Liposuction Basics

Welcome to Liposuction Basics. Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes fat from many different areas on the body to reshape it to look more fit, youthful or visually pleasing.

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes fat from many different areas on the body to reshape it to look more fit, youthful or visually pleasing. Liposuction was the number one most performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States according to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons. Suction lipectomy, liposculpture, lipo, and lipoplasty are all medical terms for liposuction.

The Decision to have Liposuction

There are many reasons to consider liposuction particularly if you have a healthy diet and regularly exercise and there are areas of fat that will not go away. Anyone considering liposuction should see a board certified plastic surgeon. You and your plastic surgeon should completely discuss your medical history, the process, the potential side effects and serious complications, its suitability for you, the alternatives to surgery, and the areas where the fat will be removed. You should have photos taken that show where the fat will be removed. You should also discuss your expectations for the outcome of the doctor. You and your doctor should come up with a surgical plan that you are both in full agreement with.

Choosing a Doctor

One of the most import considerations in the decision to have liposuction is choosing the right doctor. At a minimum the plastic surgeon should be a member of the American society of Plastic Surgeons. There membership has helpful guidelines for initially screening doctors you should consider for performing the liposuction. Your doctor should have at least five years of  In selecting a doctor you should limited your search to doctors who have had at five years training in surgery, operate in an accredited facility, have a number of years of training in plastic surgery procedures and continue to receive medical training and education on new standards, procedures and patient safety.

The Process

A suitable candidate for Liposuction is either numbered locally (local anesthesia) or but entirely to sleep (general anesthesia) for operation. The plastic surgeon determines whether local or general anesthesia is appropriate considering the type of the liposuction process, the amount of fat to be removed and the location of liposuction on the body and the patient’s health. Anesthesia allows a patient to not feel any stress or pain from the surgical procedure. After the pain is the deadened by the anesthesia, the doctor will make a small cut or incision near the area to be treated by liposuction. The actual suction of the excess body fat is done with a small hollow tube called a “Cannula.” The cannula is put through the small cut and used to suck out the excess fat. The suction for the cannula can be operated by a syringe or an electrical pump. The cannula is moved back and forth through the fat to be removed to break it up for easier removal. The amount of time for the liposuction procedure depends on several factors, including the number of locations for fat removal, the amount of fat to be removed and the location of the fat removal.  In addition, different types of liposuction may take different amounts of time.

Locations for Liposuction

Liposuction can be performed as process to remove fat around the belly. Other areas on the body where liposuction is done are the chin, neck, thighs, butt, and back of the arms. Liposuction can also be used to reduce breast size. Often liposuction is done on more than one area during a single operation.

Liposuction Patients

Not all people are good candidates for liposuction. Generally, good candidates are people that have less than 10 to 15 pounds of excess fat or are within 30% percent of their recommended body weight. Liposuction generally only removes a small amount of fat, so for very obese people it is not a good option. Since fat will be removed under the skin, your skin should be firm and healthy and not prone to developing scaring or cellulite. You should be in good mental and physical health.

Things to do for a good outcome after the surgery

Closely follow your doctors instructions for recovery. Depending on the nature of your liposuction and type of liposuction performed recovery methods may differ. Usually a bandage is worn to compress the area of the surgery for up to four weeks. If stitches were use to close the hole for the cannula, they will be removed by your doctor after a few days. You may suffer numbness and pain after the surgery. The numbness may last a few weeks. If there is pain the doctor may prescribe you pain medication. Normally, patients can return to normal after a few weeks but your doctor will direct you on when you can resume normal activities. The effects of the fat removal may be seen within a few days as swelling in the area of the surgery goes down. It usually takes a few months to see the full effects of the surgery.

Side Effects

As with any surgical procedure there can be side effects which may include pain, swelling, bruising, numbness, scaring and limitations on mobility.

Major Complications

Your doctor should give you a list of major complications to look out for after the surgery. Major complications include infection, tissue damage to the skin, muscles or internal organs and irregular healing. Serious allergic reactions can occur from the medications used or the materials. Burns can occur from the process. Also, rare but very serious are the possibility of blot clots that get into the lungs.