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Liposuction

Liposuction is the most common cosmetic procedure performed throughout the United States. It refers to a surgical procedure that removes fat from deposits under the skin. During the liposuction surgery, a hollow tube, called a cannula, is used to vacuum fatty deposits from beneath the skin. Liposuction patients are sedated using general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or IV sedation.

Types of Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is a technique that employs highly diluted local anesthetic injected into fat. This causes the treatment area to become tumescent, or swollen. Modified tumescent liposuction uses both local anesthetic and either general anesthetic or IV sedation. General anesthesia is considered more dangerous than local anesthesia, and for this reason, tumescent liposuction is the safest liposuction technique. Tumescent anesthetic solution contains a dilute epinephrine that minimizes or eliminates blood loss during surgery. The key to safe tumescent liposuction is that it be carried out correctly, and not excessively.

About Liposuction Techniques

Most surgeons agree that the primary criteria for successful liposuction is safety, patient satisfaction and comfort, and the quality of the end result. The volume of aspirate removed and the speed at which is performed are secondary. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure, and therefore, patient satisfaction is paramount. Always keep in mind when searching for a surgeon that safety, technique, and experience are more important that the surgeon's specialization.

Who Should Consider Liposuction?

A good candidate for liposuction is a person who has realistic expectations about the potential results. Liposuction can improve a person's appearance and body image; however, no one should expect the procedure to change their life or make them look like a movie star. Those individuals who are within the normal weight range for their body type and age, and who generally have firm skin, are the best liposuction candidates. This way, any small areas with excess fat can be targeted. Both physical and psychological health are important as well. Although most age groups can experience good results from liposuction, younger patients whose skin is more elastic that older patients are ideal candidates.

A patient's physical health is an important consideration. Heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, circulation problems, and other health issues may interfere with successful liposuction surgery.

Liposuction Surgery - The Process

Before liposuction surgery, patients should undergo a comprehensive physical exam. Any medical conditions and prescription or non prescription medications should be discussed with the surgeon. An in depth discussion of a patient's expectations of liposuction results is important, along with a full discussion of potential side effects, complications, and the liposuction process itself.

Your surgeon may want to prescribe antibiotics to be taken before surgery and/or post surgery to fight any infections.

Prior to the surgical procedure, the surgeon with use a pen to mark the area(s) of the body from where fat will be removed. After this, either local or general anesthetic will be administered. If the procedure being carried out is tumescent liposuction, the patient will remain awake throughout the procedure, as only local anesthetic will be used. If a general anesthetic is administered, the patient will be asleep throughout the procedure.

After the anesthetic takes effect, the surgeon will make a small incision into the treatment area. A small hollow tube, called a canula, is inserted into the incision and acts like a vacuum to suction out fat. The surgeon monitors the amount of fluid and fat removed, and replaces the lost fluid using an IV (intravenous line).

What happens following surgery depends largely on the technique used. If only local anesthesia has been used, the patient my leave the doctor's office shortly after the procedure is completed. If a general anesthetic is used, you will likely spend the night in the surgical center or hospital where the procedure is performed. The surgeon will tell a patient how long to wait before resuming normal activity prior to the procedure being carried out.

The treatment area(s) may drain fluids for a few days following surgery, and occasionally, a drainage tube is inserted into the treatment area. Tight garments are worn for a few weeks after the surgery to keep the treatment area compressed.

Ensure that the surgeon provides you with a written course of post operative instructions, including antibiotic use, acceptable levels of physical activity, and signs and symptoms of potential problems or side effects.

Some pain and swelling after surgery is expected. The duration of these symptoms depends largely on the extent of the liposuction surgery. If these symptoms persist, contact the surgeon as they may be a sign of infection. Small scars should be expected in the area that the incision was made.

Liposuction surgery can be a safe and effective method of removing excess fat from troublesome parts of the body. The most important consideration when thinking of liposuction is your expectation of results and safety. Understand fully the risks and potential benefits of any surgery, cosmetic surgery included, before undergoing any procedure.