Liposuction
is a very common, popular procedure. It is designed
for the permanent removal of fatty tissue, commonly
referred to as “cellulite.” It is an elective
procedure that allows the surgeon to remove
undesirable, subcutaneous fat in isolated areas
that do not respond to diet and exercise. These
areas include the hips, thighs, abdomen, knees,
ankles, face and neck.
Liposuction
is most successful in people with good skin
tone who have fatty deposits. It is not a treatment
for obesity. If weight gain occurs following
liposuction, the fat will be deposited in areas
that have not been treated. The procedure can
be repeated, if necessary. To maintain the safety
of the procedure, there is a limit on how much
and how many areas can be done at one time.
A
variety of factors can affect the results: Physical
condition, genetic makeup, diet, exercise, smoking,
alcohol intake, and skin elasticity.
Body
contours made irregular by fat can be improved
by this procedure; it cannot correct contours
that are irregular for other reasons, such as
muscle weakness or hernia. However, combined
with other procedures, liposuction can correct
these other deformities with good results.
Liposuction
is done under general anesthesia/local with
I.V.sedation in a hospital or our surgical center.
The surgeon makes small (less than 1/2 cm.),
discreet incisions in the areas to be treated.
Tumescent fluid is injected into the area to
be addressed and after waiting for a specific
amount of time, a cannula is inserted in a small
incision and attached to a suction machine.
The procedure may take an hour or more, depending
on how many areas are involved.
Recovery
from liposuction is relatively easy. Expect
a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the
following two weeks. You will wear special garments
to apply pressure, minimize swelling and provide
support while healing. These garments also assist
in retraction of the skin. Stitches will be
removed in a week to 10 days.
Results
are recognizable almost immediately and will
continue to improve as swelling subsides. The
day after surgery you should be up and walking
around. Increase your activity daily until full
activity is resumed at 2-4 weeks. You will be
ready to return to office work in 3-5 days and
more active employment at 10-14 days. Avoid
the sun until all bruising has subsided.
The
results of liposuction are permanent. If you
were to gain a large amount of weight you might
note rippling in the treated areas, depending
on your skin elasticity.
Possible
Complications: As with any surgical procedure,
complications can occur which include contour
irregularities, skin discoloration, asymmetry,
scar tissue, collection of blood or fluid under
the skin. Uncommon complications include loss
of sensation, skin breakdown, fat embolism,
serious infection or shock. Bleeding is uncommon
with tumescent liposuction (The technique we
use). There is a limit to the amount of fat
that can be safely removed in a given procedure
and can vary from person to person.
Following liposuction, the scar will go through
a maturation process—during the first 8-12 weeks
they may be red and possibly raised. The scars
will mature over 6/12 months and become pale,
flat and soft. You may experience numbness,
burning and tingling around the incision site.
These symptoms are almost always temporary.
Please
let us know if you are prone to keloid scars.
Dressing
– After body liposuction surgery we
will make you wear the supportive garment full
time (24 hours) the first 4 weeks and half time
(at least 8 hours) weeks 5 through 6. For facial
and neck liposuction, wear the elastic supportive
garment full time the first week and then at
night for the first month as tolerated. You
will not be allowed to remove the garment for
the first 5 days.
Activity
– Increase
activity as tolerated with no heavy exercise
for two weeks as this may cause an increase
in swelling. Normal walking and routine daily
activities may resume the day after surgery
but soreness throughout the operated areas should
be expected.
Special
Instructions – Swelling and bruising
is normal. There may be quite a bit of drainage
of fluid in the first 24 to 48 hours as it is
injected in the tumescent technique. The heaviest
drainage normally occurs the first 12 hours
and is normally blood tinged and may be red
in color. Drainage is present in less than 5%
of people operated by this technique. Pads may
be taped over the puncture sites and worn under
the compression garment during the heavy drainage
period.
Weeks
1 through 4 - Areas treated may feel
rigid or hard to the touch until swelling subsides.
The skin may also feel itchy or numb. Areas
that have become thickened or firm may be massaged
several times daily to soften and improve the
result. Final results may not be evident for
up to 3-4 months. You may require ultrasound
therapy to reduce the swelling faster.
Activity
– Avoid exercise and activities that
increase heart rate or blood pressure significantly
for first 7-10 days. Elevate the head of the
bed 30 degrees. Lying flat increases swelling
to the eye. Ice application over your eyes off
and on as much as possible every hour for a
day will help.
