Liposuction - the Plain Truth

If you're battling a bulge that just won't budge, liposuction surgery may have crossed your mind. By removing unwanted deposits of excess fat, liposuction improves body appearance and smoothes irregular or distorted body shapes. Safe liposuction surgery demands an attention to detail and care for the patient. Also, liposuction is mainly a form of body contouring and not a weight loss method.

Liposuction, The Facts

The liposuction procedure has changed dramatically since it was first introduced in 1979. The old surgeries for fat and skin removal, such as the "tummy tuck", are significantly more risky than liposuction alone. Making an informed decision about having liposuction surgery requires that you feel secure in your knowledge and understanding of the procedure.

If properly done, the liposuction shrinks the skin and results in a reasonably good lower abdomen shape, but this requires an experienced surgeon. The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas.

The majority of liposuction surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis. If your surgeon performed a large-volume liposuction (over 5 liters) then you should stay in the hospital overnight for observation and safety.

Most commonly liposuction is performed by a dermatologist, a cosmetic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon.

Thigh liposuction is often performed in conjunction with buttock liposuction. Pock marks or wrinkling of the skin where the fat is removed may require another procedure to firm up the skin following liposuction.

Before surgery, the doctor may mark circles and lines on the areas of your body to undergo liposuction. Prior to the surgery a solution is infused into the area of the liposuction.

You must understand fully the pre-operative preparations, the liposuction procedure, and the precise post-operative care. A liposuction cannula is a stainless steel tube inserted through an incision in the skin that is employed to suction the fat. A small incision is first made where the instrument is inserted, so liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia.

A liposuction procedure may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back, and thighs all on the same day.

Ultrasonic Liposuction

Ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL) is a two-step technique that uses the energy from sound waves to liquefy fat deposits before they are suctioned. Some surgeons may advise ultrasonic liposuction for large volume extractions, especially in tough areas such as the back, flanks and hips.

External ultrasonic energy can be applied and is recommended by some surgeons before or after the fat is removed by regular liposuction. Ultrasonic liposuction must ordinarily be combined with traditional liposuction when deep and surface fat is being removed.

With ultrasonic liposuction it is possible to remove fat from difficult areas such as the upper abdomen, flanks, hip and back. Ultrasonic liposuction is not a replacement for traditional liposuction but it is an addition. The results of ultrasonic liposuction are the same as traditional liposuction.

Tumescent Liposuction

One of the most significant improvements in liposuction in recent years has been the use of tumescent anesthesia, introduced by dermatologist Dr. Tumescent. Tumescent liposuction is now the most common form of liposuction.

The technique of tumescent liposuction has become especially popular, in part because of its purported safety. And now, tumescent technique has improved almost every aspect of liposuction. In fact, even if ultrasound is used, it will be followed by tumescent liposuction.

As judged by current world-wide experience, tumescent liposuction is very safe. Since its inception, liposuction performed with the tumescent technique has had an excellent safety profile. Complications of liposuction performed with a pure tumescent technique have been minimal.

Much less bleeding occurs as a result of tumescent liposuction. Other situations exist that may benefit from tumescent liposuction.

Risks and Side Effects

Although it is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, liposuction is often times misrepresented in the popular media. However, liposuction is a serious surgical procedure and possibly may involve a painful recovery.

As with any surgical procedure, liposuction is associated with certain expected side-effects such as bruising, swelling, and temporary numbness. Although irregularities of the skin are possible following liposuction, this side-effect is minimized by the tumescent technique, especially when performed with small cannulas.

Skin injury, pigment change, fluid retention, rippling or bagginess of the skin are possible following liposuction.

Excessive surgical trauma (excessive liposuction) is dangerous and is an important cause for serious liposuction complications. Unrelated surgical procedures on the same day as liposuction should not be performed.

How Expensive Is It?

Health insurance does not usually cover cosmetic surgery such as liposuction. There fore the price of liposuction surgery may very from case to case.

Selecting A Surgeon

While some physicians' professional societies may recommend training before performing liposuction surgery, no standardized training is required.

The important distinction between liposuction surgeons who are board certified is the liposuction technique that they use. In order to master an artistic liposuction technique, the surgeon must have the skill and intelligence to avoid exposing patients to unnecessary dangers.

No matter which technique is used, liposuction is considered completely cosmetic and therefore entirely optional (elective). Choosing your liposuction surgeon should be a careful decision.

By Jon Leger

Mesotherapy Risks

Proponents of Mesotherapy emphasize that risks of treatment are minimized because lower doses of compounds are injected into a relatively small area. However, there are certain known and potentially unknown risks associated with Mesotherapy.

The majority of known Mesotherapy Risks are in and around the injection site. Skin may become pigmented or scarred, and these changes may not fade with time. Other changes, such as swelling, pain and bruising, typically subside after treatment. In some people, a severe local reaction to substances injected may result in ulceration and subsequent scarring. There may also be a systemic and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to injected drugs. Infections due to poor injection practices are often reported among patients of unlicensed Mesotherapy practitioners. These infections may require treatment with expensive antibiotics.

There is some concern in the medical community that several compounds commonly used in Mesotherapy have unproven benefits and unknown risks. There are many Internet sites that sell such compounds. However, most of them are located overseas and are therefore outside the jurisdiction of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The purity of compounds sold by such sites cannot be verified. To date, the FDA has not approved any compound for use in Mesotherapy, even if such a compound is approved for other uses. Additionally, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons does not endorse Mesotherapy because it is not a scientifically proven method.

Many Mesotherapy treatments require ongoing maintenance, and the costs involved in such maintenance therapy may be underestimated initially. This can be a financial risk because Mesotherapy is not covered by health insurance plans. There may also be emotional risks, particularly with treatments that require adherence to a diet and exercise plan. If such a plan is not followed, the body may revert to its pre-Mesotherapy appearance, causing stress.

By Jason Gluckman 

 

The Basics of Chin Liposuction

Chin liposuction is a procedure that could eliminate the excess fats and loose, saggy skin of upper necks. Just like other liposuction procedures, chin liposuction involves minimum pain, allows for a faster recovery time and provides an effective way of getting rid of unwanted fats on the chin.

While the muscle tone of chins can be improved through exercise, the collection of fat under the chin or upper neck remains. However, since fats from the chin are very difficult to get rid of, chin liposuction may be your last resort.

Although other methods, such as chin tucks and facelifts, can be used in keeping those double chins off, the most advanced and newest method is the chin liposuction. By undergoing chin liposuction, there will be lesser scarring, but a faster recovery.

The Advantages of Chin Liposuction

When a patient chooses chin liposuction, he or she should expect smaller incisions compare to those used in facelifts. These small incisions, which heal very quickly, are possible due to smaller instruments used in new liposuction methods. Another advantage of chin liposuction is that incisions are generally placed in rarely visible areas.

When the surgeon recommends chin liposuction using the tumescent technique, you will be placed under local anesthesia, but you will experience little bleeding and lesser tissue trauma. As a result, patients could quickly go back to normal daily activities after a surgery.

Although most patients are required to take at least two days off from work after a chin liposuction procedure, they are easily able to perform daily tasks during that time. Unlike the potential risks of a facelift, chin liposuction produces minimal bruising or swelling that quickly subsides.

After a chin liposuction, a special protection garment is worn for a day or two. This elastic, protective chinstrap is used in providing patients with gentle pressure for the first few days prior to surgery. However, this strap is immediately taken off after a few days and then no special maintenance or care is required.

Although facelift has been a procedure used for decades, the advancements of chin liposuction surgery gives way to a more effective and less traumatic option of removing those unwanted double chins.

Author: Lee Milne