A fit and well-proportioned body is often considered a symbol of health and vitality. But despite good health and a reasonable level of fitness, some individuals may still have a body with disproportionate contours due to localized fat deposits. These areas may be due to heredity or family traits rather than a lack of weight control or fitness.
In general, liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing these localized excess fat deposits, improving your body contours and proportion and, ultimately, enhancing your self-image.
If you are bothered by excess fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise liposuction may be right for you. Liposuction can permanently reshape body contours where excess fat deposits create areas that are disproportionally large in an otherwise balanced figure incuding fat deposits of the:
- Cheeks, chin, and neck
- Upper arms
- Breast or chest area
- Back
- Abdomen and waist
- Hips and buttocks
- Thighs
- Inner knee
- Calves and ankles
Ideal candidates for liposuction are adults of any age within 30% of their ideal weight and with firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone. Good candidates are defined as:
- Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
Special considerations may be necessary for individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or previous surgery to the treatment area.
In some cases, liposuction is performed alone, in other cases it is used with plastic surgery procedures such as a facelift, male or female breast reduction or a tummy tuck. Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite, the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips, and buttocks.
A consultation with Dr. Han is the first step to learn how liposuction can enhance your body image. The discussion will include:
- Your goals and an evaluation of your individual case
- The options available in surgical liposuction
- The likely outcomes of liposuction and any risks or potential complications
The success of your procedure, safety and overall satisfaction will also require that you:
- Honestly share your expectations
- Fully disclose health history, current medications, the use of vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
- Commit to following all of the doctor’s instructions precisely
Dr. Han may suggest additional cosmetic procedures to improve your results, such as a breast lift procedure be performed in conjunction with your breast enlargement surgery.
By making the decision to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Han and following all the instructions given, you are taking an important step in helping to assure your safety.
Possible risks of a liposuction inlcude but are not limited too:
- Uneven contours
- Rippling or loose skin
- Skin or nerve damage
- Irregular pigmentation
- Infection at the surgical site
- Fat clots
- Blood clots
- Excessive fluid loss or fluid accumulation.
In addition there is risk of thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound with the UAL technique. All surgery carries risks associated with anesthesia. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks or potential complications.
Liposuction may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center or our accredited office-based surgical suite. It is more commonly performed under general anesthesia, although local anesthesia with sedation may also be used.
If your liposuction procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
The doctor will carefully explain your liposuction procedure. Prior to surgery, you will be given specific instructions that may include:
- Pre-surgical considerations, diagnostic testing and medications
- Day of surgery instructions and medications
- Specific information related to the use of anesthesia
- Postoperative care and follow-up
It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. It’s very important to discuss any questions or concerns directly with the doctor.
There are three common variations to the procedure:
- Traditional liposuction, surgical suctioning of excess fat deposits
- The tumescent or super-wet technique that uses an infusion of saline solution, with added adrenaline and possibly anesthetic prior to removal of excess fat
- Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty or UAL, using ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat prior to surgical suctioning.
An evaluation of skin tone and elasticity, as well as fat density and distribution, will determine appropriate techniques for your specific case.
Step 1 - All liposuction techniques require incisions in or near the area to be suctioned for insertion of a cannula. In some cases, incisions may be so small that no stitches are required for closure.
Step 2 - Once the cannula tip has loosened excess fat, the fat is removed using a surgical vacuum or powered suction device. An alternative method uses a syringe attached to the cannula to manually suction away fat.
Step 3 - When large amounts are suctioned from one area, compression garments may assist during the healing process to help skin conform to the reduced body contours.
Secondary procedures may sometimes be recommended to reduce excess skin. Special considerations are needed when large amounts, usually more than 5 liters, or 5000ccs, of fat are suctioned.
Once your procedure is completed, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas. These assist to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours. In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess fluid.
The doctor will also instruct you how to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health and when to come in for follow-up visits. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing.
Initial healing will include swelling, numbness, soreness, bruising, and discomfort that can be controlled with medication. These are common conditions.
In general, a return to light, normal activity is possible as soon as you feel ready and is encouraged to prevent blood clots and other complications.
Initial wound healing may take from 5 to 10 days, at which time any sutures will be removed, if necessary. Healing will continue for several weeks as swelling continues to dissipate and incision lines will improve over time..
Continue to follow the doctor’s instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.
It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate. As it does, your new contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop.
The fulfillment you feel from the initial results of liposuction should continue so long as you maintain your weight and practice a healthy lifestyle that includes eating well and regular physical activity. Following liposuction, your slimmer and better-proportioned body should more accurately reflect the health and active life you lead.
