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Frequently Asked Questions - Liposuction
› At what age can I go for liposuction surgery?
Usually 18 years. Old age is no bar if patient is fit for surgery.
› How is liposuction surgery Performed?
Areas of fat deposits are marked. After giving anaesthesia, a few 3-4 mm size cuts are made around the area and tumescent fluid is injected into the fat through the holes. Later with hollow metal cannulas (tubes) with holes near the tip are passed through the same holes into the fat (under the skin and over the muscle). The cannulas are attached to a liposuction vacuum machine through a plastic tube. Due to the powerful suction of the machine and to and fro movement of the cannula, fat is broken down into small pieces and is sucked out into the jar attached to the machine in liquid form.
› What parts of body can be treated by Liposuction?
Commonly treated areas are
• Cheeks, jowls and neck
• Upper arms
• Breast or chest areas
• Back
• Abdomen and waist
• Hips and buttocks
• Inner and outer thighs
• Inner knee
• Calves and ankles
› How many areas of body can be treated simultaneously?
Two or three areas can be combined safely provided the overall fat to be removed does not exceed the safe limits. Combining more areas proportionately increases the surgery time and overall recovery time. If the person is more than 8 kilos overweight it makes sense to concentrate on one or two areas like abdomen and thighs for example, rather than removing little from many areas.
› What is the safe upper limit for fat removal by liposuction in one sitting?
ASAPS (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and several other world authorities recommend fat removal equivalent to 5-8 percent of body weight as upper limit. That means 5 kgs can be safely removed from a 60 kilos person and 8 kilos from a 100 kilos person.
Removal of more fat is done occasionally if the person is perfectly healthy and is willing to accept higher risk. This can be done only in hospital with ultramodern support systems.
Liposuction of 500 ml or more fat is a major surgical procedure and is safe when done by qualified person in a hospital with good anesthetic and ICU facilities. In absence of the abovementioned, even smaller liposuction can be risky.
› Are there scars after liposuction surgery?
The small 3-4 mm cuts used for liposuction are made in hidden areas. Therefore scars are not a big concern. Spot like marks lighten with time.
› I understand that every surgical procedure has risks, what are the possible risks of liposuction surgery?
Fat is superficial and liposuction is relatively safe surgery. Bleeding, infection and reactions to anaesthesia are some risks common to all surgeries. Uncommonly there can be asymmetry, depressions, waviness, pigmentation prolonged numbness after surgery. You can help to lessen certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after surgery.
Safety of liposuction is dependent on
Amount of fat Removed: Fat removal within 5-8 % of body weight in a single sitting is considered safe.
Person’s Health: In people with diabetes/hypertension and other risk factors more precautions are required.
Training of Surgeon: Qualified plastic surgeon trained in liposuction is recommended.
Hospital Facilities: Complete monitoring is recommended. Larger the liposuction more the facilities needed, including ICU facility in the hospital.
› How will I look and feel right after surgery?
Liposuctioned parts are covered in padding for 2 days. Liposuction holes are left open usually and there is discharge of bloodstained fluid which is soaked by padding. If needed you can change the padding. You will be wearing a stretchable tight garment on the operated part. Your dressings will be changed after 2 days in the doctor’s clinic. You can have shower from 4th day after surgery and can remove your dressings and wash your whole body. You will be given instructions about self dressing at home after bath everyday. Initially you will notice liposuctioned part to be swollen and sometimes with black and blue patches. The liposuctioned part may also feel numb and tender. You will wear a support garment for 4-6 weeks, until the swelling and discoloration diminishes. Generally there are no stitches.
Normal Food: Same day
Dressing Change: After 48 hours
Bath: 4th day
Pain: 1 week (Relieved with Painkiller Medications)
Self Dressing: For 10 days
Skin Discoloration: 2 -3 weeks
Swelling: 1 month
Tenderness: Mild for 1-2 months
Support Garment: 6 weeks or more
Numbness: weeks or months
› What result can I expect after liposuction?
If you had any bulges showing through your clothes they flatten and your body looks streamlined. You can get a flat abdomen if your abdominal muscles are strong. You will loose inches at the liposuctioned part, and the rest of the body will remain the same. You also loose weight equivalent to or less than the amount of fat liposuctioned.
› When can I see the final results?
Liposuction cuts are few and small and heal in a week but internal healing after liposuction goes on for months. The fat that is broken and removed is gradually replaced with tough fibrous tissue which shrinks over next 3-6 months. The improvement in inches is nil in first 2 weeks, 30-40 percent in one month and 90 percent in 3 months and 100 percent in 6 months.
› What changes I can expect in my body during healing period after liposuction?
• First 15 days: Tenderness, numbness, swelling , bruising and no significant improvement in your size. Soreness of muscles on movement.
• 15 days - 1 month: Clothes become looser, skin looks normal in colour, you can feel hardness and lumps, if you press the liposuctioned part. Numbness persists. During this time you may feel occasional discomfort and pain especially after exertion. You can take care of that by a painkiller pill and rest.
• 1-6 months: Numbness, hardness gradually returns to normal. Further reduction in inches and size up to 6 months provided you maintain a healthy lifestyle by regular moderate exercise and healthy diet.
› What is the best time to buy new clothes after liposuction?
You should wait for at least 6 weeks.
› Are there methods available to reduce the scarring?
Scars can be improved by anti scar creams, gels prescribed by your doctor.
› How long will the results last?
Results are permanent if you maintain your body weight by sensible lifestyle.
Click here to view article on maintaining liposuction Results
› How long do I need to see the doctor after surgery?
You will return to the clinic for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, usually 2 days, 2 weeks one month and 3 months later. At these visits your progress will be evaluated and minor problems are taken care of. You are not charged for follow up visits after surgery till one year.
Please remember that the relationship with your plastic surgeon does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact Dr. Priti.
› I have heard about Anticellulite creams/massages/machines/exercises/sauna belt that can remove localized fat from any body part. Do they work?
If they could work, no one would have opted for liposuction.
› What is injection Lipolysis? I have heard it can remove fat without surgery?
Injection lipolysis technique uses a chemical substance which can be injected into the fatty deposits and is said to dissolve fat. Only very small fatty deposits can be treated by this and multiple sittings are required. This technique is not as popular as liposuction due to its limitations.
› Can fat be removed without surgery by external application of ultrasound waves?
Such machines have recently come into the market but their results are not proven. Multiple sittings are required.
› What is ultrasonic liposuction?
Ultrasonic liposuction cannula emits ultrasound waves. Which helps in breaking down the fat. Currently this equipment is out of vogue because of increased complications reported with its use.
› What is tumescent liposuction?
In tumescent liposuction a special fluid is injected into fat before sucking it out. Advantages are less bleeding and easier liposuction. It can also be used to give local anesthesia. Modern liposuction always involves injection of fluid before liposuction.
› Are there any side effects of liposuction that are seen later in life?
No
› Does liposuction of abdomen cause problems with pregnancy in future?
No
› Does the fat come back after liposuction?
Liposuction breaks the fatty tissue mechanically, which is taken out of the body and discarded. It will not come back if you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
› I am 75 kgs and I want to lose 15 kilos of weight. can I have liposuction done?
Yes you can have liposuction done but remember, liposuction is not a good option to loose all that weight. You can choose one or two areas and get 6-7 liters (kilos) of fat removed in one sitting. Then either you can take care of the remaining weight by diet control and exercise or can go for another sitting of liposuction after 2-3 months. If you are not able to follow a healthy lifestyle and that is the reason for your obesity, you will have to carefully consider the possibility of your weight coming back.
› Is liposuction a major surgery or minor?
Even though liposuction cuts are small and there are no stitches, liposuction is in every other way like any other major surgery. Removal of fat causes trauma to tissue under the skin in the area liposuctioned and that part takes time to heal from inside. Liposuction is done usually under general anesthesia. Even if liposuction is done under local anesthesia it is not a minor surgery.
» Arm Liposuction
› My arms are disproportionately fat. I have tried arm exercises but could not reduce my arms. Can liposuction of arms help me? Will my arms become same as before if I put on weight later?
Exercising a certain body part will not remove the fat from that part. It just tones those muscles. If you lose weight by diet and exercise the fat will be lost uniformly from the body. If there is relative excess of fat in your arm that excess is likely to persist. In fact some of the lean people have fat arms. Excess fat can be removed through small concealed holes from your arms by liposuction under local or general anaesthesia. This will bring your arms in harmony with the rest of your body. After liposuction if you put on weight at a later date the arms will not put on weight in excess of the rest of your body.
› How much rest do I need after arms liposuction?
You can go home after surgery. You will have elastic garment on your arms which you will have to wear for a month. It can be hidden inside long sleeves. You can join back work light in 4-7 days. Swelling disappears in 4-6 weeks. Arm exercises can be done after one month.
› Is my arm skin going to sag after fat removal?
Skin quality can be assessed before surgery. If the skin has reasonably good tone it will shrink. Special cannulas and techniques can be used to minimize the risk of sagging. If there is sagging and stretch marks already and if you are older with thinner skin, there is a chance of sagging. If sagging occurs, then 3 months after liposuction, excess skin can be removed through a cut in armpit.
› What is arm lift?
Arm lift is sometimes needed for sagging arms after massive weight loss. Liposuction alone will not help because there is excess skin, which is removed through a cut in armpit or down the arm.
» Thigh Liposuction
› I am slim but my thighs have bulges that look awkward in jeans. Trousers that will fit around my thighs are too loose at my waist. I have tried everything else. Can liposuction remove the bulges permanently?
Yes, liposuction can remove those bulges and give you permanent results.
› How much rest is required after thigh liposuction?
You can go home after surgery if the fat removal is limited. You will have elastic garment on your thighs which you will have to wear for a month. It can be hidden inside trousers. You can join back work light in 4-7 days. Swelling disappears in 4-6 weeks. Leg exercises can be done after one month.
› What is Thigh lift?
Thigh lift is sometimes needed for sagging thighs after massive weight loss. Liposuction alone will not help because there is excess skin. Thigh skin is lifted up and removed along with liposuction.
» Face and Neck Liposuction
› My lower face is heavy and I have double chin. I would like a well defined jaw line. Can I get my face liposuctioned?
Yes, liposuction can help you achieve your goals without visible scars .If you are over 40, and have a lot of loose skin, you may require skin tightening as well facelift.
› How much rest is required face/neck liposuction?
You can go home after surgery. You will have elastic chin strap which you will have to wear for a month. You can join back work light in 4-7 days. Swelling disappears in 4-6 weeks.
› Are there any risks of liposuction of face/neck?
There is a very small risk of injury to certain branches of facial nerve resulting in temporary drooping of lower lip. This is uncommon and usually temporary.
» Abdomen Liposuction
› I am 30 years old male. I exercise regularly but still can’t get rid of fat on abdomen and love handles. Can liposuction give me flat abdomen? Is it going to be permanent?
By liposuction fat deposits can be removed and if you continue to maintain your present lifestyle, result will be permanent.
› I have 2 children and since then my tummy is bulging. I want to get back into shape. Can I have liposuction of tummy?
After childbirth usually there are stretch marks and skin as well as muscle of abdomen begin sagging. There is excess fat too which can be removed by liposuction. You will need to get the excess skin and muscle tightened by additional tummy tuck procedure if you want the best results.
› Someone I know has had liposuction done but still he looks obese. Has liposuction failed?
If very small amount of fat is removed from an obese body, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable. Also if the person’s lifestyle is unhealthy- no exercise, excess food, then he may not maintain results. All this can be assessed before surgery and removal of appropriate amount of fat from the right places is very important.
› I am 26 years old male, 5’ 8” and weigh 110 kgs. I have been overweight since childhood but only now I am feeling problems of knee joint pain. Recently I have developed high blood pressure also. I have been asked to lose weight but I am not able to. I want to have liposuction done and remove 30-40 kilos of weight. Can it be done?
You are grossly overweight. Liposuction is not a method to lose weight. In your case even if 7-10 liters of fat can be removed from your abdomen in a sitting but then you will need 3-4 sittings. If you are not able to lose weight at all then it is unlikely that you will be able to maintain the results of liposuction. With your sedentary lifestyle and inability to control diet, fat may come back. Any surgery (including liposuction) in obese people is associated with more than usual risk. Best option for you is to lose weight mostly by exercise and diet control and after you have lost at least 10 kilos then supplement it with one sitting of liposuction, followed be weight loss on your own again. Liposuction is not a shortcut to good health.
» Chest Liposuction
› I am 22 years old male. My chest is very prominent (like females). Can liposuction remove all that fat? I have tried losing weight but there was no reduction in my chest?
Your condition is called gynaecomastia where your breast gland is enlarged. Liposuction can partially reduce the chest but usually additional removal of firm gland is required by gynaecomastia surgery.
Click here to view procedure on male breast reduction.
» Breast Liposuction
› I am 20 years old female. My breasts are too big. Can I reduce their size by liposuction?
Breasts are not pure fat. There is harder gland part also which can not come out in liquid form through liposuction cannulas. Therefore only small reduction is possible by liposuction. You should consider the option of breast reduction surgery.
› After having two children my breasts have become very small. I also have excess fat around my waist and thighs. Can I have liposuction done and have that fat injected into my breasts?
Liposuctioned fat can be injected elsewhere. Silicon breast Implants are the most reliable and safe method of breast enlargement and that is always the best option. Second option of fat injection is not very popular because all the fat that is injected does not survive and the ultimate size may be smaller than you need.
Click here to view procedure on breast augmentation.
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