All about Liposuction

Liposuction is a general term for a procedure where localized collections of fatty tissue are removed from the thighs, calves, ankles, buttocks, abdomen, back, arms, face, neck, and chin sculpting the body by suction of unwanted fat.

CONDITIONS REQUIRED
Normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas are best candidates for liposuction. You should be physically healthy and psychologically stable for it Your age is not a major consideration; however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.

Liposuction does not take the place of a diet. If someone is obese, gains and loses weight frequently, or has an eating disorder, he or she is not a candidate for liposuction

TECHNIQUES
Many different tools and techniques are used for liposuction ranging from ultrasound-assisted to tumescent procedures.

initially the method involved simply inserting a cannula (vacuum device) into an area and sucking out some of the fat. This “dry method” required general anesthesia.

Now, several other methods are more widely used, including tumescent liposuction, which involves injecting a sterile saline solution into the area about to be worked on.

Ultrasound-assisted or Ultrasonic liposuction uses high-pulse sound waves to liquefy excess fat, which is then removed by the same vacuum device used in other liposuction procedures. Ultrasonic liposuction is thought to be more effective for loosening the fat cells attached to muscles or organs and is also useful in breaking down fat cells so they are easier to suck up into the cannula

RISKS
Most patients are pleased with the outcome of their liposuction surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of liposuction surgery. Decide for yourself whether you are willing to take the risks involved in liposuction:

Infections: Infections may happen after any surgery and may occur after liposuction. It is important to keep the wound(s) clean but even if you do, infections may sometimes occur from the surgery.

Nerve Compression and Changes in Sensation: You may experience "paresthesias" which is an altered sensation at the site of the liposuction. This may either be in the form of an increased sensitivity (pain) in the area, or the loss of any feeling (numbness) in the area. .

Swelling: Swelling or may occur after liposuction. In some cases, swelling may persist for weeks or months after liposuction

Skin Necrosis (skin death): The skin above the liposuction site may become necrotic or "die." When this happens, skin may change color and be sloughed (fall) off.

Burns: During ultrasound assisted liposuction the ultrasound probe may become very hot and can cause burns.

Fluid Imbalance: Fat tissue, which contains a lot of liquid, is removed during liposuction. Also, physicians may inject large amounts of fluids during liposuction. This may result in a fluid imbalance.