Cosmetic Plastic Surgery > Liposuction

LIPOSUCTION PLASTIC SURGERY

About Liposuction

You have dieted and exercised and there are still stubborn areas of fatty deposits that will not go away. Your reason for choosing liposuction may be as simple as just wanting to look better in your clothes.

Through liposuction, both men and women can improve the shape of their bodies with this relatively simple and safe technique.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a very effective technique for removing excess fat and re-contouring body shape. Being one of the most popular and fastest growing plastic surgery procedures, it involves the removal of fat cells from the body. While liposuction is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, it can make you look and feel better.

Liposuction is performed under local or general anaesthesia. The procedure is performed by inserting a thin, sterile cannula through the skin via tiny incision; fat is removed by controlled suction. When used appropriately, it is capable of removing large volumes of unwanted fat, but careful case selection and application is essential.

What areas can be treated by liposuction?

The most common areas of the body for liposuction are the thighs, hips, abdomen, waist, arms, back, neck and chin. In women they include: upper and lower back, arms, thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen, knees, lower leg, cheeks, and double chins. The most frequent areas treated by liposuction in men are the waist, chest, abdomen, chin and neckline. Some patients even elect to have the fat removed during liposuction transferred to other areas, such as the lips or cheeks, by transferring the fat using the cosmetic surgery known as lipo-augmentation.

Many men are also having liposuction to reduce male breasts or 'love handles'. Besides removing unwanted fat cells, liposuction can also remove large fatty tumours (lipomas) and can also be done as an ancillary procedure during a breast reduction or tummy tuck. In fact many people choose to have liposuction in conjunction with other procedures.

In patient or outpatient procedure?

Liposuction is often performed as an outpatient procedure, but can also require a short stay, depending on your general health or the complexity your particular of procedure.

Preparing for a Liposuction

Your plastic surgeon will consult with you prior to your scheduled liposuction so that they may fullly understand your requests. During this consultation your plastic surgeon will also detail the procedure, risks and benefits, as well as answer any questions you might have. They may require additional information from you before booking the procedure. This may include a photo, and/or a doctor's medical report.

This conversation with the plastic surgeon will give you a detailed understanding of the treatment, the extent of surgery and to clarify how the liposuction will be performed. When you are satisfied with what has been discussed, and have signed a booking form for the operation, your liposuction will be booked at a date agreed to.

You will then have another consultation with the surgeon when you arrive at the place your liposuction will take place. At this appointment you and your surgeon will discuss your goals, and any last questions you may have and finalise the plan for your cosmetic nose surgery.

Liposuction Recovery

Plastic surgery procedures are now faster, safer, and more efficient than ever before. Liposuction is widely considered the safest plastic surgery procedure and healing after liposuction takes very little time. The liposuction recovery period is now much quicker than it had been previously. In the past liposuction surgery would have required a six-month recovery period, but nowadays, patients can expect the recovery period, after liposuction, to be finished within six weeks or eight weeks.

The first week of recovery from liposuction surgery the patient will have to follow the specific instructions provided by the plastic surgeon.

When can normal activities be resumed?

A return to all normal activities can vary from person to person and can be anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. This decision will be made by the individual and the surgeon. A pressure garment is usually worn for a time after the procedure to reduce bruising and swelling as well as help the skin to contract to the new shape.

Liposuction Side Effects

As with all surgeries there will be possibly be side effects associated with liposuction. Bruising may last for 3 weeks, while swelling may be present for 8 weeks. The skin may at first be a little loose, but it does tend to contract over time. A more detailed list of possible complications will be explained to you during your consultation.

Is liposuction for everybody?

Liposuction is not necessarily the best way for everyone to lose unwanted fat. The best candidates for body sculpting should have firm elastic skin, be in good health and have already tried to eliminate bulges through proper diet, exercise and weight loss.

For those patients with pronounced areas of localised fat deposits that are disproportionate to the rest of their bodies can be treated with great success. These areas are most commonly the inner and outer thighs, knees, buttocks, hips and abdomen. The other common areas include the chin, neck, jowls, cheeks and arms.

Again it is important that you understand that liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle and you should have realistic expectations about what this type of plastic surgery can do for you as well as your self esteem.

What are the benefits of liposuction and will the results be permanent?

Cosmetically speaking, successful liposuction is measured in inches rather than pounds. The weight removed is not as important as the improvement in your body's contour. Most important is our patient's improved body image and new found confidence.

It seems that after puberty we do not create new fat cells. So iit does permanantly remove fat, but remember that should you gain weight, you will be expanding the fat cells you have remaining. Tumescent liposuction permanently removes fat cells to improve your body's contour. The localised fatty deposits that existed prior to liposuction are unlikely to balloon up out of proportion to the surrounding areas, so in the majority of cases one procedure will be sufficient. However, some patients may require a follow up procedure in the future.

Will liposuction get rid of cellulite?

Although many patients do notice an improvement in the appearance of cellulite after the fat cells are removed, please don't think that liposuction is a cure for cellulite.

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