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Lipo
Plasty (Lipo - suction)
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| Liposuction
is particularly well-suited for women
and men who are of relatively normal weight
but have isolated pockets of fat that
cause certain areas of their body to appear
disproportionate. These localized fat
deposits may sometimes be an inherited
trait and typically do not respond to
dieting or exercise. Liposuction is often
the only way to eliminate them. While it
is possible to undergo liposuction at almost
any age, you
will obtain the best results if your skin
still has enough elasticity to achieve a
smooth contour following fat removal. When
skin is inelastic, as in some older patients,
it may not redrape well and a skin tightening
procedure may be necessary. |
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Am
I a good candidate for liposuction?
You
may be a good candidate for liposuction
if you have localized excess fat or if
you desire contouring in any of the following
areas:·
Cheeks, jowls and neck hips and buttocks.
· Upper arms inner and outer thighs.
· Breast or chest areas.
· Back calves, inner knee and ankles.
· Abdomen and waist.
Liposuction
may sometimes be used to treat a condition
called gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement,
which frequently occurs among both teenage
and adult males.
Liposuction
should not be considered a substitute
for overall weight loss, nor is it an
effective treatment for cellulite, a condition
that gives the skin an uneven, dimpled
appearance. Alternative treatments may
be considered, in some instances, to improve
this problem.
Liposuction can be performed on several
areas of the body at the same time, and
it can also be done in conjunction with
other aesthetic plastic surgery.
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Your
Personal Consultation
Because
of individual physical factors, not everyone
will achieve the same results from liposuction.
I will take into consideration your unique
characteristics in determining the most
effective treatment. During the consultation,
you will be asked to point out the exact
areas, which you would like to see improved.
This will help me to understand your expectations
and determine whether they can realistically
be achieved.
How
will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for
liposuction?
You
should come to the consultation prepared
to discuss your medical history. This
will include information about any medical
conditions you may have such as diabetes,
high blood pressure or heart disease.
I will want to know about previous surgeries,
medical treatments and medications that
you currently take. It is important for
you to provide complete information. How
much you currently weigh and whether you
plan to lose or gain weight in the future
will be factors in evaluating you for
liposuction. I may ask you about the effects
of prior weight loss on the appearance
of those areas which you have indicated for contouring. He or she will assess
the elasticity of your skin and estimate
the amount of fat to be removed for optimal
results. |
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1. LipoSuction
can slim and the hips and thighs and
provide a more shapely contour for
the inner knee, calves and ankle. |
| 2. Liposuction
can flatten the abdomen, remove
fat from the under-arms, eliminate
a double chin and contour the
face or neck. |
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3.
"Love Handles" and
a large abdomen, typical problems
for men, respond well to liposuction.
Liposuction can also be used
to treat gynecomastia (male
breast enlargement). |
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After Liposuction, you will
see a noticeable difference.
After swelling and fluid retention
have subsided, your results
will be even more apparent. |
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How Liposuction is performed.
Fat
is removed by first inserting a small,
hollow tube, called a cannula, through
one or more tiny incisions near the area
to be suctioned. Incisions are usually
less than one-quarter inch in length and
are placed as inconspicuously as possible,
often within skin folds or contour lines.
The cannula is connected by tubing to
a vacuum pressure unit. Guided by the
surgeon, the suction device literally
vacuums away the unwanted fat.
What
are some variations to the liposuction
technique?
Prior
to performing liposuction, fluid is instilled
into the areas to be suctioned. Plastic
surgeons may use a "dry" technique,
a "tumescent" technique that
introduces large amounts of fluid, or
other variations. I will discuss with
you the particular method that I recommends
for treating specific areas of your body.
Other options may involve the type of
instrumentation used or whether suctioning
is performed on the deep or more superficial
layers of fat. These considerations are
based in large part upon the goals that
you and myself have set for your body
contouring surgery. Liposuction is popular
among men, particularly for eliminating
bulging fat around the waist. Areas of
the body commonly treated with liposuction
are shown, including delicate areas such as the inner knee and the calves and ankles,
which can be suctioned with a very thin
cannula to achieve a shapelier contour.
The abdominal area responds well to treatment
with liposuction, resulting in a flatter
abdominal profile and better-defined waist.
In some patients, liposuction of the upper
arms may also be effective. Liposuction
can remove fatty deposits in the cheeks,
jowls and neck.
Understanding Risks
Fortunately,
significant complications from lipo-plasty
are infrequent. Every year, many thousands
of people have their body reshaped, experience
no major problems and are pleased with
the results. Anyone considering surgery,
however, should be aware of both the benefits
and risks.
I
understand that every surgical procedure
has risks, but how will I learn more so
that I can make an informed decision?
The
subject of risks and potential complications
of surgery is best discussed on a personal
basis between you and your surgeon. Some
of the potential complications that may
be discussed with you include bleeding,
infection and reasons to anesthesia. Blood
accumulations under the skin are possible,
but these normally resolve themselves
and rarely require removal. While numbness
of the skin following liposuction is almost
always temporary, it is possible for some
lack of sensation to persist or for skin
discoloration to appear in treated areas.
Contour irregularities including depressions or wrinkling of the skin can result in some patients, but treatments are usually
available to help minimize these problems
if they occur.
Your
Surgical Experience
My
goal is to make your surgical experience
as easy and comfortable for you as possible.
How
should I prepare for surgery?
If
you are a smoker, you will be asked to
stop smoking well in advance of surgery.
Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory
drugs can cause increased bleeding, so
you should avoid taking these medications
for a period of time before surgery. Your
surgeon will provide you with additional
preoperative instructions. Depending on
the extent of your surgery and the type
of anesthesia used, you may need someone
to drive you home afterwards and to stay
with you at least the first night. |
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What
will the day of surgery be like?
Your
liposuction will be performed in a hospital.
Medications are administered for your
comfort during the surgical procedure.
You and your plastic surgeon will have
decided in advance what type of anesthesia
is to be used, either local anesthesia,
intravenous sedation, and epidural block
or general anesthesia. For your safety
during the operation, various monitors
are used to check your heart, blood pressure,
pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating
in your blood. When surgery is completed,
you will be taken into a recovery area
where you will continue to be closely
monitored. There may be some discomfort,
but this can be controlled by medication,
which you may continue taking at home.
A compressive dressing such as an elasticized
bandage, sponge or specially designed
garment may have been placed over the
areas that were suctioned. I will tell
you how long you should wear the garment
and will instruct you on how to remove
it so that you may shower or bathe. You
probably will be permitted to go home
after a few hours, although some patients
may stay overnight in the hospital or
surgical facility.
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| How
will I look initially? |
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It
is important to realize that the amount
of time it takes for recovery varies greatly
among individuals. The day after surgery,
you will need to move around a bit to
promote blood circulation. I will advise
you to limit yourself to these brief periods
of gentle activities for the first few
days. Remember, you must not take aspirin
or certain anti-inflammatory medications,
and you should not smoke for a while following
surgery. Your dressings will be temporarily
removed within several days so that your
plastic surgeon can examine the treated
areas. You will notice swelling and bruising,
which is to be expected. Swelling usually
begins to subside a week or so following
surgery, while bruising can last three
weeks or longer. There may also be numbness
in some areas, and it may take several
weeks before feeling returns. If stitches
need to be removed, this is typically
done within ten days after surgery.
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When can I resume my normal activities?
You
may be able to return to work in just
a few days. In many instance, you can
resume most of your normal activities
within one or two weeks and begin some
form of exercise soon after. The timing
of your recovery depends largely on the
extent of your surgery.
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Results
of Your Liposuction
Liposuction
surgery will reduce those areas of fatty
deposits that previously created unflattering bulges
and perhaps made it difficult to feel
comfortable in your clothing or caused
self-consciousness. Factors such as fluid
retention following surgery and prolonged
swelling may delay the appearance of your
new, slimmer contour. The healing process
is gradual, so you should expect to wait
a while before fully enjoying the results
of your liposuction. Occasionally, a touchup
may be desired to further improve an area
that has been suctioned. The additional
treatment can sometimes be performed under
local anesthesia in your plastic surgeon's
office. More extensive revisions may require
a return to the operating room
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How
long will the results last?
The
results of liposuction will be permanent,
as long as you maintain your postoperative
weight. Even if you gain a few extra pounds,
you may find that the weight is distributed
more evenly instead of accumulating in
the areas that were problematic for you
in the past.
Maintaining
a Relationship with Your Plastic Surgeon
You
will return to your plastic surgeon's
office for follow-up care at prescribed
intervals, at which time your progress
will be evaluated. Please remember that
the relationship with your plastic surgeon
does not end when you leave the operating
room. If you have questions or concerns
during your recovery, or need additional
information at a later time, you should
contact your surgeon |
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