Liposuction Surgery

What are the benefits of LIPOSUCTION surgery?

Liposuction can be the saving solution for both women and men who have isolated deposits of fat, causing certain areas of their bodies to appear disproportionate. It is NOT for OVERWEIGHT patients, only SPOT FAT areas.

The liposuction sites may be the following: thighs, hips, knees, arms, neck, back, chin, or buttocks.

Usually, the fatty deposits are determined genetically and may not respond to diet or exercise, so liposuction may be the only way to eliminate them.

To summarise, as in most cosmetic procedures the benefits are both physical and psychological. Among the many ones here are a few:

• removal of fat deposits
• removal of excess skin
• improved skin tone
• scarcely visible scars (localised in a hidden position)
• improved body contour in general

The psychological benefit results in a greater confidence and self-esteem. This is the case, for example, of many women who find it hard to lose fat after giving birth. Though men and women both young and old have liposuction for many different reasons.

How is liposuction surgery performed?

The method consists in the selective extraction of the fat deposits, with the help of special cannulas, until the expected contour is obtained. The cannulas are introduced through small incisions (usually 1-3) of 5-10 mm. Due to this technique the scars will be almost invisible; this kind of suture hardly leaves any scars. The liposuction cannulas are connected to a suction machine or to a suction syringe.

The surgeon injects a large volume of fluid to be suctioned from the respective area. Therefore the blood loss is avoided, the procedure being called Tumescent Liposuction.

Usually, in a liposuction session, the quantity of 3000 cc is the maximum that can be extracted depending on the individual patient.

The operation is performed either under a local anesthetic for smaller areas or under general anesthesia. 

The procedure can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much needs to be done. The individual needs of each patient influences the operation duration as well.

The liposuction effect is a permanent one and lasts even if the body tends to accumulate fat again, the fat tends not to go back to the areas treated.

What risks are associated with liposuction surgery?

As in any other cosmetic procedure, understanding the risks is an important thing and needs to be discussed by each patient. The complications of this intervention are of a low occurence and usually they can be treated.

In the literature there are references to the following possible complications:

• dizziness after surgery due to loss of fluids
• Swelling or edema. Sometimes it may persist for weeks or months after the operation
• Infections. Infections may happen after any surgery and may occur after liposuction as well. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to all patients even before the infection.
• Embolism. Embolism may occur when fat is loosened and enters the blood through the blood vessels broken during liposuction.

• Serum. The serum is the straw colored liquid from the blood. After liposuction, there may be an agglomeration of serum in areas where tissue has been removed.
• Nerve Compression and Changes in Sensation. The patient may experience "paresthesias" which is an altered sensation at the site of the liposuction. This may either be in the form of an increased pain in the area, or the loss of any sensitivity in the area.
• Skin Laxity, Waviness or Dimpling. The skin may become less elastic after the liposuction if a large volume of fat has been removed from a large area. Usually this may happen to older patients.
• Minor Depressions. These are small regions that have an opposite appearance from the dimpling described above. They may be over-treated after some time allowed for settling.
• Asymmetries. Due to removal of more fat from one side compared to the other side asymmetry may occur.
• Scars. The small incisions made with the cannulas are very thin, so the scars will be scarcely visible. However, scarring also depends of the areas where the intervention took place. In the groin and lower limb where the scars cannot be "concealed", the traces may remain noticeable for many months until fading.
• Skin pigmentation. A slight stain may seldom occur in the area that underwent the liposuction. However, the pigmentation will fully heal even if this may take many months.
• Thrombosis. This occurs when the blood is clotted in the large veins of the leg. This complication is rare though and the symptoms associated with it are: the leg edema, calf redness and heat.
• reaction to anesthesia

Although the presented risks seem quite numerous, the better the patient is aware of them the better they can be reported to the surgeon and treated.

What questions should I ask my surgeon about the liposuction surgery?

Before the operation, the patient would like to talk with the surgeon concerning the technique, risks, preparation, qualification, even insurance coverage and other issues. We have listed below some of the questions that might concern the patient:

• How is the operation performed?
• How should I prepare before having the surgery?
• Who qualifies for this kind of surgery?
• What are the risks of surgery?
• What should I expect after surgery?
• How many areas can be treated in one operation only?
• When can I resume my normal activities?
• How long will the results last?
• Will I experience big pain after the operation?
• How will the scars look and heal?
• What instructions should I follow after the operation?

If you consider yourself a potential candidate for liposuction surgery and would like to know more, you are kindly invited to address any of the above questions or others to our specialists.