What is liposuction?
(illustration of a liposuction procedure)Liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove fat deposits and shape the body. Fat is removed from under the skin with the use of a vacuum-suction canula (a hollow pen-like instrument) or using an ultrasonic probe that emulfsies (breaks up into small pieces) the fat and then removes it with suction. Persons with localized fat may decide to have liposuction to remove fat from that area. Liposuction is a procedure for shaping the body and is not recommended for weight loss. Liposuction may be performed on the abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. A liposuction procedure may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back, and thighs all on the same day. Liposuction is also used to reduce breast size in men with large breasts (gynecomastia) or to remove fat tumors (lipomas) but it is most commonly used for cosmetic body shaping.
Liposuction surgery has now become the most commonly performed plastic surgery operation. This procedure is used to improve your figure in one specific area or in several areas. Liposuction is both a surgical procedure and an artistic one, incorporating a concern for the patient’s well-being and health during and after surgery with a genuine artistic sculpting of tissues. There are multiple terms applied to the technique of liposuction depending on the goals of the procedure. “Liposuction”, “Suction Assisted Lipectomy”, and “Liposculpture” all refer to the same basic procedure. Recent advances include Ultrasound Assisted Lipectomy, which involves the use of a cannula – a tube that vibrates with ultrasonic energy liquifying the fat to facilitate more effective removal. The cost of the procedure depends on the extent of the areas treated and the amount of fat removed. A general range is $4,000 to $10,000.
Liposuction is the removal of excess fat with a small, straw-like instrument called a cannula that is attached to a liposuction machine. The fat layer under the skin is converted to a network of tunnels and the cannula is manipulated within the layers to remove unwanted fatty deposits. An elastic garment is then worn for compression and healing. The result is a resculpting of bulging areas into more attractive contours.
The modern era of liposuction plastic surgery started in 1980 when Swiss and French physicians first presented their techniques of “lipolysis.” Viewed from the current perspective, the description of their procedures were revolutionary, but primitive by today’s standards. The newer techniques of liposuction, ultrasonic or ultrasound liposuction (UAL) and power-assisted liposuction (PAL) are safe and consistently produce results that were not obtainable in the past. All aspects of the newer techniques have been analyzed to maximize the patient’s safety during the liposuction surgery: the metabolism of fat, the anesthesia, and the reproduction of standard techniques that afford the patient good results and maximize the patient’s safety and comfort. It should be noted that there is no ideal method for liposuction. Each liposuction method has its advocates, and may produce good results. It is the experience of the surgeon, and the surgeon’s ability to produce consistently good results with
