Procedures
Tights | Liposuction
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove unwanted fat deposits from certain parts of the body. It is undoubtedly the most popular aesthetic intervention in the world. A large number of satisfied patients justify its efficiency in body contouring. Liposuction is not a method of choice for the treatment of obesity. It is effective in the treatment of limited fat deposits, which remain resistant to dieting and exercise. The most commonly treated regions are chin, neck, cheeks, upper arms, breasts, flanks, abdomen, hips, thighs, knees and calves. This method has also proved efficient in the elimination of accumulated fat tissues, termed as lipomas.
BEFORE THE SURGERY:
It is important to point out that skin quality significantly affects the final result. Firm and elastic skin is an essential condition for the achievement of desired regular and even contours. Excessively flaccid and non-elastic skin requires a completely different treatment. It should be noted that liposuction alone does not improve dimpled skin known as cellulite. If combined with ENDERMOLOGY and INDERMOLOGY, significant improvements of this problem may be expected. Previous examination of the patient’s general health condition and basic laboratory analyses are compulsory. The patient has to be realistic and sensible in their demands and expectations.
DURING THE SURGERY:
The intervention is normally performed in combination of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, which enables the patient to feel comfortably. In some cases, total anesthesia is required. The operation lasts from one to three hours, depending on the size of the treated regions. According to the method of softening and suction of the fatty tissue, there are several different techniques of liposuction. All of them imply previous administration of specifically composed liquid into the treated region, until its desired firmness and tension are achieved. This is done through small incisions, which are later used for the insertion of specially shaped canules. With these canules, the fat tissue is first softened mechanically or ultrasonically, and then sucked by means of negative pressure. In this way, the removal of substantial fat quantity is made possible with minimal blood losses. The maximum fat quantity that can be removed depends on the patient’s health, their weight, possibly other parallel interventions etc. There is a frequent need of reshaping certain parts of the body by means of fat repositioning, i.e. fat taken from one part of the body can be efficiently used for the compensation of missing fat or deformities in other parts of the body. This technique is known as LIPOSCULPTURE.
AFTER THE SURGERY:
Depending on the size of intervention, the patient may remain in hospital from several hours to one or two days. Specially made elastic garments are worn during several weeks. Their function is to reduce the swelling and enable the shrinking of the skin in the treated region. Pains are mild or moderate and easily controlled by drugs. Bruises can vary from moderate to slightly visible. Possible loss of all sensations in the region is temporary. Sutures are removed after five to seven days. The postoperative treatment should not neglect the role of massage, skin care or compression. The patient can be back to work after several days, depending on the size of intervention, course of recovery and profession. Strenuous physical activities should be avoided during two to three weeks. Light daily walks are beneficial. If performed by educated specialists of plastic surgery, liposuction is considered a reliable and safe intervention with rare complications. Final results are visible after six months.
LIPOSUCTION – SOME MOST COMMON QUESTIONS:
What is liposuction?
It is a surgical intervention that involves softening and suction of subcutaneous fat tissue in order to reduce the volume of certain parts of the body. An efficient and safe method of body contouring, it represents the most popular operation in aesthetic surgery.
When does liposuction give the best results?
The best results are obtained in the patients with limited unwanted deposits of subcutaneous fat tissue. The essential condition for ultimate success is good skin quality, which allows its reshaping and shrinking after the treatment. Patients with optimal body weight or slightly above may greatly benefit from this intervention.
Is liposuction effective in excessively obese patients?
It should be understood that liposuction is not a method of choice in the treatment of excessive body weight. It certainly permanently eliminates part of fat tissue from particular regions, but the remaining excess still disturbs body proportions. Obesity also represents a risk factor for surgical interventions. A series of repeated minor liposuctions accompanied by appropriate dietetic regime and exercise can motivate such patients to persist in their efforts to reduce excessive body weight.
Which regions of the body are the most commonly treated?
These are limited regions with fat deposits resistant to dieting and exercise: submental region, upper arms, abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, breasts in women and men (GYNAECOMASTIA). Likewise, localized fat deposits, known as lipomas, are successfully treated.
Which type of anesthesia is applied in liposuction and how long does the intervention take?
Both the patient and the surgeon can decide upon the choice of anesthesia. Combination of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are the most commonly applied. More comprehensive or combined procedures may require total anesthesia. Depending on the size of the treated regions, the intervention may last from one to three hours. This directly defines the length of staying in hospital, which may range from several hours to one or two days.
How is liposuction performed?
First, a specially prepared solution is administered through small, 5mm incisions hidden within the natural creases or bikini zones, into the treated region. The solution contains an amount of local anesthetic sufficient for painless treatment of smaller regions. The solution being distributed, blunt hole-tipped canules are introduced into the subcutaneous fat tissue. With these canules, the tissue is simultaneously softened and sucked under negative pressure. Fat softening can be carried out mechanically or ultrasonically. If it is necessary, the aspirated fat can be used for the correction of irregularities in other regions.
What characterizes the post-operation time?
The patient should wear an elastic compressive garment for several weeks. Its function is to reduce the expected swelling and to enable the skin shrinkage. The swelling of the treated regions is moderate and disappears in the course of several weeks. Bruises are sporadic and resolve after two weeks. In the first days following the procedure, a slight increase in body weight may be observed as a result of liquid insertion during the operation. In the first days, pains are mild to moderate and easily controlled by drugs. A possible loss of skin sensations in the treated regions is merely transitory. Sutures are removed on the fifth day.
Does liposuction leave visible scars?
Usually being hidden in natural creases or bikini zones, scars are minimal and hardly visible.
Which activities are recommended in this period?
Everyday light walks are highly desirable. Return to work depends on the dimensions of the treated regions, the post-operative course and patient’s profession, and therefore can vary from several days to two weeks. More strenuous physical activities should be avoided during three weeks. Significance of skin care and massage should not be neglected. Exposure to the sun is not recommended during one-month period.
When can the results be expected and how long do they last?
Definite results are assessed only after six months. Alongside with the appropriate diet and exercise, the improved body proportions remain permanent. In case of the increase in body weight, the excess fat is evenly distributed. The treated regions can never regain their previous shape since part of fat cells has irretrievably been removed by liposuction. This is the key of success and popularity of this body contouring procedure.
Is liposuction associated with certain risks?
If performed by educated surgeons, who respect generally accepted surgical and technical principles, liposuction is considered a reliable and safe intervention. Serious, life-threatening complications are exceptionally rare. Possible complications are purely aesthetic, and include contour disfigurement on the skin surface in the treated regions.
