What is that
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that allows the removal of fat accumulations by means of suction .
It is not used to lose weight or to remove cellulite , but to reshape areas of the body where there is aesthetic damage due to constitutional or hormonal causes: legs and ankles, abdomen, inner and outer thighs, inner knees, hips and buttocks , neck, arms and, in men, the breast.
How it is done
Local anesthesia, sometimes with intravenous sedation, is usually sufficient. To avoid tissue dehydration and blood loss, the fat is infiltrated with a vasoconstrictor. Aspiration is performed with cannulas inserted through small incisions.
Several variants have been developed over the years:
Type of liposuction | Mechanism of action |
---|---|
Ultrasound liposuction | Use of ultrasounds that disrupt adipocytes by generating heat |
Vibroliposuction | Use of motorized cannulas |
Laserlipolysis | Use of lasers that vaporize adipose tissue |
Superficial liposuction | Surface layer treatment to achieve better skin retraction |
Liposculpture, miniliposuction and microliposuction, on the other hand, involve sucking up the fat with syringes and then using it to model the shape of the body in other points.
After the suture, which leaves no significant scars, the area is bandaged to reduce swelling.
Rest is recommended for 48 hours after surgery. Sports or physical efforts are not recommended for 20 days. It is also good not to expose yourself to the sun until the spots and swelling have disappeared.
Results
The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the affected area, the healing capacity and elasticity of the skin and the general clinical condition of the patient.
The swelling that occurs causes a slight increase in weight, but the results are already visible 15 days after the operation.
The effect is permanent only if the patient maintains the weight achieved after the operation through a correct lifestyle. However, we must not forget that aging can change the results obtained.
Complications
The risks of infection, gas or fat embolisms, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest and hypovolemic shock have all but been eliminated by the improvement of the techniques used.
Most of the complications concern obese patients, with endocrine abnormalities or a habit of smoking, who follow too strict diets or practice exercise .
After surgery, inelastic or very thin skins may have superficial irregularities that tend to improve spontaneously or that can be treated with massages. In addition, relaxed or no longer young skin and the inner thighs are more subject to the formation of excess skin folds.
Contraindications
Liposuction is not recommended for diabetics, heart patients and subjects with kidney disorders and coagulation difficulties.
Varicose veins, phlebitis and very evident capillaries are other possible obstacles. Furthermore, the patient must not be on medications that induce bleeding.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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