Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is a procedure to remove unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck using a tube (canula) and suction.
The best candidates for liposuction are:
Normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas.
Risks
All surgery carries risk, and you should be fully aware of the medical risks associated with this procedure before you consent to surgery. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you during your consultation, and you are encouraged to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You will be required to sign a consent form before surgery stating that you have been informed of the risks involved; that you understand those risks; and that you accept those risks. This is standard hospital protocol and surgery will not be performed if you do not sign.
It is your obligation to inform your surgeon of key medical information that may influence the outcome of your surgery or may increase the level of risk. These include medications you are taking, history of disease, medical complications, etc.
How many techniques are there for liposuction?
There is the Tumescent technique which is widely used by doctors every where. This technique is proving to be the preferred one, if the surgeon does not over inject the area with TOO MUCH Lidocaine solution.
Once upon a time the suction tube was inserted and the fat sucked away. With the tumescent technique, a saline (delivery and tumescent agent), Lidocaine solution (pain reliever) and epinephrine (prohibits bleeding) solution is injected into the targeted area. This technique’s purpose is to engorge the tissues with the solution for a firmer working area and the fat cells (which are softer) are suctioned out. However, if a surgeon injects too much of the solution the patient can get Lidocaine toxicity which can cause sickness, complications and sometimes death. Although Lidocaine toxicity is most often seen in body sculpture where large amounts of solution is injected within the body and the operation may require a longer period of anesthesia.
There is also a Super-wet technique which is basically like the Tumescent but with not as much solution injected. It breaks down to about the same amount injected as the amount of fat removed.
Is liposuction permanent?
To a certain degree, yes. Although the fat will return if you over eat and gain weight. The remaining fat cells have an extraordinary ability to expand considerably to compensate for any fat cells removed from liposuction. Liposuction, in any application, is not to be used for weight loss.
Patients have died from suctioning out too much of their body’s fluids. Your body needs fat and fluid to function. You must realize, that if you gain weight you will re-gain the fat stores in your neck and face. Although it may not look the same or be as much. The fat cells will compensate and engorge themselves and swell. It is reported that fat cells are able to divide if they become too large.
What does a typial liposuction consultation entail?
Firstly, your doctor will discuss your goals with you and will explain what can be achieved realistically. The surgeon will take into account what your body structure is and be able to recognize where your fat is needed. Which is pretty much everywhere — just not in excess. There is no “one size fits all” technique when it comes to this procedure. It is all individual.