 Liposuction
What is Liposuction Plastic Surgery?
Liposuction ( lipoplasty), in the plainest terms, is a fat removal procedure and includes various minor and major surgeries like; full body liposuction, neck (buccal fat removal) liposuction, facial liposuction, tumescent liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, etc. The popularity of this cosmetic surgery has made it a gold-rush for many surgeons, hence, due to improper operations, risks and dangers of liposuction exist, besides a pocket-pinching cost.
Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat from unwanted areas
of the body. The device that is used resembles a tiny vacuum cleaner. As
it actually removes mass and volume from the body it is an effective way
to change the body’s shape and contour.
Although liposuction has been a boon to individuals who are unable to lose weight through exercise and diet, it cannot remove all excess fat from a body. The purpose of a treatment with liposuction is mainly to sculpt the body by removing some of the excess fat. The fat that exists within the body may also be pushed and reshaped using a canulla, which is like a prodding device. It is best for targeting problem areas. Of course, if you do get liposuction and proceed to follow your usual destructive habits then your weight gain will probably be obvious again in the next few months. Whether or not liposuction will be permanent largely depends on your lifestyle choices.
Be it facial or body lifting, liposuction is appropriate for removing fat from beneath the chin, under the arms, the outer breasts, the belly, hips, flanks and thighs. Liposculpture is the term used when the liposuction device is used to remove small amounts of fat to contour such things as cheekbones or the muscle definition of the calves. Liposculpture is also used to touch up and refine the results of another operation such as a face lift or belly lift.
Liposuction Procedure
In a standard operation, the plastic surgeon makes an incision on the appropriate area on the body and 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.) Then fatty tissue (known as fascia) is suctioned out from beneath the skin’s surface with a wand that resembles a small vacuum hose. This hose is called the cannula. Depending on how large the area is to be vacuumed by the cannula, the patient may have skin removed or “pulled up” surgery and secured by surgical stitches. The surgeon may also poke or prod at the body fat with the cannula to perform a liposculpture.
Are You an Ideal Candidate for Liposuction?
The ideal candidate for liposuction surgery is an individual who is overweight by more than 25% and in good health. A conscientious plastic surgeon will not remove more than 10% of body fat from anywhere on the body as doing so could seriously risk your life.
Liposuction is also not recommended for obese individuals who are over 50% of their body weight. A weight management program might be prescribed for these individuals instead.
Individuals with AIDS or a serious underlying disease such as cancer may be discouraged from having this type of plastic surgery. Liposuction 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 expedite healing.
It is also important to have realistic expectations of liposuction. Although it removes fat, it might lead to even more relaxation of the skin. It is hard to determine whose skin will contract after liposuction and whose will continue to sag. Sometimes a second operation is required after six months or so to remove sagging skin.
A doctor may also recommend the use of ultrasonic or ultrasound liposuction that uses sound waves to emulsify the fat before it is removed. Ultrasound liposuction is thought to trigger a response in the skin cells that cause them to tighten up so that the skin appears firmer for the long term. Ultrasonic liposuction must ordinarily be combined with traditional liposuction when deep and surface fat is being removed. This does add to the operating time and to the cost of the surgery.
Liposuction - Consultation
Before you have the operation the surgeon will usually develop a game plan with regards to the best type of liposuction to be used in your case. Regular liposuction is used for smaller operations where a minimal amount of fat removal and contouring must be done. Liposculpture is reserved for detailed work such as shaping cheekbones or eyes. Ultrasonic liposuction is for heavy-duty use on areas that contain a large volume of fat such as the thigh, belly and breasts. For gynecomastia (large breasts in the male) ultrasonic liposuction is used.
Liposuction and body sculpting go in a line. A qualified plastic surgeon can help you decide which of the three options; liposuction, liposculpture or ultrasonic liposuction is best treatment for you.
The Risks with Liposuction Procedures
Like all plastic surgery, liposuction 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 too aggressive, it can cause permanent depressions and dimpling of the skin.
|
