Liposuction
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the country today. This procedure, also referred to as Liposculpting or Lipectomy, involves removal of fat cells from beneath the skin and can be performed on just about any part of the body you desire. The nice thing about this is that you don't make new fat cells. The number you are born with is the same number you die with. When you gain weight they get bigger & when you lose weight they shrink. They don't multiply or go away. That is why diet and exercise don't always give you the shape you want. But don't stop! Exercise and a healthy diet are very important to maintain your health. Liposuction is not a weight-loss alternative. It is a treatment for localized areas of fat. These areas may even be due to family traits rather than a problem with weight control or fitness. Liposuction slims and reshapes those areas of the body by removing those excess fat deposits.
Liposuction was initially introduced in the 1970s to remove fat using specialized surgical instruments and vacuum suction. The procedure has evolved over the years. In the 1980s, the "tumescent" technique was introduced to improve the safety of liposuction and in the 1990s, ultrasound assistance was introduced to help remove fat that is dense and fibrous which further improved liposuction results.
All liposuction is essentially suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) - the removal of fat from the body through the assistance of some form of suction. A thin hollow tube known as a cannula is inserted below the skin through a small inconspicuously placed incision to manually loosen the fat and then vacuum-powered equipment is used to apply suction through the cannula to remove the fat from the body.
The most popular areas of fat reduction are the midsection (abdomen, waist, flanks) to minimize your love handles or a bulging tummy, the outer thighs (saddle bags) which can be slimmed down as well as the inner thighs as long as there is good skin tone or elasticity. Liposuction can also be done in conjunction with a breast reduction to improve the results of the outer areas of the breasts. The buttocks can be sculpted through a small incision in the hip or under the buttock cheek crease. Fat can also be transferred into the buttocks to improve or enlarge the overall shape. Liposuction is also a great way to reduce your upper arms or back or sculpt your face and neck.
Who is a good candidate?
You are a good candidate for liposuction if you are within 30 percent of your ideal body weight, are in good health and are generally active and don't have any health conditions that would put you at risk for poor healing or serious complications, such as diabetes, lupus or chronic blood or heart disease.
Age is usually not a factor but with age the elasticity of the skin lessens. Following liposuction, the skin must mold itself to your new contour. If it doesn't, the resulting loose and droopy skin can give you an undesirable result. If your skin does not have good elasticity, a body lift or tummy tuck with liposuction may be an alternative. There are limits to how much fat can be safely removed depending on your health and size. In some cases, it may be necessary to have the liposuction performed in more than one procedure.
Recovery
After surgery, Maryland liposuction patients will be wearing a compression garment over the treated area(s). The garment helps minimize swelling and compresses the skin to your new shape. The swelling may take 8 weeks or more to fully dissipate. Time out of work is approximately 7-10 days depending on your healing and recovery.
Cost
The fees for liposuction can vary widely depending on the number of areas being done and the time in the operating room. A consultation would be necessary to determine these factors. Financing plans are available. Please remember, the plastic surgeon's experience and your comfort with him are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.
