Liposuction/ Liposculpture
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, is the technique for removing fat by use of a cannula (steel tube with small holes at the end) and a liposuction machine. Regardless of the name attached to this procedure, the real skill and art of this surgery is the removal of the correct amount of fat from these precise areas of concern. With liposuction, care must be taken so that the proper amount of fat, no more, and no less is removed. This should result in a post-operative appearance in which the areas that are liposuctioned have uniform and even contours. Every attempt should be made so that these areas have little or no depressions or irregularities.
There are several techniques which are necessary for optimal results. Of these, the most important is that of tumescent infiltration prior to surgery. This means infusing the area to be liposuctioned with a special solution containing a low concentration of adrenalin and an anesthetic agent. This allows liposuction to be done with minimal blood loss and decreased post-operative pain. Also, the use of smaller cannulas allows better control, more even results, and less bruising and pain post-operatively.
Patients who are significantly obese, who have a large abdominal overhang of skin and fat (panniculus), or that are gaining weight, are generally not good candidates for this procedure.
This is a great surgery for many patients, but again the results are highly variable depending on the surgeon’s skill and experience.