Liposhifting body contouring plastic surgery for fat transfer

Liposhifting is a very modern type of surgery used for what plastic surgeons call “body contouring”. During body contouring, the plastic surgeon uses an instrument to emulsify existing fat and then push remaining fat into a new position (fat transfer) or shape. It is used to remove and redefine the look of cellulite as well as to reshape fat deposits on the lower part of the body.

Unlike liposuction, liposhifting does not remove fat from unwanted areas of the body. The instrument does not vacuum fat away, but rather it is designed to emulsify the fat that is there and then regurgitate it back into the body so that the overlying skin contour appears smoother.

The procedure was practically invented to correct the cellulite that can spontaneously occur after standard plastic surgery treatments such as thigh lifts and buttock lifts. It liquefies hard lumps of fat so that the skin has a more polished, smooth appearance. It is also used for deep indentations and scars.

Liposhifting is only recommended for areas of the body that require large areas of fat to be altered. It is not suitable for use on the face as the instrument is simply too large and caustic not to cause those delicate areas damage. However, the ideal candidate for liposhifting is an individual who is good health and be overweight by more than 25%. A good plastic surgeon will not agree to displace more than 10% of the body fat during a liposhifting procedure, as it is dangerous for your health.

In a standard operation, the plastic surgeon makes an incision on the appropriate area on the body. He then inserts the liposhifting instrument beneath the skin. The instrument resembles a miniature cheese grater and is called the Micro Fat Cutter. The tool has tiny holes all through it that, when moved around in a fat pocket, act as blades to separate the fat. The broken down fat is then released back into the body through the unit and back under the skin so that the skin lies flat in a neater, smoother layer.

Occasionally, if there is not enough fat within the site to repair the indentation or ripples, the plastic surgeon will harvest fat from another part of the body. An incision is made from the host site (usually on the buttocks or thighs), the fat “grated” and emulsified and then transferred to the recipient site.

Liposhifting is usually only done with local tumescent anesthesia. The area beneath the skin is flushed out with lidocaine (a local anesthetic), saline (salt water) and epinephrine (a drug that narrows blood vessels and prevents bleeding during surgery.) The tumescent technique of liposuction is now considered the safest form of plastic surgery for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Tumescent liposuction also eliminates the necessity for general anesthesia as the treatment is localized. The less bleeding there is the less likely there is to be infection and the epinephrine reduces the capillary size so there is less swelling. This means that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotics, or general anesthesia when undergoing a liposhifting procedure.

Not only does tumescent liposuction reduce recovery time, there is also less pain during the liposhifting procedure. Studies show that patients bleed less than three teaspoonfuls during tumescent plastic surgery when it is done correctly. The patient that is able to maneuver his or her body into different positions. Sometimes standing or sitting up is required of the patient to achieve the best results.

As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there is always some risk involved. Like all plastic surgery, liposhifting does come with some serious risks including the risk of bruising, bleeding, disfiguration, scars and infection. Also if the plastic surgeon’s use of the cannula is sloppy, it can cause permanent depressions and dimpling of the skin that resemble the cellulite that was supposed to be removed in the first place.

However, since liposhifting requires only a single incision and the fat is never removed from the body, risk is greatly reduced. As it is used in conjunction with tumescent anesthesia, there is very little bleeding and the use of addictive narcotics is not needed to treat pain afterwards.

Individuals with AIDS or a serious underlying disease such as cancer may be discouraged from having this type of plastic surgery. Liposhifting is also risky for individuals with vascular, heart or nerve problems. If you are a smoker you will be advised to quit smoking before you have the operation to minimize the risk of bleeding and to speed the healing process.

As liposhifting is part of “body contouring” you are best to find a plastic surgeon that is skilled in the craft. In essence, the more experienced the plastic surgeon is at body contouring, the more able he/she will be able to perform a liposhifting procedure without damaging surrounding tissues.