Liposuction/lipoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the body contour and proportion by removing excess fat deposits to slim and reshape specific areas of the body. Suitable candidates for this surgery are young patients with good skin elasticity who are close to their ideal weight. Liposuction is not a solution for weight loss or treatment of cellulites. But patients are seen slimmer and skin regularities called cellulites reduce with improvement of local excess fat
deposits and reduction of subcutaneous fat tissue.
Amount of fat cells is constant for adults. Weight gain doesn't increase this amount but it increases fat storage in these cells. What determines the excess body shape is localization of large number of these cells to same area. Fat deposits are abdominal in pear-shaped bodies and around hips in apple-shaped bodies. Mainly in these areas fat deposits are resistant to diet and exercisize. The permanent solution for this excessiveness that impairs body contour is removal of these fat tissues. Fat cells are mainly removed with liposuction. Therefore, with the cases of postoperative weight gain, fat deposits can't form as they were used to be.
Liposuction is mostly performed on abdomen, lateral sides of waist, hips, arms, legs, submandibular area, over knees and posterior side of knees. Reshaping and improvement of body shape and contour may also need fat injections as well as fat removal. The fat obtained from liposuction is processed and injected to certain areas of the body at the same session to achieve a more proportional body shape.
How is a liposuction operation done?
Liposuction is an aesthetic procedure that needs to be done at operational conditions in hospitals. It is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation depending on the wideness of the area and other concomitant operations. Local fat deposits that impair body contour are marked before the surgery. During the surgery these areas are injected with a special solution that prevents hemorrhaging and postsurgical pain. Fat tissue is vacuumed with thin cannulas inserted from 3-4 mm incisions that will be hidden in body curves. If fat injection is also be performed at the same session, fat is collected with a special injector system and prepared for injection There is no quantitative goal of fat removal. The main target is removal of excess fat tissue to achieve the desired body contour without causing any unwanted deformities of the skin.
After surgery patients are dressed with a special corset that puts pressure to liposuction sites. Patients are discharged the same day or next day with prescription for antibiotic and an analgesic.
How is the postoperational phase of liposuction?
Patient is asked to use the corset for 4-6 weeks for its effects to improvement of the adaptation of skin at liposuction sites, healing speed and quality. The corset can be removed at nights after 2 weeks. Numbness, bruises, sensitivity and pain with contact reduces rapidly after 3 weeks. At first weeks, increase in body weight and not to fit in usual outfits are temporary expected conditions caused by edema due to surgery. Swellings reduce reasonably after 2 months. Body contour takes its final shape in 6 months to a year.
What is laser liposuction/ laser lipolysis?
It is a procedure that is based on liquefying the excess fat tissue with laser energy by disintegrating fat cell membranes. The liquefied fat tissue can be left to be removed by lymph nodes or can be removed with a thin cannula depending on the laser technique used. Another effect of this surgery is the firming of skin by stimulating collagen synthesis. This way fat removal and skin tightening can be performed in one session.
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