Liposuction
This operation involves removing undesired fats from specified places of the body such as the hips, the thighs, the abdomen, the waist, the arms, and even the chin, upper neck, and cheeks.
Liposuction is not an alternative for losing weight. In cases of obesity, it is impossible to remove all fats from the body, but liposuction helps remove amounts of fat from the aforementioned locations that would be hard to lose by dieting or exercising.
This operation is designed to improve your appearance and your confidence. But, expectations do not always match reality, so you should discuss these matters thoroughly with your trusted certified doctor so you do not fall prey for misleading, unprofessional, and even un certified doctors.
Liposuction is not recommended for people with chronic illnesses with the heart, lungs, or liver. Caution is also taken in cases of pancreatic patients, chainsmokers, and alcoholics. Patients should also be tested for hernia before surgery, which will not be done in the right manner if doctor did not receive adequate training and experience in general surgery, which is not the case with unprofessional doctors doing these operations beyond their field of expertise. All surgeries come with a deal of risks and uneasiness. Liposuction procedures are usually safe if patient is tested appropriately, hospital is well-equipped, and surgeon is trained well.
Preparing For Your Surgery:
In the preliminary consultancy, your doctor should asses your medical condition, examine the area under question, and know the type of skin. Your doctor will, then, provide you with different alternatives such as abdominoplasty and thigh.. , and will rank these alternatives according to what is best and most suitable for your case.
Let your doctor understand your full expectations of this surgery and let him explain the detailed procedures, the possible risks, and the type of anesthesia to be used. You should also know the location and expenses of this procedure.
If you will be removing fats from a large area or from multiple areas, you may be asked to give a blood sample to be used, along with other fluids, during the procedure if necessary.
If possible, you should bring a friend or a family member to be there at the time of the consultancy and to stay along after the procedure. This person will help you make up your mind, remember your agreement with your doctor, and offer you help and company throughout.
If your case is a mild one and no huge amounts of fat are to be ridden, your procedure may be done under local anesthesia. In that case, you will be conscious with a slight feeling of uneasiness, but you will not feel the surgery. But, that is the case for smaller operations, for the larger ones with more areas or locations to be operated on, full anesthesia will be applied.
The Surgery
Liposuction normally takes an hour or two, but could vary from half an hour to several hours depending on the area and the amount.
At the beginning, the doctor makes a small opening, through which bleeding limiters are pumped. Then a small pipe (Canula) is inserted into desired area with the other side attached to a pipe connected to a machine that performs high-powered suction. The doctor then, meticulously, carves the fats as suction is happening to give desired shape; doctor may need an additional cut to finish the operation in the right manner.
In the larger cases, it is important to supply solutions through the vein and, if necessary, you can get a blood donation in addition to your own pre-prepared sample.
Post-Operation
After the operation, you should wear a tight spandex or a corset on the treated region to control swelling, avoid bleeding, and help your skin fit your new shape. You may have to wear this continuously for a week and then for the most part of the day for few weeks depending on your doctor’s instructions. Antibiotics are also recommended to avoid infection.
Do not expect to see results right after the surgery, because the area will swell, which can be controlled by following the doctor’s instructions. Most swelling disappears in one to two months. Some minor swelling may remain for around six months. I found out that it is beneficial to photograph the patient during operation after one side has been operated on and swelling has not yet prevailed to be compared with pre-operation and post-operation state. That way the patient can understand the full picture of all stages. This idea received satisfaction from patients as well as praise from colleagues.
In some cases, there is a blue color (bruise) that completely vanishes after two weeks.
Most patients are satisfied with the results they have reached after the surgery. Patients who have had realistic expectations tend to move on better with their professional, social, and personal life.
There is over 300 thousand cases of liposuction per year in the United States, which is the leading country in cases per year. A schedule could be set for the patient to know when would it be possible to go for another liposuction to reach a certain shape. This is a safe operation that has the benefit of not leaving scars, but its reputation has been compromised due to the rise of uncertified plastic surgery centers who compromise patient safety and well-being for financial gains. For this reason, you must be very careful when choosing your doctor.