Liposuction
Liposuction (suctioned assisted lipoplasty or SAL) remains one of the most popular procedures performed by plastic surgeons in the United States. Liposuction surgery in Raleigh, NC is used to remove unwanted excess fatty deposits. It is not a replacement for weight loss and is best utilized to address stubborn areas of fat in the abdomen, flanks, hips, legs, and occasionally in the arms. A good liposuction result depends on good skin tone which will allow for the proper shrinkage of skin around the newly re-contoured body part. Liposuction is also commonly used in conjunction with other body contouring procedures such as abdominoplasty, breast reduction, thigh and arm lifts, and some facial surgeries.
There are a variety of types of liposuction surgery but primarily they all involve small incisions and the use of a wetting solution called tumescent fluid. Intumescent Liposuction fluid is placed in the subcutaneous tissue with a specialized adrenaline containing solution. This process helps shrink blood vessels to diminish blood loss and improve the safety of the procedure. All liposuction procedures involve the extraction of fat by suctioning with a special vacuum. Ultrasonic liposuction (UAL) is utilized with an ultrasound energy that shatters the fatty tissue and then extraction is performed using a special suctioning device. The benefit of this technology is to allow for more shrinkage of tissue, which can be more effective in fibrous tissue such as the flanks and breasts.
The physicians use a combination of UAL and SAL Liposuction at Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center to achieve desired results for patients wishing to get rid of stubborn fat.
The Procedure
The procedure is performed under a general anesthetic the majority of the time. Sometimes, small areas can be treated with tumescent solution alone with the proper local anesthetic. However, large-volume Liposuction is almost always performed with a general anesthetic. At Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center, our board certified anesthesiologist is present throughout your entire procedure to make surgery as safe as possible.
During surgery, small incisions are made inconspicuously, hidden in body creases, or in undetectable locations so the tumescent fluid can be introduced. After a suitable waiting period to allow the medications to become effective, instruments called cannulas are used to extract unwanted fat. The cannulas have holes at the tips and sides to assist in the extraction. After surgery, patients should expect a contour change and a change in the thickness of tissues. Over-aggressive Liposuction has to be avoided to prevent unfavorable dimpling, contour deformities, and loose skin.
The Recovery
Liposuction generally creates more of an overall sore and bruised feeling rather than sharp pain. The pain is easily managed with oral pain medication. Patients will wake up in a compression garment which allows for uniform compression of the surgical sites. This facilitates proper skin contraction and reduction of swelling.
Most people can return to work within one week and return to light exercise in 3-4 weeks. The final results are not judged until at least 3 months post-operation since it does take a significant amount of time for skin shrinkage and for swelling to diminish.
For more tips on how to create a post-op recovery space at home visit our blog!
FAQ
Q: Does Liposuction treat cellulite?
A: Cellulite is still a very difficult problem to treat. It is the result of the tethering of fibers from the skin to the underlying tissues and Liposuction is not the answer to such a problem. Some techniques can be used during Liposuction which can help improve cellulite. However, Liposuction alone rarely addresses cellulite.
Q: If you gain weight, will the fat come back in different locations?
A: Liposuction removes fat cells which will not regenerate. However, the existing fatty tissue that remains can enlarge and weight can occur with a bad diet and lack of exercise. To some degree, liposuctioned areas may be more resistant to enlargement than other areas of the body that were not addressed. This is not a result of the relocation of fatty tissue but rather just the enlargement of existing fatty tissues.
Q: Can you predict what my dress size will be?
