What is liposculpture?
It is a surgical technique performed by Plastic Surgery specialists with the objective of eliminating localized accumulations of fat or remodeling the body contour.
How is liposculpture performed?
In this surgical procedure a high precision aspirator or a syringe connected to cannulas of several millimeters is used, which extract the deposits of fat cells through a very small incision in the skin. This is especially useful to eliminate localized fat accumulations, called lipodystrophy or more colloquially “cellulite” in places such as hips, thighs, knees or abdomen.
The procedure lasts about three hours, depending on the area to be treated, and is performed using local anesthesia and sedation, regional or general.
Why do fat cells accumulate?
The function of fat cells is as lipid reservoirs or as insulators between the skin and the muscle underneath. As weight is gained, the cells also increase in volume to increase their storage or reserve capacity; and when weight is lost, these cells decrease in size.
However, in certain areas such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, knees and ankles the tendency of the cells to decrease in volume with weight changes does not occur easily. In fact, there are thin patients who have localized fat accumulations that do not respond to diet and exercise.
These bulges known as “lipodystrophies” are the ideal areas to be removed by liposuction.
What type of patient is suitable to undergo liposculpture?
The ideal candidates for this operation are people who have a good skin tone, that is to say, they have elasticity. This helps the skin to adapt perfectly to its new contour once the fat has been aspirated.