What Is Liposuction?

By Author: Joel Allen
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In 2007, over 456,800 liposuction procedures were performed in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This represented a 13.2 percent increase over the number of surgeries completed in 2006. Liposuction is the name of the surgical procedure that is used to remove pockets of fat from certain parts of the body. Sometimes the procedure is called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy. People get the surgery to improve their self-image and to the shape of their body. The procedure removes fat tissue from the treatment area.

Before the surgery, the patient must complete a consultation with the prospective surgeon. The patient and physician should discuss matters, such as the patients desired objective and the different options that are available to help realize their goal. In addition, the nature of the surgery, the risks, as well as the limitations should also be talked about. Only when the patient is confident they have their questions fully answered and their concerns addressed should they elect to move forward with the surgery.

The Procedure
Liposuction surgery is usually ...
... performed in outpatient surgery centers and some hospitals. Generally, you will be able to go home the same day. The exception would be if you are having a large quantity of fat removed. The actual procedure commences with an administration of anesthesia. The type depends on factors, such as the amount of fat that is to be removed and your pain tolerance. The form of the liposuction technique is also considered.

Regardless of the type of liposuction, the basic surgical steps are the same. The doctor makes several small incisions in your skin. The incisions are about 1/4 inch long and are usually made in areas of the body that are not easily seen. The doctor then injects a saline solution, which is made of lidocaine, and epinephrine, into the treatment area. This mixture mitigates bleeding and makes the suction process easier.

The dissolved fat cells are actually suctioned out of the cavity wit a powerful vacuum-like device on the end of the cannula. The procedure is completed when one or two sutures are used to close the incision. The patient is then fitted with a garment, which lessens swelling and helps the skin contract. The dressing should be worn for a prescribed period of time, except in the shower. You will need time for your body to heal.

The stitches will typically be removed inside of a week. The swelling will start to go down after the first seven days. Bruises from the procedure will take about three to six weeks to fade away depending on the liposuction technique used.

Numbness is a normal effect in the region that was treated. It usually goes away in three months or less. Mast people should be able to get back to their customary lifestyle in two weeks. You will need to avoid vigorous activity for about four weeks. If you have a small area treated, you can usually return to work in a few days to a week. People who receive large treatment or Ultrasound may need up to three weeks of recovery time before returning to work.

Don't expect to see any real results for about three or four months. However, it can take up to six months to see the total effect of the procedure.

Types of Liposuction
There are different types of liposuction procedures, tumescent, Super-wet, ultrasonic-assisted liposuction (UAL) and Power-assisted liposuction (PAL). As there are with all surgical procedures there are pros and cons to each technique, which should discuss with your doctor beforehand. This will be based on your personal needs and where the work will be performed.

Tumescent involves the use of a local anesthetic and a blood vessel constriction medication that are injected into the treatment area. Then, a saline solution is applied in an amount three times the volume of the fat that is to be removed. The Super-wet technique is similar to the tumescent. The only difference is that the volume of the saline solution that is used is comparable to the amount of fat that will be extracted.

Laser-assisted liposuction uses a laser to dissolve fat. Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction is fairly new technique. Sound waves are used to dissolve the fats cells. Then they are removed. The procedure is less traumatic on the surrounding tissue. UAL is often used when there is scarring in the area due to prior surgery. The PAL technique uses the tip of a rapidly-vibrating cannula, which loosens up the fat cells and removes them with minimal stress on the surrounding tissue.

Post- Surgery
Generally, the people who experience the best outcome from liposuction surgery are healthy adults who have normal and stable weight patterns. They should also have firm and elastic skin. The procedure can be performed on a variety of body areas, including thighs, hips, and abdomen. The neck, arms breast, buttock and "love handles" are also popular areas for removing fat.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure; therefore, it is opened to difficulties and problems associated with surgery. It is not uncommon for some clients to experience dimpling, numbness, discoloration, lumpiness or sagging skin in the area of treatment. Sometimes, follow-up surgery is required to address these complications. You should discuss this with your doctor before the surgery. Make sure that you understanding if there will be further cost involved in correcting the issues.
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