What is liposuction?
Certain regions of the body, such as abdomen, waist, hip, inner and outer side of thigh (upper leg), and inner section of knee are fat accumulation regions, which are resistant to diet and exercise. As excess exercise, to be performed for removing excess fattening in these regions, will not yield an outcome, it may also deform the general metabolism of the body. Thus, these operations, where these resistant fat accumulations are removed from the body, by entering with negative pressurized vacuum, are called “liposuction operation”. These operations are certainly not slimming operations, but contour correcting operations.
Is there re-fattening in the same region after liposuction?
The number of fat cells in the body is constant. However, the volume of fat cells increases, and this results in weight gain and in fatness. Since the fat cells are removed at resistant regions by vacuum, the number of fat cells in these regions will diminish. If weight gain continues, since the remaining fat cells in this region will increase their volumes, there will be a fattening, even though less compared to the former one. However, weight gain occurs without deformation of the smooth contour, provided by the operation. That is to say that the fattening process continues without the formation of swelling such as noticeably sticking out from the inner section of the leg and the hip.
Where and under which anesthesia is the operation applied?
The operation is performed in the surgery room under hospital conditions and under the supervision of an anesthesia specialist. The operation is performed, by using local anesthesia and sedation (making sleep through the vein) together. At some very limited small areas, only local anesthesia can be applied.
Is liposuction applied in the removal of cellulites?
As fat accumulations, which cause contour irregularity, are removed by a method, called superficial liposuction (liposculpture), moreover it is also possible to remove skin sagginess and stubborn cellulites. Septum, which is inside the fat tissue, which forms the cellulite, is opened by specially designed cannulae, in V form point, and a smoother skin surface is obtained.
How much fat can be taken by liposuction operation?
As long as the purpose is not slimming, but contour correction, in well selected patients, under good hospital conditions, and with an appropriate technique, fat, from very low amounts (50 – 100 cc) to big amounts (5 –10 liters) can be extracted by liposuction operation, being careful about safety limits. However, today, generally in each operation, about 1.5 – 2.5 liters of fat are absorbed and more than 8-9% of body fat is attempted not to be extracted. In very big volumes, precautions, which will not disrupt the fluid and electrolyte balance of the patient, should be taken.
What are liposhaving, liposculpturing, and liposhaping?
These methods are nothing other than “superficial liposuction”, which is applied for the last 10 years by plastic surgeons under clinic conditions or in surgery rooms, under local anesthesia. That is to say fat cells are absorbed again by vacuum system. These methods are applied by the assistance of smaller metal pipes (canullae).
How is liposuction operation applied?
In the operation, stubborn fattening region is blown up by a special liquid injection. Afterwards, close to this region, a few cuts in length of 5 mm are performed in a way, which can be hidden inside the natural skin folds. Through these cuts, according to the status of fattening, metal pipes, called “cannule”, in a diameter of 1 – 4 mm, are inserted into the fattening region in the layer under the skin. Cannulae are linked to the vacuum device. When the vacuum device works, cannulae are moved carefully in fat accumulation regions at the appropriate depth and in a way not to harm vital organs, and removal of unsolicited fats is ensured. In cases where the stubborn fibrotic hardness inside the fat tissue are formed (such as neck region, regions under the bra slings at the back, breast tissues in men), “ultrasonic liposuction” devices which can vacuum conveniently these sections by ultrasonic waves are used.
How is the period after the operation and what issues should one be careful about?
After the operation, it is generally comfortable, no pain is felt. Special bandage is applied to regions, where vacuum has been applied, or special socks and corset are worn. After the liposuction procedures at the leg region, these special socks should be used for 6 weeks. One suture, placed at the entry sites of cannulae, is removed on 5th day after the operation. And the corsets at the abdominal region should be used for 6 weeks. After the 3rd week, the corset can be taken out while sleeping at nights. Feelings such as bruising, swelling, prickle, and sometimes burning, which form at the regions, where the liposuction is performed, disappear automatically in 3 weeks.
What are the complications of the liposuction operation?
As it is in each operation, also after liposuction procedure, there might be infection, hematoma under the skin (blood accumulation), seroma (serum accumulation) formation, temporary sense decrease or temporary sense loss very rarely. The most important complications are contour regularities, which may form in the late phase after the procedure, and fluctuations, which form in the skin. Due to this, unsolicited swelling and collapses may form at the skin surface. When worked with much thinner cannulae and with care, such complications are not observed. A small liposuction procedure, in the form of retouch for the purpose of correcting, can be performed under local anesthesia. It is possible that much more important and vital complications may form and that even the patient loses his/her life after an aesthetic operation, which appears to be simple, at the hand of people, who are not competent and who have no plastic surgery notion. This may occur especially after the liposuction operations at big amounts, which are performed without being careful about liquid electrolyte balance, dependent on injuries of vital organs and veins, and even as a result of infection. Thus, it is extremely important for the patients to perform a good investigation before the operation and to choose their physicians with care.