What you should know about liposuction

Only a few years ago, deformities generated by localized fat accumulation had no surgical solution. In this context, liposuction has been a technique that has succeeded in correcting these problems.

It should be clear that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, but its purpose is the correction of body areas in which fat accumulations persist that normally do not respond to dietary regimes.

With liposuction different parts of the body can be suctioned, such as the hips, thighs, arms, face, abdomen… Sometimes it is used as a complement to other interventions such as facelifts, abdominoplasty… Liposuction is usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation, although in specific cases it can be performed under general anesthesia.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, is a surgical technique used to remove fat deposits in specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, breasts, face…

Liposuction is not a weight loss treatment, but a way to remove fat accumulations that cannot be eliminated by exercise or diet.

The technique, which is always performed in an operating room, consists of aspirating fat through the introduction of a cannula connected to a vacuum machine. Once the operation has been performed, a compressive bandage or an elastic garment is applied to the patient, depending on the area to be treated. The results will be evaluated at least three months after the procedure.

Who can undergo liposuction?

The ideal candidates to undergo liposuction surgery are people with a normal weight but who have fat accumulation in one or more localized areas. At the same time, it is necessary to have a good state of health, as well as psychological stability and realism in their expectations.

The most important thing to achieve good results is that the patient has an elastic and firm skin, and the skin that “hangs” may require some additional surgical procedure.

Liposuction is not recommended if you have had recent surgery in the area to be treated, if you have poor circulation in that area or if you have heart or respiratory problems. It is also important to know that liposuction does not improve cellulite.

Preparation for liposuction

Prior to liposuction, the patient may sometimes have blood drawn for autotransfusion at the time of surgery.

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The patient will be given instructions on how to prepare for surgery, which will include dietary guidelines and instructions on the avoidance of medication, alcohol or tobacco.

If the patient has a cold or an infection, especially of the skin, the operation may be postponed.

Liposuction: the procedure

Liposuction is performed in an operating room in a hospital or clinic. It is sometimes done on an outpatient basis, without hospital admission, although sometimes a two or three day hospital stay is necessary if the procedure is extensive.

Normally, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation, although in specific cases epidural anesthesia may be used. In cases where liposuction involves large areas and in different areas, general anesthesia is used.

Liposuction usually lasts between one and two hours, depending on the area to be treated and the amount of fat to be removed. Initially, a small incision is made through which a cannula is inserted and connected to a vacuum machine. The surgeon will move the fat between the different accumulations of fat by detaching and aspirating it. However, in some cases it is necessary to make more than one incision.

Postoperative period and liposuction results

Once the surgery has been performed, drainage tubes may be placed under the skin to prevent the accumulation of fluids.

A girdle of sorts will be placed over the treated area to control swelling and bleeding. This will need to be worn for two to three weeks, and may be worn for slightly longer depending on the surgeon’s instructions.

The results are not immediate, and the patient may even feel more swollen than normal, even with swollen and bruised areas.

Healing is a gradual process, and as soon as possible the patient should be able to walk again, although avoiding intense activities for two to four weeks. The stitches will be removed five to ten days later, and the patient will return to work about three days after the intervention.

The results of liposuction are good, offering a new body contour with hardly any scarring. The results will be permanent as long as the patient maintains a proper diet and exercises regularly.