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.
The
Procedure
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
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.
Aftercare
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.
Wound
Care – Punctures may be cleaned with dilute
peroxide and coated with Bactroban or Betadine ointment
after showering.
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.
