polskiniemieckiangielski

LIPOSUCTION
SYN. FAT SUCTIONING, SUCTION, LIPOPLASTY

Preparing for surgery


  • Required laboratory tests: blood cell count, clotting profile (coagulogram), blood group, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting blood glucose, blood ion levels, urea, creatinine, ECG, chest X – ray, hepatitis B vaccination, breast ultrasonography.
  • For one week prior to the surgery aspirin, other acetylsalicylic acid products and other blood thinning products should be avoided. Drugs that enhance coagulation and decrease blood vessel wall permeability such as vitamin C and Rutinoscorbin (rutin and ascorbic acid tablets) are recommended.
  • No smoking is recommended for 14 days before the surgery. Food, drinks, chewing gum, chewing sweets (including Tic Tac) are forbidden for six hours before the surgery.
  • Recommended: good health, make – up removal before the surgery.

    • Description of procedure

    Anaesthesia: general.

    Length: 1 – 3 hours (depending on the extent of procedure).

    Discharge from clinic: 1 – 2 days after procedure.

    The procedure is performed to remove excess fat from various areas of the body (face, chin, upper arms, abdomen, back, hips, thighs, knees and calves). During one procedure 3 – 4 l fatty tissue can be safely removed. Removal of bigger amounts of fatty tissue is possible but is associated with high risk of complications and usually requires blood transfusion. The best results are achieved in not very obese patients, who want to reshape their figure e.g. to remove excess fat from the abdomen, hips, buttocks, knees, calves or ankles but do not perceive the procedure as a weight-loss method. Liposuction in obese patients is usually divided into several stages and combined with other methods of excess fat and skin removal.

    There are three liposuction techniques:

    1. syringe liposuction (SAL) – the fat is removed thanks to negative pressure obtained with help of a special syringe.
    2. ultrasound – assisted lipoplasty (UAL) – the fat liquefied by ultrasound energy is removed with a special sucking devise.
    3. power – assisted lipoplasty (PAL) – the fat is broken up mechanically by a specially designed cannula and removed with a sucking device.

    Choice of one particular method is made by the operator. In each of these techniques 2 – 3 mm incisions are made on the skin. The incisions are used at first for injection of a fluid which helps remove the fat and contracts blood vessels and then for inserting cannulas for liposuction. At the end of the procedure sutures are placed and special compression garment is applied.

    Recovery

    1. Stitches are removed 7 days after the surgery.
    2. Compression garment has to be worn for 30 days after the surgery (the garment is taken off at the follow-up visit).
    3. 5 – 6 days after the surgery massage therapy should be started in order to accelerate healing and improve skin elasticity. For flaccid skin additional physiotherapy is recommended.
    4. Return to normal activities is possible not earlier than 2 – 3 weeks after the surgery.
    5. Usually there are: pain alleviated by pain – killer medications, swelling and bruising (which subside within 2 weeks up to three months depending on the body area treated), temporary paraesthesia (most often numbness); peel of the epidermis.
    6. Possible complications: haematoma, infection, irregularities of the skin, asymmetry, excess skin and occasionally fat embolism.

    Duration of results

    The full effect may not be seen until a few months after the surgery. The result is permanent but significant weight fluctuations may diminish the effects. Stable body weight is recommended (+/-5 kg) to maintain the result.

    Frequently asked questions

    I have managed to lose 10 kg. I am very happy about this but unfortunately there is no way for me to get rid of fat from my abdomen and hips. I had tried exercises and had massages but actually it did not work. Can liposuction of these areas give permanent results? Is it possible to remove that fat completely?

    The abdomen and the hips are the body areas which are very difficult to be removed fat as a result of exercise and diet. However these are also the body areas that excellently respond to liposuction. You can be sure that the result will be permanent if you keep your weight. In most patients fatty tissue from these regions can be completely removed but the final answer to your question can only be given at the consultation with plastic surgeon.

    I am a slim person and in general I do not have any problems with keeping my weight but i have always had problems with my legs. Since I remember I have been wearing trousers and long skirts because of my legs which are all thick with no proper curvatures. Is there a method to shape my calves?

    I presume you would like to sculpt your knees and ankles and shape your calves. Actually liposuction can do it but information whether such a result can be achieved in your case can only be provided to you by your plastic surgeon during the consultation.

    Why do we have to wait for liposuction results as long as several months?

    This is associated with subsidence of oedema. In some body areas, such as hips or abdomen swelling subsides sooner whereas in the other areas e.g. calves and ankles more time is needed, even a few months, before the swelling subsides. However after that time the result is permanent. Most women are of opinion that it is worth waiting, as diet and exercise do not provide immediate results either even if someone is strong enough to follow them.