Liposuction Overview
Liposuction, also known as lipo, is a surgical procedure that provides the removal of regional fats that cannot be eliminated with diet and sports. This procedure can be performed on the hips, backs, buttocks, abdomen, upper legs, thighs, upper arms, and knees.
The liposuction, which has more than one type (Vaser liposuction, hi-def liposuction, etc.), is based on the principle of removing the excess fat using 2 – 3 cm cannulas. Thanks to the thin cannulas, if any occurs, the scars aren’t visible.
The amount of fat removed depends on the patient’s needs; the procedure takes 30 minutes to 6 hours.
With liposuction, the excessive fat taken from the body can be injected to the chest or butt to achieve fullness. Besides, liposuction is used as a technique in many plastic surgeries, especially in the gynecomastia.
Liposuction Candidates
The patient,
- Whose general health is suitable for this procedure,
- Who has regional fat that doesn’t answer diet and sports,
- Who’s on the ideal weight,
- Who’s not on pregnancy and breastfeeding period,
- Who’s not planning a pregnancy,
- Who’s not older, is a good candidate for liposuction.
Also, as liposuction isn’t a weight-loss operation, the patient should get this treatment after losing weight.
Risks & Complications
Liposuction is a safe operation when compared to many aesthetic operations. Also, it carries the following risks and complications as it’s a surgical procedure that causes serious changes:
- Reactions to anesthesia,
- Bruising,
- Redness,
- Swelling,
- Skin sensitivity,
- Tissue loss,
- Changes in skin color,
- Bleeding,
- Asymmetry,
- Pain.
Many of these risks and complications can be eliminated by choosing the right surgeon and clinic. Besides, the after-care is also important for obtaining quality and safe results.
Liposuction Methods
The process is based on 3 different methods:
- Tumescent Method: In this method, the fat cells to be removed from the body are filled with liquid through a special device, and these fat cells that swell with liquid are removed from the body with thin cannulas (2 – 3 cm in diameter). In this way, no bleeding occurs in the tissue and the cells can be easily removed.
- Ultrasonic Method: With this technique, fat cells destroyed with ultrasonic vibrations are removed from the body.
- Laser Method: The regional fat cells are made liquid from solid-state with laser in the first stage of the operation. In this way, the cannula vacuums fat tissues more easily. The biggest advantage of a laser is that the cannula diameter is narrow. The narrower cannula means the lower the probability of scarring
Which method is used in the operation is decided by accounting into the amount of fat to be removed. For this reason, it’s not possible to say that one method is better than the other.
Before the Operation
A surgeon should be selected after a detailed search before liposuction. This selection process is very important as the surgeon directly affects the results.
Apart from this, patients should take the following precautions before liposuction:
- The use of medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and supplements that have a blood-thinning function should be stopped at least 15 days in advance.
- The surgeon should be informed about chronic diseases, and medicines used continuously.
- Smoking and alcohol use should be stopped at least 15 days before the operation.
After the Operation
It isn’t necessary to stay in the hospital after liposuction. However, when returning home, a medical corset is used to support the new shape of the body. In this process, bruising, swelling, and mild pain may occur; this is quite normal and doesn’t require patients to worry.
While it’s possible to return to daily life approximately within a week after the operation, the body takes its final shape after about 1 month.
In this period, the patients should follow the following rules:
- Shower shouldn’t be taken in the first 3 days. After this process, the treated area can clean with warm water without pressing.
- Prescribed medications should be taken regularly.
- Medical corset should be worn.
- Painkillers shouldn’t be taken too frequently.
- Alcohol and cigarette should be quitted for 2 weeks.
- After liposuction, it’s necessary to wait approximately 1 month to do sports. Light activities such as walking can be done at an earlier date with the approval of the surgeon.
Frequently Asked Questions
The liposuction cost varies according to the method, the surgeon, and the clinic. So, it’s possible to get the price after the examination.
The age of 18 when bone and soft tissue development is complete, is considered to be the limit.
The operation time varies between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the amount of fat to be removed and the method to be used.
Since thin cannulas with a diameter of 2 – 3 cm are used during the procedure, only minimal scars remain on the body; these scars lose their visibility over time.
It’s possible to return to daily life within a week after the operation.
Liposuction isn’t a weight-loss operation. Although bodyweight decreases as much as the amount of fat removed, the operation shouldn’t be considered as an obesity surgery.
With liposuction, which helps tighten the body, it’s possible to reduce as 3-4 sizes.
Experts recommend getting this treatment 1 year after giving birth.
This operation can be carried out for both women and men.
This procedure is performed by qualified surgeons working in the field of aesthetics & plastic operations.
