Liposuction is an interesting way to remove extra fat and tone your body. This is the second most common surgery after plastic surgery. It is the removal of extra fat. A small incision is made using general anaesthesia and a small cannula is used. A suction tube is used to remove and suck extra fat from the body. This leads to contouring. There are majorly two types of when the whole mass of fat is being removed and other being more generalised removal. This is done to gain symmetry. Reportedly 1.5 million people around the world have undergone liposuction alone in 2018. This is done and chosen by many people largely to stand out on social media. The idea of a perfect body on social media is a major cause of liposuction in the youth. To fit into better clothes and look good is now a goal and task for today’s youth. The other names are lipoplasty and body contouring. Body contouring is done by a reconstructive surgeon. For face liposuction talk to a cosmetic surgeon.
All about Fats!
The basic physiology of the body is to store fat. There are certain adipose tissue or fat factories of the body. The excess of fat is stored in the body in adipose tissue. This is just beneath the epithelial. Adipose tissue is important to provide proper isolation and resistance to external shock. Too much fat is also badbad for your body. This can cause obesity and deposition in the body. The more the amount of fat cells the more the amount of gain in weight. This is the reason why people become obese. To reduce this and give your body proper shape liposuction is done. It has its own pros and cons. Body contouring is done in areas where exercise and diet failed to show results. Generally diet and exercise with proper guidance from your nutritionist will improve your condition. The areas where liposuction is common are abdomen, thighs, hips and sometimes breast. The other areas are chest and back.
Is Liposuction worth my money?
Everything in this world has its advantages and disadvantages. So is liposuction. Fats in your body have to be maintained in good numbers. Everything in your body in excess can be bad but fats can be fatal. Now here comes the role of liposuction to suck extra fats from your body. It is important to understand your body. There are majorly three types of body ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. Endomorphs are people with a lot of muscle and body fat compared to ectomorphs. There are people with slower metabolism. It is being studied that endomorphs have to really work hard to maintain a good weight. Exercise and diet rarely work. So if you are an endomorph then it will be tough to lose that extra fat from your body. Most importantly it’s important to understand your body type and requirements before considering liposuction. Your nutritionist or dietician can give a good idea about the same. Liposuction can be fruitful for those who are endomorphs and nothing is working for them. This will break fat from your body and suck to give a less fat or fat free body. But remember it is not a weight loss tool its simply to cut down extra fat from your body. Liposuction can be used to treat many diseases like
- Lymphedema which is accumulation of lymph. The swelling that occurs in the legs and arms can be easily removed by liposuction. The removal of excess fluid by suction can reduce the swelling. So if you have lymphedema, your plastic surgeon is likely to suggest liposuction.
- Next is to reduce the side effects of excessive weight loss. It is used to contour the body after weight loss.
- Accumulation of fat in one part of the body can give you an uneven look. Liposuction helps to break fat in that area.
- It is used to treat fatty tumours called lipomas.
- Men who have gynecomastia are used to break fat around the breasts of men who have in excess.
These are the conditions where it can be really beneficial but you should not forget the cons of it. It is better to consult your plastic surgeon for the same. Take precautions before operation. Firstly undergo a health test to see if you are fit for the surgery. Discontinue aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs at least three weeks before surgery. If you are on birth control pills then it is advised to stop it. Anaemia patients should take iron supplements.
Different Liposuction techniques
Body contouring surgery can be a tough decision to take. Make an online consultation with your cosmologist to understand it better. There are four major techniques for liposuction are:
Tumescent Liposuction or fluid injection
This is the most common type of liposuction. It takes longer than other types. This is a procedure in which fluid is injected in the area where fat is to be removed. This fluid is sometimes 3 times the amount of fat to be removed. The fluid injected includes :
- Local anaesthesia like lidocaine
- Blood vessel contracting like epinephrine
- Intravenous salt suction
This technique is used because it is easy but takes a longer time.
Super-wet technique
This is similar to fluid liposuction. The major difference is the amount of fluid and duration of action. The amount used is less than fluid. In fact it is equal to the amount of fat that is to be removed. The action of this is longer and can act as sedative. This can make a person feel dizzy.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)
Ultrasound uses ultrasonic vibration to convert fat into liquid. After this the fluid can be removed. It is done in two ways : external and internal. External is a type in which the fat is removed from the surface itself. It is done by using a special emitter. The internal is used to remove fat from deeper tissue. This is done with the help of a heated cannula. It is usually done in an enlarged male breast. It is more time consuming than super-wet technique. It has two steps : primary and secondary.
Laser-assisted Liposuction
As the name describes it uses lasers. The idea and principle of ultrasound and laser is to liquefy the fat. This technique uses lasers. You must always talk to your plastic surgeon for choosing between them. The tube or cannula used is smaller than conventional. This makes it suitable for confined areas. These areas include chin, jowls and face. The advantage of lasers over any technique is that it prevents sagging of the skin. It is believed by many plastic surgeons that lasers promote collagen formation. This collagen will give you a better look, especially to your face. Go for a laser if you need face contouring by taking proper suggestions from your plastic surgeon.
Liposuction vs tummy tuck : What should I choose?
Liposuction is an easy surgery that your cosmetic surgeon might suggest. But there are a lot of criteria that your plastic surgeon will look for in case of liposuction. This includes skin of the abdomen whether it has elasticity or not, how loose or tight the skin, the amount of fat underneath the skin and abdominal wall musculature. If you had lost a lot of weight or had a baby this may not be the treatment of choice. The tummy tuck is the treatment of choice for people who just had a baby because their skin has lost all elasticity. This can be also determined by the fact that how much is the skin loose above and below the abdomen.
