Liposuction is a medical procedure in which fat is removed from a specific area of the body using a suction technique. It can be performed on areas of the body such as the hips, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arm or neck. Liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss as diet and exercise are the more preferred methods for anyone trying to lose weight. However liposuction can be used to get rid of the excess fat and reshape the area to achieve a more desirable look. Some other names associated with this procedure are lipoplasty and body contouring.
This procedure helps people who suffer from persistent fat deposition in certain areas of their body which they can not get rid of despite diet and exercise. With liposuction, body lines can be reformed and reshaped according to the way the patient desires to look.
Liposuction is used very commonly in many other procedures as well such as gynecomasty, Brazilian butt lift, etc.
Depending on what the patient wants and what our ITMT Group doctors advice, different types of liposuction can be used. Turmescent Liposuction, ultrasound liposuction and laser liposuction are some of the different types and methods that can used to be create the same effect with the same logic. Turmescent liposuction consists of injecting an anesthetic solution to the problem area in order to minimize discomfort and decrease bleeding. Ultrasound liposuction uses ultrasound energy to loosen up the fatty tissue therefore making it easier to be extracted. Similarly laser technology can be used to create the same affect. The methods will be determined by your doctor depending on your desired shape, body type and problem area.
Liposuction is more commonly preferred in women as only 15-20% of liposuction patients are men. Some of the most common treatment areas for women are abdomen, breast, hips, outer thighs, front side of the thighs, inner thighs, knees, arms, gluteal region, cheeks and neck. For men it is a little different. Men usually get liposuction on their neck, abdomen or chest.
It is very important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss method. Patients can gain weight in areas treated with liposuction if they do not support this operation with an adequate amount of diet and exercise. Our doctors will do an excellent job in giving you the aesthetic and beauty you want with all the help that science will allow, however it is up to you to maintain this figure once full recovery is achieved.
• People who have unbalanced or disproportional fat in one or more areas of their body
• People who can not get rid of fat in certain areas of their body despite exercise and diet
• People who are looking to get other surgeries, typically enhancements like Brazilian butt lift where their own body fat will be needed.
• People who suffer from low self-esteem due to fat in their body that is resistant to diet and exercise.
How liposuction is performed depends on whether it is used by itself or as part of another operation. If only liposuction is to be made then it can be done under local anesthesia. In this case one or more small incisions will be made in the treatment area. Then thin tubes are inserted through these cuts. Fat is then excreted from these tubes outside the body. How fat is loosened depends on which technique is used whether it is done with laser or ultrasound. This will be determined by your doctor before surgery.
If liposuction is used as part of another surgery then it will most likely be done under general anesthesia.
Duration of this operation depends entirely on the size of the area from which fat is to be removed.
Patients can typically continue on with their daily lives a few days from the operation. With the way technology works today, swelling, bruising and ripples on the skin are minimized to the extent that they are barely noticeable. Some patients have slight discomfort right after the operation but most patients don’t even require pain killers. Even if the patient has minimal pain, it will disappear within two days after the surgery.
In some cases your doctor will ask that you wear corset after the operation. This is for precaution aimed to make sure that your skin doesn’t contract or swell.
The operation doesn’t leave a scar as they disappear completely within one year of surgery.