About Liposuction

If you are battling your weight, a surgical option that could "melt away the pounds" may seem like the perfect approach. Liposuction may seem to promise a magical solution to your weight-loss problems, but is it really the answer? Before you go under the knife, learn a little more about what to expect from this procedure. You may find it is not the answer you are looking for.

History

• Body-contouring surgery was first studied in the early 1900s, but a case of gangrene in a woman's thigh after an early procedure in 1926 caused interest to wane for many decades. In the late 1960s, European surgeons began studying these techniques again, and French surgeon Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz introduced the first modern liposuction technique using high-vacuum suction in 1982. In the 1990s, surgeons began using ultrasound to liquefy the fat they were suctioning out, and recently, laser-tipped probes have been introduced to the liposuction field.

Procedure

• In modern liposuction, a hollow tube, called a cannula, and a suction device, called an aspirator, are used to remove fat deposits from the body. The cannula is inserted into the body through small incisions. Either general or local anesthetic is used, depending on the amount of fat that will be removed. The aspirator will suction out portions of fat between the skin and the muscles, helping the patient to achieve a better body contour.

Types

• There are several types of liposuction. The tumescent liposuction injects a solution made of saline, epinephrine and a painkiller into the tissue before the fat is removed, making it easier to remove and limiting blood loss. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses sound waves to liquefy the fatty tissue before removal. Water-assisted liposuction uses a fan-shaped beam of water to loosen the fatty tissue before removal. In suction-assisted liposuction, the physician breaks the fatty tissue by moving the cannula up and down before suctioning out the fat.

Recovery

• Most patients can return to normal activities within 2 weeks of having the procedure, and many are able to resume their normal lifestyle in as little as 2 days. Pain is common, and is controlled by pain medications. Physicians will advise the use of a compression bandage over the surgery site for 2 to 4 weeks. Most patients experience swelling and bruising at the liposuction site. Patients who have liposuction need to focus on drinking enough water, as dehydration is possible after the procedure.

Risks

• Some patients experience uncomfortable side effects after liposuction. Pain, bruising and swelling are common but temporary. Scarring at the incision site is another possible side effect. Some patients experience temporary numbness near the site of the procedure. More serious risks include damage to the skin near the surgery site, infection, or the puncture of an internal organ. If organs are damaged by the cannula, they must be repaired surgically. In recent years, according to a study published in Dermatologic Surgery, the major-complication rate associated with liposuction is less than 1 percent.

Considerations

• Many people think that liposuction is the answer to their dieting dilemmas. However, the procedure was designed as a contouring method, not a weight-loss method. It was designed for people who have problem fat deposits that cannot be removed through diet and exercise. The average amount of weight that is removed after a liposuction procedure is less than 5 lbs. Most cosmetic surgeons only recommend liposuction to people who are at or close to their ideal weight, but are dealing with unsightly bulges.