Liposuction is one of the top three plastic surgery procedures. Liposuction is not an alternative method for losing weight; results for people who are obese are less ideal and less effective. It works best if you achieve your ideal body weight and still have one or more difficult areas that just don't respond with further exercise or weight loss.

Finding a surgeon that is well qualified and trained, who is up to date with the latest procedures in liposuction, is a difficult, lengthy and scary process. You want them to deliver the best results for your expectations while also considering that that the outcome of a surgeons work is not always the same. Therefore you want to find the right surgeon for you that will take their time and make sure that you get the best results possible. That is hard to find nowadays in the US, especially when plastic surgeons don't even need to be US Boarded to perform such surgeries.

Procedure Details

Various forms of liposuction are practiced, and your surgeon will help determine which procedure is best for you.

Tumescent Liposuction:
During tumescent liposuction, large quantities of purified natural saline and diluted anesthetic are combined with adrenaline and dispersed into the fatty tissue to be removed. This numbs the area and constricts blood flow, resulting in limited blood loss. With the tumescent technique, there is no need for general anesthesia. At most, IV or twilight sedation may be used to calm and provide comfort during the procedure. After the anesthetic has taken effect, the surgeon will make a small incision. Next, a thin cannula (suctioning tube) will be inserted and moved throughout the area as it removes fat deposits. After tumescent liposuction, patients can return to normal activities with minimal discomfort within a few days.

Wet Method Liposuction:
Similar to tumescent liposuction, wet method liposuction involves the injection of fluid and anesthetic into fatty areas. However, wet method liposuction requires significantly less fluid, which increases discomfort and requires IV or twilight sedation at the least. One benefit of wet method liposuction is that patients can undergo other cosmetic procedures while liposuction is being performed.

Ultrasound Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL):
During UAL, a specialized cannula that emits ultrasonic frequencies is breaks up and removes fat deposits. This is especially useful in areas of the body where fat is more fibrous, such as the upper abdomen and breasts. UAL may also be combined with tumescent liposuction to achieve better results. A disadvantage to UAL is potential burns caused by the cannula, which can become hot during the procedure. Recovery time may be longer with UAL, and the procedure is more expensive than others. External UAL is another option in which a non-ultrasonic cannula is and a secondary ultrasonic device break up fat deposits with sound waves.

Risks and Side Effects

Tumescent liposuction produces the least discomfort, and patients are able to return to work within 1 to 4 days. Recuperation for other liposuction procedures include: 1 to 2 weeks before bruises and numbness subside, 2 weeks to several months before swelling subsides, 1 to 3 weeks off work, and 2 to 4 weeks without strenuous exercise.

Pain, swelling, and bruising should be expected. Other potential, but rare, side effects and complications include seroma, hematoma, infection, thromboses, embolism, visceral perforations, nerve compression and sensation changes, skin necrosis, burns from ultrasound, fluid imbalance, and toxicity from anesthesia.

Post Operative Care

Patients can normally leave the hospital or surgery center within a few hours after a liposuction. Bandages and drains will be removed about 2 days following the surgery during your follow-up visit. A compression garment will help decrease build up of fluid in the treated areas. Use of ice packs is discouraged because the cold will reduce blood flow and slow recuperation.

Light-headedness and fainting are common after liposuction. If you feel light-headed, sit down. Rise slowly for the first few days following surgery. Also, prolonged bathing, swimming, and soaking should be avoided for 7 days because of increased risk of infection. Most liposuction patients return to work within a month.

Resources

Liposuction consumer guide

A complete guide in "plain English" about liposuction

Interactive liposuction site

Liposuction discussion and message board

Liposuction article

FAQ

Q: What is liposuction?
A: Liposuction is a surgical technique which removes excess fat deposits located between the skin and muscle, which improves the body's contour and look.

Q: How do they do liposuction?
A: A liposuction cannula (small stainless steel tube) is inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. This cannula is connected to a powerful suction pump. The surgeon uses a back and forth vacuuming motion to loosen and suck out the excess fat.

Q: Am I a good candidate for liposuction?
A: An ideal candidate is someone who is generally in good physical and emotional health. A person who will have a reasonable expectation of the outcome of liposuction. A good candidate usually has one or more localized accumulations of fat that can be removed by this process.

Q: Is liposuction an alternative treatment for obesity?
A: No, it is not a good treatment of obesity. It is not an alternative for people who are unable to lose weight by dieting and exercise. Obese patients almost always regain the weight that was removed by liposuction unless they change exercise and eating habits.

Q: What are the risks and complications of this surgery?
A: If you have any surgical procedure there are risks and complications including anesthesia effects, infection, bleeding, swelling, bruising and pain. Liposuction is the most frequently performed cosmetic surgical procedure and has a good safety record when performed according to regulations of the Lipoplasty Society.

Q: Can liposuction be done in more than one area at a time?
A: Yes, as long as the amount of fat removed does not exceed the recommended amount within the limits of safety.

Q: When can I resume normal activities?
A: Most people differ in recovery times. But the average person is able to return to work within a few days to a week, depending on what area was done. Most normal activities can be resumed within 2-3 weeks, but support garments will be worn for at least 4 weeks.

Q: How long does the surgery take?
A: This also depends on the area being done. Most areas take between 1-4 hours depending on the size of the area and the amount of fat being removed.

Q: What happens if I gain weight after liposuction.
A: The fat cells removed from liposuction will never return, but fat cells in surrounding areas and other fat cells that are in the body will continue to expand if weight is gained.

Q: Does insurance cover liposuction?
A: Typically insurance does not cover liposuction because it is an elective procedure. However, they may cover some of the costs if it is used for reducing the breasts. Ask your insurance company for more information.