Liposuction

Liposuction, liposculpture or suction assisted lipectomy (SAL) are terms usually employed to describe a surgical technique developed to remove localized fatty deposits in certain anatomical regions, which are generally resistant to dieting, and that alter the normal body contour. Zones that are susceptible to treatment include: abdomen, flanks, back, arms, inner thighs, hips, knees, ankles and a double chin. It is therefore not a treatment for obesity, nor is it a substitute for weight reduction. It should be considered for those cases where diet and exercise are not able to remove localized fatty deposits. The ideal candidate for a liposuction is an individual with a relatively normal weight, that has excess fat accumulated in certain areas and that has a firm and elastic skin.

How is the technique performed?

Basically consists of the removal of subcutaneous fat through thin and long tubes connected to a vacuum system and introduced through small skin incisions. Before removing the fat that infiltrates with serum, local anesthetic and epinephrine (tumescent technique) to reduce bleeding and to better penetrate the subcutaneous tissue.

How long do the results last?

Considering that after puberty, fat cells do not have the capacity to reproduce, fatty deposits do not recur once eliminated, thus a liposuction may be considered permanent. This does not mean that one cannot gain weight after a liposuction, since the fat cells that remain may increase considerably in size, but if weight is gained it usually does so in a more uniform and harmonic way. Besides, the change that is achieved in the silhouette and body contour usually encourages the patient in such a way that the liposuction often ends up becoming the necessary stimulus to follow a healthier diet and lifestyle.

What type of anesthesia is employed?

It is sometimes necessary to perform the procedure under general anesthesia, although it usually is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under epidural.

How is the post-operative period?

This procedure usually requires that the patient stay one night in the hospital. Those cases performed under local and sedation may be discharged early and become ambulatory procedures.

During the post-operative period, the use of a compression garment is recommended, which aids in avoiding skin irregularities, as well as massages, especially in cases with poor skin elasticity. The compression garment is usually worn for one month and the massages may be initiated after the second week.

Return to work may be done in the first week after treatment and the results begin to be noticeable after the first month, at which moment skin retraction begins to occur.

How will the scars be?

The stab incisions performed, and therefore the scars that will remain, are minimal, since only small incisions (approximately 0.5 cm) are required to introduce the cannulas that will aspirate the fat.