This section is for traditional liposuction procedures. Consumers interested in traditional liposuction frequently investigate this variations of traditional liposuction:
Body-Jet
Liposuction is the procedure used to remove excess areas of fatty tissue from specific areas of the body. It can be performed on just about any area of the body including cheeks, jowls and neck, chest and breast area, upper arms, back, waist, hips, buttocks, inner and outer thighs and knees, calves, and ankles.
Liposuction may also be used to treat males with excess tissue or fat in the breast area. Liposuction is by no means an alternative to weight loss, but should be seen as an enhancement and a way to eliminate stubborn spots. It also may not be a method for removing the appearance of cellulite.
Patients best suited for liposuction are not excessively overweight and have firm healthy skin. Good candidates for liposuction also have a realistic attitude about their appearance and recognize that the procedure will not drastically change their lives. Individuals with multiple risk factors such as poor circulation or heart disease may not be able to undergo liposuction safely.
There are several different techniques for liposuction used by surgeons today. Standard liposuction involves the removal of fat through suction by an instrument called a cannula, which is inserted in to the fatty area through a small incision. It is usually performed under local anesthesia.
Tumescent liposuction is a longer procedure, sometimes lasting 4 or 5 hours, where a volume of fluid greater than the amount of fat to be removed is injected into the area and then vacuumed out. Super-wet liposuction is a similar procedure using less volume of fluid and often requiring general anesthesia, lasting 1 or 2 hours. Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL) is a procedure using an ultrasonic cannula that obliterates the fat with ultrasonic energy, then removal takes place with a traditional cannula. Depending on the amount of liposuction being performed, either local or general anesthesia will be used.
Before your surgery, you will be asked to refrain from smoking. You will not be able to use certain over-the-counter medications like aspirin due to a risk of increased bleeding. Your doctor will discuss your individual precautions with you in advance of the procedure.
After the surgery, be sure someone can take you home and stay with you for at least a night. You will not look or feel great right after this surgery, but in time the results will be evident. Some pain, swelling, bruising, or fluid retention may occur and a drainage tube may be placed under the skin to prevent excess fluid from building up. Many patients feel stiff and sore for several days following surgery and some are asked to wear an elastic compression garment to provide support. Strenuous activities may be restricted for a while, but normal life should resume within a week or two.
