What is liposuction?
Liposuction (from Greek “lipos” - fat and English “suction”) is an esthetic (cosmetic) surgery performed to eliminate localized fat depositions on thighs, breech, abdomen, arms, neck, and chin area. Sometimes liposuction is performed to eliminate fat in other areas. This method was developed about 20 years ago in France and is now widely used all over the world under various names (lipoaspiration, vacuum lipectomy, etc.) Currently liposuction is one of the most widespread cosmetic surgeries.
What are indications for liposuction?
Liposuction is performed if body contours are deformed, in case of so-called “fat traps” when adipose tissue is accumulated in particular body areas. The most popular place for fat traps are thighs (“breeches”), inside surface of knee-joints, lower part of abdomen. Liposuction is very rarely used for obesity treatment. This condition requires a comprehensive approach, and such desperate measure as fat extraction is not used in this case to correct body contours.
Liposuction can be one of the stages of other surgeries, e.g. abdominoplasty or face rejuvenation surgeries. Liposuction is not effective for treatment of stretch marks or cellulite.
Liposuction allows decreasing or elimination of local fat depositions and can be used to improve body contours and general appearance. This surgery is not meant for obesity treatment or body weight reduction
Can liposuction eliminate cellulite?
Liposuction is not meant for cellulite elimination. However certain improvement can be observed after the surgery because of decrease of fat deposition layer.
Advantages
Liposuction is a low-traumatic surgery that does not cause cicatrisation and rough deformations. It has no serious complications, or, to be precise, they occur very rarely. The probability of recurrent fat accumulation in fat traps after liposuction is significantly reduced because connective tissue is forming in these areas. The main advantage of liposuction is its result.
What results can be achieved with liposuction?
Liposuction can have a changing effect but consultation of plastic surgeon is necessary for exact prediction of its result. Sometimes best results can be achieved with combination of liposuction with surgical lipectomy (removal of cellulocutaneous flaps), in other cases liposuction may be not indicated. The patient has to clearly state his/her wishes and goals during consultation and make a reasonable decision based on surgeon’s recommendations. It is necessary to remember that the surgery can result in improvement but not in absolute perfection.
Liposuction is perfect for the patients with local fat depositions that cannot be eliminated by diets and physical activity. This surgery does not presuppose body weight reduction. Usually the skin that covers affected area is contracted after the surgery but in some cases if skin surplus is very high it can be removed.
How stable is the result of this procedure?
Usually removed adipose tissue does not form again in the area of the intervention. If body weight does not increase after the surgery then liposuction effect stays permanently. If the patient does not keep to a diet, adipose tissue can accumulate in adjacent areas.
Is it painful?
The choice of anesthesia depends on the extent of surgical intervention. Local anesthesia can be used if the volume of extracted fat is small (up to 1.5 liters) and for local forms of depositions. Lidocaine solution is used as an anesthetic. General anesthesia is used if fat is extracted in three or more areas and if its volume is high.
How is liposuction performed?
Physiological solution with anesthetic, adrenaline (for blood vessels contraction), and ferments for adipose tissue destruction is injected through small skin incisions 1-1.5 cm long. Then metal pipes with individually chosen diameter are inserted into incisions and connected to vacuum-suction. Then adipose tissue is evenly eliminated. Ultrasound is used to increase fat destruction effect. Ultrasound liposuction is more effective and less traumatic; therefore it is more acceptable for the patient.
Complications
Complications after liposuction are rare. Their probability mostly depends on the level of the clinic, qualification and experience of doctors, and equipment and materials used. Common complications are fat embolism (blood vessels plugging up with fat nubbins), tromboembolism (blood vessels plugging up with blood clots), and anemia (at big volumes of liposuctions). Local complications include appearance of contour irregularities, secondary infection, liquid outflow disturbance (edemata), and skin sensitivity disturbance. Let me remind you that complications depend on the level of the clinic, qualification and experience of doctors, and materials used. In clinics of European standard complications are very rare, which cannot be said about non-licensed and non-certified institutions.
How is liposuction performed?
Liposuction is a surgical correction of body contours through removal of fat depositions with the help of vacuum-suction.
Liposuction can be performed under local or general anesthesia depending on the volume of the surgery. Vacuum elimination of fat deposition is performed through special cannula inserted into small (0.5-1 cm) skin incisions. Fat extraction is most often performed on front and side surfaces of abdomen, buttocks, outward (“breeches”) and inward surfaces of thighs, in the areas of knees, shoulders, chin and neck. It is necessary to wear special elastic underwear for some time after the surgery to decrease the edemata and promote proper skin contraction.
What is the duration of hospitalization?
It depends on extent of intervention and general health condition. Usual duration of hospitalization is 1-3 days.
Are there any side effects of this procedure?
Edema and bruises in the intervention area can remain for several weeks after the surgery. Infection processes and excessive cicatrisation are observed very rarely. Skin undulation and tuberosity can be caused by insufficient skin elasticity, although the skin usually contracts during post-operative period and its surface becomes more smooth.
Are there any cicatrices?
As skin incisions are very small (about 1-1.5 cm), cicatrices are virtually unnoticeable.
When usual life rhythm can be restored?
This is an individual question. Most patients can renew usual social activity in a week after the surgery. Often this period is even shorter. In some cases it increases; it depends upon the extent of intervention, age, health condition, and other factors. |
