What are liposuction and liposculpture?
Liposuction is a surgical technique that allows the plastic surgeon to sculpt various areas of the body by removing unwanted subcutaneous fat using a microcannula with a small hole at the tip. The method is not a substitute for weight loss but corrects the silhouette by removing excess local fat from areas of the body as shown in the sketches, as well as from the cheeks and double chin. Liposuction is a procedure that can be performed on its own or in combination with other procedures such as abdominoplasty, thigh lift, and buttock lift. Another application is breast reduction with scarless liposuction, a technique that Mr. Stamatis has been using since 1998. Liposculpture is a technique in which removed fat is recycled and added to areas where it is lacking. Because the added fat is often partially absorbed, a small correction is recommended after six months, adding fat where it was absorbed to achieve the final result. This correction is usually performed in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia.
Who is liposuction recommended for?
The patient must have realistic expectations of the procedure. The procedure: improves the contour and proportions of the body but does not cure cellulite. The result: is influenced by the elasticity of the skin.
What is the procedure?
Tumescent Liposuction – UAL – Microcannulas We make small incisions of approximately 5 millimeters, strategically placed and hidden in skin folds. We always use the tumescent technique with microcannulas (3 mm). In some cases, we also use the UAL (ultrasonic-assisted liposuction) technique. With the tumescent technique, we swell and stretch the area to be liposuctioned with a large amount of saline solution containing xylocaine (anesthetic) and adrenaline (constriction of capillaries) under the skin. In some cases, we use the UAL technique before liposuction in certain areas, such as the folds of the back and waist, the male chest, and the female chest if we are going to perform reduction without incisions. Mr. Stamatis has been using liposuction for breast reduction without incisions since 1999. In this technique, using special cannulas that emit ultrasound at their tip, we selectively dissolve fat cells with the shock wave of the ultrasound without affecting the vessels, nerves, and glandular tissue (breast) surrounding the fat cells. We then use microcannulas with a diameter of 3 mm to easily remove the unwanted fat. With these techniques, the procedure is almost bloodless, fat is removed more easily from difficult areas, and with microcannulas, liposuction is uniform without dimples or marks.
What happens after the operation?
The duration of the procedure depends on the amount of fat removed. Liposuction procedures are classified as small volume (up to two liters) and large volume (up to five liters). All procedures are performed under sedation or light general anesthesia. All small-volume liposuction procedures are discharged from the clinic on the same day. Large-volume liposuction procedures require an overnight stay in the clinic. The use of ultrasound (UAL) and tumescent injection, due to the local anesthetics used, reduces post-operative pain and bruising and makes the procedure almost bloodless. Wearing compression stockings or a special belt around the abdomen or chest for 2-3 weeks reduces post-operative swelling. In some cases, the postoperative use of radiofrequency in the doctor’s office can reduce any postoperative swelling. The use of a corset or stockings makes the procedure “seasonal,” and it is recommended to avoid the summer months.
Problems and how to avoid them
There are two problems we encounter in liposuction:
Smooth skin after liposuction Excessive fat removal can create small dimples in the skin when the swelling from the procedure subsides. This can be avoided by selectively removing deep fat rather than superficial fat using cannulas with a diameter of up to 3 mm. Unfortunately, new techniques such as the use of lasers (smart lipo) where superficial fat removal is recommended for simultaneous tightening of the area, cause this problem, as does the inexperience of the doctor who, using classic techniques, removes more fat than is appropriate, taking into account the area where liposuction is performed , the amount of fat, and the quality of the skin. One way to avoid this problem is to use a small-diameter cannula and make sure that the doctor you choose is a qualified plastic surgeon and not a doctor of another specialty! If in doubt, contact the medical association or plastic surgery company.
Expectations The other problem has to do with meeting the patient’s expectations of the outcome. It is therefore very important that the plastic surgeon provides accurate information and communication. What I usually say is that liposuction is used to remove localised fat and is not a tool that always gives the desired contour.