LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure also known as lipoplasty.It is not a weightloss procedure rather a body shaping  cosmetic procedure. Liposuction is a high suction removal of fat where fat is removed with a high pressure suction device from specific areas of the body.

Example: thighs,arms,back,calves,abdomen and neck.It cannot eliminate stretch marks and cellulite from the skin.

 

How Well It Works

Liposuction is usually very effective at removing fat deposits in small areas. But if you regain weight after having liposuction, the fatty bulges that were removed are likely to return or may appear in a different place.

Some improvement in body contour is usually noticeable right after surgery. And improvement may continue for several weeks or even months as the swelling goes away. The full effects of having liposuction may not be visible for several months to a year.

Liposuction (except for laser liposuction) generally does not tighten the skin over the treated area. After fat has been removed, the skin around the area may be somewhat loose. It may take up to 6 months for the skin to tighten around the treated area. Some people's skin is very elastic and retracts more quickly than other people's skin. Younger skin tends to have greater elasticity than older skin.

People who expect liposuction to help them lose weight are usually disappointed.

 

Risks

Liposuction done by an experienced doctor in a properly equipped facility is usually safe.1 Having more than one area treated, or having a very large area treated, may increase the risk of complications during or after the procedure.

• Temporary swelling, bruising, soreness, and numbness in and around the treated areas.
• Irritation and minor scarring around the incision sites where the cannulas were inserted.
• Baggy or rippling skin. The skin will usually tighten and retract after a few months. But in some people the skin may remain somewhat loose.

Less common side effects include:

• Permanent color changes in the skin.
• Uneven skin surface over the treated area.
• Damage to the nerves and skin. The heat generated during ultrasound-assisted liposuction may burn the skin or damage the tissue under the skin.

If you gain weight after having liposuction, your body may store the new fat in a different place than where you had fat cells removed. New fat can grow deep inside your body, around your organs, such as your heart or liver. This type of fat can be more harmful to your body than fat that is stored near the surface of your body, such as on your hips or thighs. So people who have liposuction need to be careful not to gain extra weight.

 

Dangerous complications

Although death is very rare with liposuction, it can happen. If you are having a large amount of fat removed, are obese, or have health problems, your risks go up. Possible complications include:

• Excessive blood and fluid loss, leading to shock. But this is extremely unlikely.
• Fat clots or blood clots, which may travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and become life-threatening.
• Buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This is most likely to occur when a large volume of fluid is injected into the body.
• Infection. In some cases, antibiotics may be given before or after liposuction to help prevent infection
• Toxic reaction to the injected solution (lidocaine toxicity), especially if large areas or many areas are treated at one time.
• A puncture into the cavity containing the abdominal organs or damage to an organ such as the spleen.

Liposuction should not be done in people who have severe heart problems, who have blood-clotting disorders (such as thrombophilia, a disorder in which the blood clots easily or excessively), or during pregnancy.

 

What To Think About

Liposuction should be done only by a doctor who has special training in liposuction and surgery of the skin and in how to respond to complications during surgery. You will also be at less risk for complications if liposuction is not done at the same time as other cosmetic procedures.

If you are trying to lose weight, liposuction is not a substitute for exercise and a balanced diet. In fact, most cosmetic surgeons agree that the best candidates for liposuction are healthy people who are at or close to a healthy weight but who have stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to exercise.