Liposuction evolved from work in the late 1960s from surgeons in Europe. To define liposuction is a procedure by which the unwanted excess fat deposits beneath the skin at different places are suctioned through a specialized cannula (tube). Over the past 30 years, a lot of improvements have been made to the procedure so that more fat cells can more easily be removed, with less blood loss, less discomfort, and less risk. Presently an average of 4-5 lakh liposuction procedures are done in united states of America every year.
Who can undergo liposuction
- Must Usually Be Over 18 And In Good General Health
- One Has An Ongoing Diet And Exercise Regime
- Should Not Have Serious Risk Factors Like Uncontrolled Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Problems, Infections, Thyroid Problems Etc.
- Should Not Be Morbidly Obese With Body Mass Index More Than 40
Areas where liposuction can be performed
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Outer Thighs (Saddlebags)
- Flanks (Love Handles)
- Back
- Inner Thighs
- Inner Knees
- Upper Arms
- Submental (Chin),(Gullet)
- Gynecomastia (Male Breast Tissue),(Man Murray)
Techniques
There are various techniques of doing liposuction but by far the most common and safest is tumescent manual liposuction. It involves the infusion of a tumescent solution made of ringer lactate, lignocaine and adrenaline to loosen the fat and simultaneously decrease the blood loss and then suctioning out the loosened fat. This procedure of infusion and suctioning of the fat is done through small 1-2 mm small stab wounds taken on the invisible crease lines of the area to be suctioned.
Many recent advances for removing more amount of fat with less effort from the surgeon and minimal discomfort to the patient have been devised.
Power assisted device: this device has a tip which vibrates at a rate of 3000 cycles per second which loosens the fat and thus decreases the effort of the surgeon
Ultrasonic devices: these devices add an ultrasonic wave emitting device which has to be used after infusing the tumescent solution. The ultrasonic waves emitted by the device emulsifies the fat and thus decreases the effort from the surgeon.
Similarly, laser-assisted liposuction and water jet assisted liposuction were devised to take out more and more fat with less effort and less pain and difficulty to the patient.
Recovery
- Recovery After Liposuction Is Smooth. Patients Are Generally Able To Return To Work Between Two Days To Two Weeks Depending On The Area That Has Been Suctioned.
- In General, Patients Will Be Discharged After 12 To 24 Hrs After The Procedure.
- An Elastic Compression Garment Should Be Used By The Patient For At Least 4-6weeks. The Advantages Of Using Pressure Garments Are
2. Prevent formation of fluid pockets by obliterating the dead space created by removing the fat.
3. Helps in skin retraction.
4. Mild bruising of the skin will fade in a few days to 2 weeks.
5. Pain is well controlled with analgesics.
Techniques
The final result will be visible any time between one to six months and the patient will see a visible change within days after swelling comes down. One frequently asked question is will the fat deposits reappear in the area of liposuction
The suctioned fat cells are permanently gone. However, if the patient does not maintain a proper diet and exercise regimen, the remaining fat cell neighbours could still enlarge, creating irregularities.
Side effects
- Bruising: Can Be Painful In The Short Term, And Should Fade After A Few Weeks.
- Swelling: Should Subside Gradually Over A Month Or Two.
- Scars: Will Vary In Size Depending On The Particular Procedure, And Should Fade Over The Weeks. Scarring Is An Individual Thing, Partly Dependent On Heredity. For Some, Scar Healing May Take As Long As A Year.
- Pain: Should Be Temporary And Controlled By Either Over-The-Counter Medication, Or By A Prescription.
- Numbness: Sometimes Persists For A Few Weeks.
- Post-Operative Weight Gain
- Limited Mobility: Will Depend On The Exact Procedure.
- Wearing A Compression Garment
- Keeping The Head Elevated
- Temporary Swelling Or Pain
Complications
- Allergic Reaction
- Infection
- Damage To The Skin
- Bruising
Skin necrosis: it occurs especially with laser and ultrasonic devices because of the heat generated to emulsify the fat. Tumescent and power-assisted liposuctions are safe in this matter.
Thromboembolism and fat embolisation: negligible risk Contour irregularities: Skin may look bumpy and/or withered, because of uneven fat removal, or poor skin elasticity. Sometimes a small touch-up procedure can help.
take home message:
Liposuction is an ideal procedure for localized fat collection of fat like tummy fat, buttock fat or arm or breast fats. Best results occur if liposuction is followed by regular exercise, dietary modifications and lifestyle changes.
