Liposuction—also
known as liposculpture or suction assisted lipectomy—is a medical procedure
that gets rid of unwanted fat deposits. It is a natural tendency of the body to
deposit fat in one particular area, commonly they gather in the hip area. The
procedure of full body liposuction is fairly straightforward and
involves these three steps:
1)
Administration
of anaesthesia
Depending on the areas that will
require liposuction, your doctor would recommend either local anaesthesia,
general anaesthesia, or intravenous sedation. Local anaesthesia is not
advisable if you are going through a full body liposuction, since it is only
apt for small areas. Typically, general anaesthesia is used.
2)
Incision
and removal of excess fat
A small cut is made near the area of the fat
deposit, then a narrow, hollow tube or a cannula is inserted to loosen the fat.
After this, a vacuum is used to suction the dislodged fat. This method allows
tunnels of fat to be discarded while ensuring that the small nerves and blood
vessels remain intact.
3)
Healing
You won’t see the final results right away. Bruising
and inflammation is normal for the first few weeks. The swelling will be
reduced by the compression garment which you will be required to wear for six
weeks after the operation. The bruising or discoloration will fade over time. If
you had to liposuction large areas, then you should take around seven to ten
days off work. Also, you should avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for
around four to six weeks after the surgery.
It
is important to remember that while liposuction can remove unwanted fat, it is
not a treatment for obesity. The maximum amount of fat that can safely be
removed from a localised area is 3 litres. It will not also get rid of
cellulite. It is vital to have realistic expectations when undergoing cosmetic
surgery to be satisfied with the results.