Liposculpture

Liposculpture is a cosmetic surgery that removes body's unwanted fat. It is a highly popular body reshaping process since it is much more effortless and time consuming than diet and exercise. It is also called lipoplasty, liposuction or suction lipectomy.

It is not a weight loss program; it simply reshapes the body by removing extra fat from areas where exercises have failed. Liposculpture is also used in combination with other cosmetic surgeries like tummy tuck, breast reduction or face-lift. Liposuction also cures certain medical conditions.

THE PROCEDURE

It is a suction-assisted process that removes fat with a cannula (a hollow tube) and aspirator (a suction device). Nontumescent liposuction, using the cannula, is the conventional method. Tumescent liposuction and ultrasound-assisted (ultrasonic) liposuction are the latest developments that have made the process safer, faster and more effective. The former is considered the safest, most successful and with the fastest recovery. The surgery is generally an outpatient procedure and requires hospital stay only when huge amounts of fat are being removed. It may be performed either under general or local anesthesia.

POST SURGICAL CARE AND RECOVERY

After surgery the treated areas are firmly draped in elastic dressing, a supportive hose, a tailor-made belt or some other type of securing or compression garment, suited to the applicable body part. This drape must be used for 3 to 4 weeks to check swelling, bruising, numbness and pain. Antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection, along with pain relieving drugs. This process allows mobility right after the surgery and one can get back to work in two days to a week. However, if large areas and huge volumes of fat are involved, recovery may take longer.

EFFECTIVENESS

The full outcome of the process can be gauged after six months of surgery. Generally less than 10 pounds (5 kg) of fat is removed. Liposuction is considered best in removing fat in small areas.

COMPLICATIONS

Safety is dependent on the amount of fat removed, the choice of anesthetic and the patient's general health. One must give up smoking for sometime before the surgery. Professional handling is also a major criterion to reduce risks.

Common complications are: