Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, body contouring, or simply "lipo," is a cosmetic surgical procedure to remove fat cells from specific areas of the body using the suction technique. Commonly targeted areas are the neck, arms, abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks.
Liposuction helps get rid of fat deposits that have not responded well to changes in diet or exercise. It slims down and reshapes your body parts to give the overall body a better proportion and look.
The most commonly employed types of liposuction include:
- Tumescent Liposuction: This is the most common type of liposuction. In this procedure, a sterile solution that contains salt water to aid fat removal, an anesthetic to relieve pain, and a drug to constrict blood vessels, is injected into the area being treated. The surgeon is then able to remove fat easily.
- Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL): In this type, the surgeon uses ultrasonic energy via a metal rod placed underneath your skin to break down the fat for easy removal from the body. Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance (VASER) liposuction, a new type of UAL, uses a stainless steel tool with grooves and ultrasound waves to break and remove fat cells from the body.
- Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL): This type of liposuction uses a small, stainless steel tool (called a cannula) that moves back and forth rapidly over tough fat to break it up for removal. This method is associated with less pain and more precision.
- Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL): This liposuction uses high-intensity laser light to liquefy or emulsify fat for easy removal. The fat is then removed through a cannula. An advantage of this type of liposuction is that only a small incision is needed to perform the procedure.
Before The Procedure:
- Understanding liposuction: Schedule a consultation with the surgeon and discuss every aspect of liposuction - the steps involved, the goals of the procedure, your expectations, potential outcomes, benefits, and risks. Use this session to get answers to any queries that you may have.
- Analysis of medical history: Before scheduling a liposuction, the surgeon will understand your medical history, including past conditions, treatments, surgeries, allergies, and risk factors. You should also provide details about your current medications and supplements, as well as any drug, alcohol, or tobacco use.
- Complete health evaluation: Before you are cleared for the procedure, the surgeon will perform a complete physical examination, analyze your skin type, order lab tests such as blood work, and take measurements and photographs of various body parts for later review.
- Pre-surgery instructions: To prepare for the procedure, the surgeon will ask you to stop smoking, take or adjust certain medications, and avoid any class of medication that may increase bleeding. You will have to make arrangements to be driven home from the facility and get help at home for a few days after the surgery.
During The Procedure
Though the specific steps depend on the type of liposuction you have opted for, the procedure consists of:
- Surgical markings: The surgeon starts the procedure by marking points on the areas of your body to be operated on. These points would have been mutually decided earlier by both parties. Your surgeon can also help you decide which liposuction technique to opt for, based on your treatment goals, the area of your body to be treated, and any previous history of liposuction procedures in Indore.
- Anesthesia: A doctor will administer anesthesia so that you are comfortable throughout the procedure. Liposuction may be performed under general anesthesia or a combination of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation.
- Making incisions and removing fat cells: Once you are under the effect of anesthesia, the surgeon will make small incisions. They will then insert a suction device attached to a small, stainless steel instrument called a cannula through these incisions into the fatty areas between your skin and muscle. The cannula is moved back and forth through controlled motions to break up the fat. The excess fat is then removed with a suction pipe or large syringe attached to the cannula.
- Closing the incisions: Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon will close up the incision sites with stitches that may be dissolvable or non-dissolvable.
After the Procedure
- Recovery: Once the liposuction is complete, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. Some amount of pain, bruising, soreness, and swelling is expected as part of the recovery. You may also be given a compression garment to be worn for a few weeks to help with the swelling and for your skin to adapt to its new contours. You may also be given medication for pain relief and prevention of infection.
- Drainage: The surgeon may place one or more small, thin tubes under your skin near the incision sites to collect excess fluid or blood from the sites. This is a temporary arrangement but should be continued until the surgeon advises about its removal.
- Post-operative care instructions: It is important that you follow all instructions given by the surgeon about caring for the incision site and drains, oral and topical medications, any signs of complications to look out for, and a schedule of follow-up appointments. Make sure you resolve any queries you may have about the recovery period.
You should be able to return to work or school within a few days of the procedure. It may take between 3 and 6 months for the swelling to go away completely from the surgical sites and for you to see the results of liposuction.
Benefits
The benefits of liposuction include:
- Solution to stubborn weight and fat
- Improved body tone and definition
- Enhanced self-confidence
- Reduced risk of health problems associated with excess weight
- Ease of performing daily activities and exercise
Risks
Every surgery comes with a set of risks you should be aware of, including gynecomastia, and liposuction is no exception. Possible risks include:
- Complications related to anesthesia such as breathing issues
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Poor wound healing
- Pain
- Scarring
- Persistent changes in skin sensation
- Fluid accumulation
- Fat embolism
- Irregular contours
- Loose skin or worsening of cellulite
- Allergies or reactions to materials and drugs used in the surgery
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