subject: Battling Your Bulge With Liposuction [print this page] A healthy person who has a disproportionate or excessive amount of fatty tissue in the arms, abdominal area, buttocks, back, hips, thighs, or just about any other area of the body is generally considered a good candidate for liposuction. Liposuction is basically the removal of fat deposits from the body using a cannula and aspirator for suction purposes. People outside of the medical community commonly consider liposuction as a method of weight loss. The procedure is actually a method of contouring the body for a more trim appearance. The procedure has been in practice since the early 1970s, and has notably improved in effectiveness and the number of possible complications. The following are some of the most important issues associated with liposuction.
Techniques
There are several methods for performing a liposuction; all involving one or more incisions and the removal of fat. The two most common methods are tumescent and ultrasonic.
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction has been the standard for liposuction since it was introduced in the mid 1980s to combat the bleeding complications that were previously associated with the procedure. The tumescent procedure involves the surgeon making one or multiple small incisions, inserting a solution that swells the treatment area, and using a vacuum-like machine to remove the fat. The solution used during the procedure is comprised of saline, an anesthetic, and epinephrine. The saline portion of the solution causes the swelling to occur, while the anesthetic and epinephrine function to decrease discomfort and complications. A local anesthetic is usually the type of sedative given a patient during tumescent liposuction.
Ultrasonic Liposuction
As you might imagine, ultrasonic liposuction involves the use of ultrasonic waves to liquefy the fat in the treatment area. Ultrasonic liposuction is able to safely remove greater amounts of fat than the tumescent procedure and thus is recommended in individuals that are moderately overweight.
Complications
The more common complications that are associated with liposuction include the following:
-Swelling beyond what is considered the normal range
-Scarring
-Too much or too little fat removed
-Inflammation
Rare complications that may occur with liposuction include blood clots, infection, and excessive bleeding.
Expectation and Results
While your body will no longer contain an excessive amount of fat in the treatment area, it will take an average of three months for your body to show the desired contour. There will be some temporary scarring, bruising, and swelling.
