Understanding Liposuction

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Understanding Liposuction

 

Liposuction was first introduced by French surgeon Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz in 1982, providing a new option for individuals who wanted to get rid of unsightly fatty areas. Its elegance in simplicity and efficacy immediately brought it into the mainstream of plastic surgery. After three decades of use, liposuction remains one of the most popular procedures performed by plastic surgeons, accounting for 325,332 cosmetic surgical procedures in 2011, more than any other cosmetic procedure.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted body fat.

It involves sucking out small areas of fat that are hard to lose through exercise and a healthy diet. Liposuction is carried out on areas of the body where deposits of fat tend to collect, such as the buttocks, hips, thighs and tummy. The aim is to alter body shape, and the results are generally long-lasting, providing you maintain a healthy weight.

Liposuction works best in patients who are a normal weight and in areas where the skin is tight.

How is Liposuction carried out?

A narrow metal tube is inserted through a small incision in the nearby skin. It is attached to a strong vacuum pump which is drawn back and forth within the area of excess fat. The process removes tunnels of fat leaving the small blood vessels and nerves intact. The skin will then retract.

There are some minor variants in the techniques. Some surgeons inject the area to be treated with solutions (wet or tumescent technique) others do not. Suction is usually applied with a powerful vacuum machine, but it is sometimes perfectly adequate to use a simple syringe for small areas. Ultrasound assisted lipectomy is another variant.

Any incisions will be sutured and you will be fitted with a pressure garment to aid the aesthetic result of your procedure.

Post Op Care

You should not plan to drive yourself home. It is recommended that you have a responsible adult at home with you on the day of surgery.

If you have had liposuction totally by local anaesthesia, you may resume your usual diet immediately. Drink adequate amounts of water, fruit juices or soft drinks to prevent dehydration. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for 48 hours before surgery and 48 hours after surgery.

Quiet rest is recommended for the first few hours immediately after surgery. You may carefully resume exercise and vigorous physical activity 2 to 4 days after surgery. Most people can return to a desk job within one to two days after surgery, although one must expect to be sore and easily fatigued for several days.

If you are considering Liposuction and would like more information, please visit www.alanjpark.com or to arrange a consultation at one of my clinics in Warwick, Coventry or Nuneaton, please call 07468 418 419