Liposuction

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is the surgical vacuuming of fat from beneath the surface of the skin. It is currently the most frequently requested cosmetic surgery procedure. Please remember, liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss or a cure for obesity.

Liposuction will reduce excessively stubborn localised fatty areas where dieting

and exercise have failed. These areas are usually genetically determined areas of accumulated fat cells.

Can liposuction be performed along with other cosmetic procedures?

Liposuction can also be used in combination with other procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) where specific fatty areas can also be contoured.

Facelift can also be improved by liposuction by removing fat from under the chin and neck and to enhance the jawline.

What are the areas that can be targeted for liposuction?

Suitable areas for liposuction include:

• Upper arms
• Anterior axillary fold
• Abdomen
• Cheek folds
• Jowls
• Neck and chin
• Inner and outer thigh
• Hip
• Inner knee
• Calf and ankles

How do I prepare for liposuction?

On the day prior to surgery you should eat a light diet and increase fluid intake. A careful contour diagram is developed on the areas to be treated as the shape and position of the troublesome fatty deposits changes when the patient is asleep and lying down.

How is liposuction performed?

A small incision is made in the skin for each area to be treated. A narrow metal tube (cannula) is inserted through the incision into the fatty area and by working the tube back and forth, the fat is shaved off in tunnels and evacuated through attached tubing to a suction machine or suction syringe. The suctioned tunnels and spaces are then collapsed with the use of a compression garment to create the new contour.

What can I expect after liposuction?

Following liposuction, you may feel pain, which subsides after a few days, bruising and swelling of your ankles.

When fat tissue is suctioned from under the skin, it leaves small tunnels and empty pockets. A compressive dressing or girdle is applied to collapse these spaces, reduce bruising and swelling, and allow healing to take place. By applying even pressure on the skin, it provides support, helping the skin to redistribute itself more evenly and minimises the risk of skin sagging and irregularities.

How soon can I notice the results of liposuction?

When a figure fault is sculpted away, the fullness in the area is temporarily replaced by swelling which resolves slowly. It is understandable, therefore, that the patient may underestimate the improvement in the first few weeks and wonder if the operation has been successful. The fat cells that are suctioned away are gone forever and when the swelling settles the result will be noticeable particularly in previously tight clothing.