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The Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes unwanted fat from the body. Over the past decade, several enhancements have been made to the procedures, such as improving the results and speeding up the recovery time.
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The General Procedure
In order to remove localized deposits
of fat from the body and reshape the area in
question, your plastic surgeon will make a tiny
incision using a slender tube called a cannula.
The cannula is inserted into the incision and
acts as a vacuum for the fat layer that lies
deep within the skin. It is able to break up
the fat cells, making it easier to suction out
the unwanted fat with either a pump or an enlarged
syringe. In general, this is the standard liposuction
procedure, but other modified procedures also
exist with similar results.
Fluid
Injection Liposuction Procedure
Fluid injection liposuction involves
a technique whereby a medicated solution is
injected into the fat deposit areas before the
fat is suctioned out. It will be up to the surgeon
to decide as to how much fluid will be injected.
The medicated solution is composed of a mixture
of intravenous salt solution, Lidocaine and
epinephrine. These three solutions work together
to provide anesthesia, contract the blood vessels
in order to reduce blood loss and ensure that
the fat deposits are removed with greater ease.
The use of a fluid injection has shown to lessen
the amount of bruising post-surgery.
Tumescent Liposuction Procedure
The procedure gets its name from the
condition of the bloated fat deposits once they
are filled with solution. To perform this procedure,
the surgeon injects a significant volume of
fluid into the fat deposits in order to help
separate the tissue area, thus allowing the
cannula to move easily under the skin. The fluid
contains an adequate amount of anesthetic so
that additional anesthetic is often not needed.
Moreover, only the designated area receives
anesthetic; therefore, a patient is able to
sit or stand during the procedure. Sitting or
standing can also make it easier for the surgeon
to contour and reshape the body. Although the
procedure has noted advantages, the surgery
can be significantly longer than other techniques
of liposuction, often taking between four and
five hours.
Other Techniques:
The Super-wet Technique
Similar to the tumescent technique,
the super-wet surgery involves the injection
of fluid, but in lesser amounts than the tumescent
surgery. The amount of fluid to be injected
is generally determined by the quantity of fat
to be removed (equal amounts). This form of
liposuction surgery involves IV sedation or
possibly a general anesthetic, and takes between
one and two hours for completion. The super-wet
technique will often result in increased blood
loss with approximately 8% of the total fluid
removed being blood. On the other hand, there
is a lesser chance of too much fluid being injected
into the body. The super-wet technique is one
of the fastest liposuction procedures and should
last from one to two hours.
The Ultrasound-assisted Lipoplasty
Technique
This technique utilizes a special cannula
that is able to produce ultrasonic energy. The
cannula is inserted into the incision and as
it moves through the areas of fat, the emitted
energy breaks apart the walls of fat turning
it into liquid form. Once the fat has liquefied,
it is then removed using the traditional liposuction
technique. The ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty
technique is favored when the area of fat to
be removed is more fibrous, when there is a
prevalence of cellulite, when the skin is inelastic,
and when it is a secondary procedure as it would
involve greater precision.
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