Liposuction FAQ
Other Procedures
What’s the Truth about Liposuction? Five Answers to a Complicated Question
Liposuction has become a popular method of removing those fat pockets that cannot be exercised away. In fact, liposuction has also become a tool in many other cosmetic surgery procedures as it has replaced the scalpel as the tool for removing excess fat. Liposuction was a surgical choice for 245,000 women in 2008 and it was applied in many areas of the body. As liposuction usage and technology grows, it becomes more important that women who opt for the procedure understand all of the options and potential problems. Here are five basic facts about liposuction that you should carry into your interviews with doctors that you are considering.
1. Liposuction can remove fat from the thighs, the hip area, the abdomen and other areas with smaller deposits. Standard liposuction is done through a small incision that accommodates the insertion of a cannula – a thin, hollow stainless steel tube. The cannula is moved slowly back and forth through the fat tissue, breaking fat cells loose which are then vacuumed out through the hollow center of the cannula.
Liposuction is not a pain-free process; generally the procedure begins with a local anesthetic for the incision and continues with additional anesthetic applied as the cannula moves further into the body. There is some bleeding and pain – and there is often post-operative bleeding that should stop after a period of no more than a few days.
2. New technology for liposuction includes the use of a laser beam guided by the cannula that generates enough heat to liquefy the targeted fat cells, making withdrawal of the excess fat an easier process. The laser can also more accurately target fat cells without damaging adjacent tissue that should remain in place.
Laser generated heat has become a tool in many surgical procedures; Dr. Howard uses Smartlipo equipment to provide this service. You may wish to discuss the difference between more traditional and new technology. Does it reduce bleeding and pain? Are there fewer post operative complications? Are there drawbacks that don’t apply with more traditional liposuction techniques? New is only better if it has been proven in the marketplace; Dr. Howard has worked with Smartlipo extensively and can explain the value and the limitations of the technology.
3. “A friend who had liposuction ended up with uneven skin on her thighs including some lumps…” Many women have heard such tales and they are not simply urban myths. Liposuction can produce asymmetrical results and cause lumps where fat has been unevenly removed.
The reasons for unsatisfactory liposuction are partly technique and partly the condition of the patient, but the result is not acceptable to anybody. You should discuss the unpleasant possibilities for all plastic surgery procedures as well as the benefits. Dr. Howard will be happy to discuss the possibility of revision surgery should it be necessary and detail the procedures as well as any cost that may be associated with it.
4. Liposuction sounds simple and usually requires just a local anesthetic, but recovery from it can match the recovery from some major surgical procedures. Initial recovery can be one to two weeks, during which walking and bending may be difficult – depending on where the liposuction was done.
Your overall ability to move will be hampered and you need to understand to what degree this will occur and for how long. It is not just a long weekend off from work; don’t expect to go through the initial recovery stages while back on the job. Usually a compression garment is worn over the area that has been treated and will be a part of your recovery regimen for an extended period. Full recovery will require additional weeks as swelling subsides and skin begins to tighten.
5. Liposuction is one plastic surgery procedure where achieving smooth results does require some experience. We all learn by making mistakes; you don’t want to be one of your doctor’s learning experiences. Talk with Dr. Howard about his or her experience with liposuction surgery and if you are so inclined, ask about the technique employed to minimize damage for tissue adjacent to the unwanted fat. You should also discuss post-operative pain and bleeding, as these two realities of liposuction come as a surprise to many patients. Part of this question should be the need for and cost of, return visits during the recovery process.
Liposuction has become an important cosmetic surgery procedure and overall tool. It has its limits however, and any patient that is considering liposuction should also consider what is required to maintain the results. The answer is usually a diet and exercise program that will be a new adjustment – but often the results of liposuction are enough to inspire new efforts to keep a slimmer and more youthful figure.
