10/20/2021
What is Liposuction a great solution for in view of other available body contouring procedures?
Liposuction can be an excellent solution for SHIFTING, RELEASING or REDUCING unwanted fat stores in certain parts of the body in an otherwise healthy & weight-stable individual who has tried other measures to contour or shape their body.
Liposuction may be an ideal option for people who want to shift, release or reduce:
Localised distributions (bulges) of excess body fat that don’t seem shiftable by other measures
Fat stores that are resistant to exercise and good nutrition
Unwanted fat accumulation
Fat distribution patterns that result partially from genetic factors (inherited patterns of fat distribution)
Liposuction is not a substitute for getting a great body by being healthy.
Liposuction or Liposculpture, by itself, is not a way of losing weight (nor is it a substitute)
Other possibilities for reshaping your body should be explored thoroughly BEFORE you decide on a surgical procedure to help reshape your body for better contours.
HERE’S WHAT TENDS TO WORK BEST FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE SEEKING LIPOSUCTION AND WANTING TO BE WELL PREPARED.
Liposuction works best if you exercise regularly and control your diet on a regular basis
Liposuction is NOT an alternative to a healthy lifestyle and you should keep your expectations REALISTIC and relative to where you are now
You should ideally follow a relatively stable pattern of food intake (e.g. a healthy, nutritious diet) prior to and following liposuction to achieve long-lasting results.
If you’re YOUNGER in age and have firm, elastic skin, you’ll tend to see a better final contour result after liposuction than if you have a lot of excess skin or skin with a lot of laxity, such as occurs with age
You might be a less than ideal candidate for the Liposuction option if you are overweight (more than 10 kilograms) or have loose, inelastic skin
Loose skin will not automatically reshape itself to your new contours (it doesn’t always ‘bounce back’) so you may require additional surgical techniques to remove and tighten your excess skin
Body contour irregularities related to structures OTHER than fat, may not be able to be remedied or improved by Liposuction techniques
Cellulite is not fixable with Liposuction on its own – don’t expect a significant improvement to areas of dimpled skin with cellulite
TUMESCENT TECHNIQUE (SAL) ALSO CALLED THE ‘WET’ TECHNIQUE OR “WET” LIPOSUCTION
Your Surgeon injects a significant volume of saline (salt) water, local anaesthetic & adrenaline under your skin (in the area or areas being treated)
This method may help to make fat removal easier
This type of liposuction may also help to reduce post-op pain or minimise bleeding
ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION TECHNIQUE (UAL AND EUAL)
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) or external ultrasound-assisted liposuction (EUAL) are other lipo techniques that may be used by some Surgeons
This technique may benefit removal of FAT that is considered ‘more fibrous’ – it may be more suitable for certain areas of the body
UAL or EUAL is not necessarily great for all areas of the body and has not been proven to be MORE beneficial than other forms of lipo, liposuction or liposculpture such as the WET technique of Liposuction
The Procedure – Liposuction techniques: how fat deposits are removed using a cannula
A sterile cannula (thin tube usually made of metal) is inserted by your Surgeon into the layer of superficial fat or deep fat
The cannula will be connected to a clear plastic hose
The hose is connected to a source of suction (somewhat akin to ‘vacuum’ technology)
The surgeon skillfully manoeuvres the cannula through the deeper fat tissues as well as the superficial fat tissues in order to decrease the fat in that area
this varies according to what part or parts of the body are being treated and to how much fat there is to be removed
Your Surgeon will do so in a specific way or ‘pattern’ for best results
LIPOSUCTION IS ESSENTIALLY DECREASING FAT IN CERTAIN AREAS, NOT REMOVING IT ENTIRELY.
Fat is necessary for skin to maintain it’s shape or firmness. In fact, ageing faces often appear older due to a loss of volume that includes a loss of bone tissue as well as facial fat.
Removing too much fat from ANY area of the body or face/neck is a risk with less experienced Surgeons.
If too much fat is removed during Lipo, you could end up with loose skin – or with irregularities on your skin’s surface, e.g. noticeable indents or uneven distribution of fat.
Risks include that there could be damage to nerves and blood vessels during the procedure (there is typically minor damage, and your Surgeon will do everything he or she can to minimise this. However, you’ll want to consider this risk with Liposuction, as well as any other risks of having surgery. Be sure to get this information during your confidential consultation.
HOW LIPOSUCTION HELPS CONTOUR (SCULPT) YOUR BODY
The sculpting effects of liposuction can be considered permanent but requires maintaining stable body weight. Fat cells can increase or decrease in size, but liposuction actually changes how many of the cells there are in that part of your body.
The area treated by your liposuction surgery is somewhat less likely to increase to its former size, even with weight gain, because it ends up having FEWER fat cells.
HOWEVER, WEIGHT GAIN AFTER LIPOSUCTION SURGERY IS QUITE RISKY.
This is because, when you gain weight AFTER your liposuction procedure, it is likely to occur in body areas NOT suctioned – as well as those that were treated. But it might be distributed differently in the treated versus non-treated areas.
So if your weight DOES change, you could end up with uneven fat distribution. So the key is to maintain a healthy, stable weight & a nutritional/exercise regime not only before, but AFTER, your operation in order to get the best results.
Your Surgeon will tell you what to expect and where your surgery will be performed.
IN GENERAL:
Expect LIPOSUCTION to be performed under GENERAL Anaesthetic in a Surgical Facility
PRESSURE garments should be recommended and ideally supplied for you for after your surgery
PRESSURE (surgical support) garments should be worn AFTER liposuction for the period of time your Surgeon designates
It’s important to follow your Surgeon’s post-op instructions carefully – so be sure to ask any and all questions you have about what helps you make the best recovery from your procedure.
POST-OP CARE AFTER LIPO
You’ll have surgical dressings after your procedure
Your FIRST change of your surgical dressings (and FIRST removal of your post-op support/pressure garment) is typically when you get your sutures or ‘stitches’ removed.
You’ll still need to wear your pressure GARMENT for several weeks (2 to 6 weeks or more) AFTER your liposuction surgery
This really helps contour the body shape and gives support during healing
Ask your Surgeon how long is ideal for you to wear your garments, including how many hours a day you’ll need to wear them
Watch out for dizziness on standing – as there will be some fluid loss during the procedure (blood & other body fluids) – be sure you have the “Seven C’s of Post-Op Care” in order before you have your surgery
COLD – You’ll want to try to keep warm because some patients do feel cold after surgery due to having fluid loss and other surgery-related factors
Whilst feeling a bit colder than normal – or even dizzy on occasion – is typically temporary, transient and normal after Liposuction, you need to be sure to let your Surgeon know ALL of your post-op symptoms and especially anything concerning you or your post-op care team
SWELLING, BRUISING AND WAITING TO SEE YOUR RESULTS
SWELLING & bruising can be significant after liposuction
Swelling & bruises tend to resolve over several weeks post-surgery
Swelling is typically normal
Bruising can also be extensive for some individuals
Acute swelling & bruising DOES tend to subside within the first few weeks (2 to 3 weeks) after surgery for most patients
Residual swelling can take a LOT longer to fully subside – hence you’ll want to be PATIENT with seeing your final results (this may take months)
Be sure to take it easy after your surgery and treat yourself gently – nurture yourself and have a good care team ready to support you
POST-OP RECOVERY
Post-op treatments such as peri-operative antibiotics, postoperative massage or even ultrasound treatments may be recommended by your Surgeon
There is no set recovery time, just parameters that vary greatly from person to person – that said, don’t try to do too much too soon – and follow your Surgeon’s instructions carefully
Returning to work and normal activities should not be done without your Surgeon’s approval and you’ll want to be very honest with your Surgeon about how physically taxing your work is – or whether it might impact your healing processes.
Many patients CAN actually return to work after a few days or after a week – some take longer before they feel ready – it all depends on factors to do with healing, some of which are unpredictable
You might need to wait several months before you can see the treated area reveal it’s final shape and contour after your liposuction experience.
You’ll need to stay healthy and maintain a stable weight for best results over the longer term.
Options other than Liposuction
Do investigate other options before choosing Liposuction, as it is a surgical procedure and all surgical procedures have risks.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a replacement for losing weight or following good nutrition.
Get fit in advance – and once you heal, get back into your fitness regime
GOOD NUTRITION AND EXERCISE REGIMES WILL HELP WITH OVERALL REDUCTION OF EXCESS BODY FAT AND WITH MAINTAINING YOUR NEWLY CONTOURED BODY.
Depending on your skin and the areas being treated, excision of excess skin or fat may also be necessary to get the results, either in lieu of or in addition to liposuction
Investigate the surgical options and if you do need excess skin removed after liposuction, be prepared for that
Ask every question you have BEFORE you embark on the surgery or choose a Surgeon
Risks of Liposuction Surgery
All surgery carries risks. The majority of people who undertake liposuction surgery do not experience any serious complications; however, a minority of patients do. Remember there cannot be any guarantees in surgery and that because every patient is so individual, and every surgery procedure so unique, there will be factors involved with the healing process that can’t be controlled or predicted.
The importance of having a highly qualified Surgeon that you trust and are comfortable communicating with, along with a surgical team or organisation is known for offering long-term patient care excellence, should not be overestimated.
Also, your overall health and lifestyle WILL impact on the possible surgical risks and healing processes. Most of the risks associated with surgery can be managed, minimised or predicted. Some can’t, however. So your health and lifestyle are pivotal to the outcome of your surgery.
Advancing age also increases surgery risks, as well as smoking or being overweight. carries Conditions including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart and lung disease or high blood pressure can also increase your risks and impact or impede your healing. Be honest with your Surgeon about what conditions you have, and your lifestyle, so that you can prepare for the best results and help minimise your risks. Plus, with the right approach and good nutrition, you can even help follow and improve your ‘rapid recovery’ protocol that our Team provides you with.
CONSENT AND WAIT TIME FOR LIPOSUCTION
Before you consent, you want to know what’s involved and the surgery pro’s and cons as well as potential complications or risks.
Your Surgeon should offer you detailed information on the procedure and the risks
You should have adequate discussion time and informative answers concerning potential risks of any liposuction or liposculpture procedure
Your Surgeon should talk with you about possible complications – and how they would handle any complications that might occur
You’ll want to make a fully informed decision before consenting to surgery. So if you have any questions whatsoever, be sure you ask your Surgeon about these well in advance of your procedure date.
As of October 2016, there will also be new mandatory wait times for most cosmetic procedures. Even without those, you’ll want to be FULLY prepared for your surgery. So make sure there’s a suitable amount of time between your consult and information gathering and your surgery date. This can vary from patient to patient. That’s because each patient processes information differently and makes decisions differently. Just be sure you feel comfortable, respected and well informed before proceeding with any Surgeon Second consultations can also sometimes help you better understand the procedure in more detail; so don’t be afraid to meet with more than one of our Team.
Ask our team for general pricing information – or visit a Surgeon for a consultation to learn what specific treatment will get you the results you’re seeking and how much this will cost.
Key Risks of Liposuction include:
Swelling
Bruising
Burst vessels in the skin telangiectasia
Discolouration
Discomfort
Pain
Haematoma
Scars
Sensory disturbances
Skin Surface distortion or residual irregularities (grooves or areas of depression or skin indentations)
Cellulite and other modified fat distribution
Post liposuction skin distortion or alterations of skin folds
Asymmetry
One of the potential issues that might occur after liposuction is asymmetry. Before any procedure, if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that the two sides of your body are rarely ever symmetric anyway. The face and breasts are never perfectly symmetric. This is also likely to be the case after surgery. But the main difference is that as a patient, you’ll suddenly be highly focused on how your body looks after the body contouring. You’ll tend to notice every little nuance as you heal.
That noted, despite excellent surgical care, sometimes uneven amounts of fat might be removed from opposite sides of the body, face or neck during liposuction.
If so, there’s also the chance that early swelling or skin distortion can initially seem to disguise or hide the asymmetry. This can then becomes more apparent over the longer term healing period after your operation, when the swelling more fully subsides. Should this occur, you may require Revisional Surgery to help correct any highly visible imbalances or significant post-op asymmetry.
It’s also highly important for you to know that NO type or form of surgery can actually get you a perfect result. That’s partially because where you are NOW will impact your surgery results AND because there are factors in surgery and healing that are beyond control or predictability. We do all we can to ensure a great result, and to ensure you have realistic expectations, but there are no guarantees of perfection in anything that involves the human body, either before, during or after surgery.
Some other possible complications of the Liposuction surgery include:
Tissue Injury or structural injuries
Blood vessels, nerves, the abdominal cavity and muscles of the body can all be injured during the liposuction procedure.
Damage to internal organs is also possible; and has been reported by Surgeons, although these incidences are typically quite rare.
Skin laxity or skin redundancy
Not all skin will firmly hug the body after the fat is removed through liposuction.
How well your skin lies on the contoured body part after the swelling subsides will depend mostly on your skin’s laxity
Elasticity is usually compromised by age and by what the skin may have endured in terms of excessive stretching such as during weight changes or during pregnancy
Solution: revisional surgery can excise the excess, saggy skin
