Liposuction

Liposuction or also known as lipoplasty is a cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted body fat. It contours and removes fat deposits from areas of the body that don’t change with diet and exercise. Liposuction isn’t considered an overall weight-loss method or a weight-loss alternative. People who are overweight can lose more weight through diet and exercise or through other kinds of surgery than with liposuction.

Who needs liposuction?

People who are in the overweight category, that is their BMI lies between 19 and 30 are the people ideally suited for liposuction.

When to see a specialist?

If you’ve tried dieting and exercise but didn’t get any desired results and have areas of fat that won’t budge, you should see a specialist. A plastic surgeon will be able to provide you with a safe procedure which can improve your body contour, helping you look and feel your best.

Procedure

The procedure involves the following steps:

• Anesthesia: – Medications are given to bring patients into a comfortable, pain-free state. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
• The Incision: – Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions. First, diluted local anesthesia is infused to reduce bleeding and trauma then a hollow stainless-steel tube, called a cannula, is inserted through small incisions in the skin. The cannula is then used to suction out unwanted fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks.
• Closing the Incisions: – Finally, the surgeon will close the incisions with removable or dissolvable sutures. Drainage tubes may be placed beneath the skin for a few days to collect excess fluid and minimize the risk of infection. Sutures and drains will usually be removed in about a week to 10 days (about 1 and a half weeks).

Recovery

After the liposuction procedure and before transferring to the recovery room, you will be placed in a compression garment that was custom ordered and fitted prior to the procedure. You will typically be discharged from the recovery room an hour after the procedure.

Risks

The most common risks include Contour irregularities, Numbness, Infection, heart problems, Lidocaine toxicity, Cannula breakage, Swelling etc. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of the test with you before the procedure.

Benefits of Liposuction

There are many benefits of liposuction, including:

• Improvement of the appearance of areas that have excess fat
• Helping to reduce the risk of developing obesity or other chronic health conditions associated with obesity
• A minimally invasive procedure that does not require anesthesia or surgery
• Improvement in body contour and shape
• Reduction in the appearance of cellulite
• Enhancement of self-esteem and confidence

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure used to remove excess fat from specific areas of the body such as stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms or neck.

2. How is liposuction performed?

Your plastic surgeon inserts a suction device attached to a small, stainless-steel instrument called a cannula into the fatty areas between your skin and your muscle. Your surgeon will move the cannula around the inside of your body to break up or liquefy your fat. Then, they’ll remove excess fat with a suction pipe or large syringe.

3. Is liposuction painful?

Most patients do not experience significant pain during a liposuction procedure. Liposuction isn’t painful as you’ll most likely be under general anesthesia for the procedure.

4. How long does liposuction take?

The whole procedure itself also depends on what area is being treated. Liposuction in a smaller area of the body such as the chin or neck could take as little as 30 minutes, while liposuction in larger areas such as the buttocks or abdomen could take around 60 minutes.

5. What are the risks of liposuction?

While liposuction is generally considered a safe procedure, there are some risks including bruising, cannula breakage, infection, irregular contours, swelling, kidney and heart problems.