and diet alone will not reduce certain areas of body fat, and it is in these instances that liposuction can be utilised, pinpointing certain areas for fat removal.  With advances in liposuction techniques, greater accuracy can now be achieved allowing liposuction to not only remove fatty deposits, but also to reshape and contour areas of the body. 

Why People Want Body Fat Removal Treatments

There are certain areas of the body that are notoriously difficult to shift fat from.  Even diet and exercise can have no effect, sometimes making the areas appear worse as they become out of proportion with other parts of the body that are losing weight.  These problem areas include:

• Hips
• Thighs
• Back
• Underarms
• Abdominal areas

Liposuction can target these problem areas and remove the fat cells that otherwise would continue to settle.  Everyone is unique in their expectations and requirements for liposuction, and as a result there are many differing options available to you.  Some forms are more appropriate for those looking to reshape their already relatively healthy bodies, whereas others are more suitable for larger areas of fat reduction.  No liposuction technique is a weight loss method, and for those who are considered severely overweight or obese, liposuction can only produce limited results.  It is important to discuss the many options available to you, as well as your expectations of the surgery, with your surgeon so that the most appropriate form of liposuction can be chosen. 

Reasonable Expectations from Liposuction

Liposuction can only remove a certain amount of fat cells safely, and the skin often can’t retract over the fat cells removed if too many are removed at one time.  When skin has been stretched it looses its elasticity and as a result an Abdominoplasty might be more suitable, where skin can be removed and stretched over the stomach, instead of liposuction.  Any results from liposuction could take up to 6 months to see, and it is imperative that in order to achieve any long lasting result that you stick to the advice given by your surgeon concerning diet and exercise following surgery.

Basic Liposuction Procedure

The technical basis for each liposuction procedure is very similar, despite the many differing forms of liposuction now available.  The area of the body that the patient and surgeon decide to remove the unwanted fat cells from, is mapped out.  Before surgery, you will be placed under either a local or a general anaesthesia, the area will be injected with tumescent fluid, and then the cells will be vacuumed out using a cannula.  Depending on the form of liposuction being used, various tools or energy probes might be used after the area has been injected with tumescent, to enable the greater break down of fat cells.

Types of Liposuction

In the past liposuction as a form of cosmetic surgery, was performed ‘dry’.  This means that no injections were used, and no additional fluids were inserted to help detach the fat cells from the surrounding muscle and tissue.  This led to high degrees of bruising and bleeding, meant that the procedure was highly traumatic to the body and involved a lot of effort from the surgeon.  Accuracy was weak because of the force needed to remove the fat cells and you would have had to have been placed under a general anaesthetic.  Liposuction, as a result of this, used to be quite an invasive surgery, requiring hospitalisation and a long recovery period.

Recently the ‘dry’ method of liposuction has been abandoned for ‘wet’ techniques that involve the injection of tumescent liquids into the area being treated before a cannula is used to suction out the fat cells.  This can be used in conjunction with different forms of liposuction. 

Laser Liposuction/Smart Lipo

This liposuction method uses lasers to liquefy fat cells and detach then from the surrounding tissues making them easier to extract.  This allows for less trauma to the body and subsequent shortened healing time. 

VASER Liposuction/VASER Liposelection

VASER uses ultrasound energy to break-up the fat, ready for removal from the body. This procedure has become widely used and gained increased popularity.

Power-assisted Liposuction (PAL) & Ultrasonic-assisted Liposuction (UAL)

In PAL, after the tumescent liquids have been injected the cannula is used with specific attachments which allow the greater ease of fat cell extraction.  These tools use different forms of vibrations to gently loosen the fat cells. The devices produce rapid, small vibrations, enabling easy suction. The UAL technique uses ultrasonic sound waves to loosen and liquefy the fat cells before they are removed.  This method has been used to remove greater amount of fat cells in a short space of time than other methods, and has reported high success in reshaping and body contouring.

As new techniques are advanced the length of time liposuction takes, and the recovery time necessary are significantly reduced.  There is a lot of choice with regards the different types of liposuction and it is a good idea to discuss all of these options with your surgeon.

Liposuction Recovery & Healing

Due to the individual nature of liposuction every patient will take different amounts of time to heal and to reach their final result.  As a general rule you will have to take everyday pain medication for the first couple of days after your liposuction procedure.  Sometimes your surgeon may require you to wear a pressure garment for the first couple of weeks after your surgery, but this is now only really necessary for people who have had intensive liposuction, the practice no longer being deemed entirely beneficial.  Bruising, swelling and bleeding may occur, but ought to dissipate over time.  The final result might take 6 months to appear, as your body continues to break down loosened fat cells for months after the surgery.  Depending on the type of liposuction you undertake you may need to take up to two weeks off work, although often people can return sooner than that.  It is important to follow the advice of your surgeon and not to rush the recovery period.

Potential Risks of Liposuction

As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks and with any procedure performed under general anaesthesia, there are additional risks.  However, due to the minimal invasiveness of modern liposuction, these dangers are greatly diminished.  Some of the risks involve infection, inflammation, discharge from the incision sites and inflammation of the veins.  Risks can be increased or decreased depending on an individual’s risk factors, such as previous health problems or certain lifestyle choices.  Many of these risks are readily treatable.  Your doctor will discuss with you any potential problems that may be present in your particular situation.

As you review your options, know that not everyone is a candidate for liposuction treatment.  The methods of treatment used will vary based upon the areas of the body to be treated and the results desired.  The best start is to ensure that your physician is an experienced and credentialed cosmetic surgeon. Liposuction can make a real difference to your life, giving you confidence in your body again.

Benefits of Liposuction »