Doctors have been performing liposuction surgeries for many years. As with all of our Atlanta cosmetic surgery procedures, your doctor will include a discussion to choose the right procedure for your particular situation. They should also help you have a realistic expectations for your procedure. Atlanta liposuction is a pretty common procedure.
Liposuction improves the contour or shape of a particular area of the body. Women generally have liposuction to remove unwanted fat under the chin, on their hips, thighs, and stomach; and in the arm area. For men, common liposuction sites include under the chin and around the waist.
Lipoplasty (popularly known as liposuction or suction-assisted lipectomy) is a surgical technique that contours the body by removing unwanted areas of fat. It is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method of removing localized fat that does not respond to dieting and exercise.
During the procedure, a hollow suction tube, or “cannula,” is passed through small skin incisions and manipulated in such a way that the unwanted fat is broken up and transferred through the tube to the attached vacuum machine.
The tumescent technique of liposuction involves injecting large amounts of fluid into the areas of fat before performing lipoplasty. The fluid, containing local anesthetic and blood vessel-constricting drugs, can reduce blood loss, minimize bruising, alleviate pain and lessen the need for general anesthesia.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) substitutes high frequency ultrasonic energy for the back-and-forth strokes the surgeon must perform. The ultrasound comes out of the tip of the cannula, liquefying the fat. UAL is especially good for the areas of the body where the fat is firm.
As with all of our Atlanta cosmetic surgery procedures, your doctor should include a discussion to choose the right procedure for your particular situation. He also will help you have realistic expectations for your procedure.
Liposuction is performed in the hospital outpatient department or in the Atlanta surgical suite. It takes about 1-2 hours. Expect bruising and swelling for two to three weeks. You can return to work in 7-10 days.
About Liposuction
Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery. This surgery removes excess fat to boost body appearance and smooth out uneven body contours. This procedure is typically named as body contouring.Liposuction is used to contour areas below the chin, neck, cheekbones, higher arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves and ankles.
The liposuction procedure is performed beneath local, epidural or general anesthesia, depending on the case, and involves the introduction into the fat of a special cannula or syringe connected to a vacuum machine that sucks the fat from the treated area. It lasts between one and two hours and tons of liquid is lost, which makes it necessary to replace it by means of fluids administered intravenously.
Types of liposuction procedures
tumescent liposuction (liquid injection) is the most typical type of liposuction. It involves injecting a decent amount of medicated solution into the areas to be operated on before the fat is removed. Sometimes, the solution is up to three times the amount of fat to be removed. The fluid could be a mixture of local anesthetic agent (lidocaine), a drug that constricts blood vessels (epinephrine) and an intravenous (IV) saline solution. lidocaine helps numb the area during and once the operation. it’s going to be the only anesthesia required for the procedure. The epinephrine in the solution helps scale back blood loss, bruising and swelling. The intravenous solution helps to remove the fat a lot. it’s suctioned out along with the fat. This type of liposuction sometimes takes longer than different types.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) uses ultrasonic vibrations to transform the fat cells into fluid. The cells can then be aspirated. This operation is performed in 2 ways: externally (on the surface of the skin with a special emitter) or internally (under the surface of the skin, with the help of a small heated cannula). This technique can facilitate taking away fat from dense, fibrous areas of the body, such as the upper back or enlarged breast tissue in men. This technique is often used in combination with the tumescent technique, in follow-up (secondary) procedures or for bigger precision. This procedure usually takes longer than the super wet technique.
Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) uses laser energy to liquefy the fat cells. Once the cells are liquefied, they can be suctioned out or allowed to empty through small tubes. Because the tube (cannula) used during LAL is smaller than those used in traditional liposuction, surgeons prefer to use LAL in tiny areas. These include the chin, jawline and face. One doable advantage of using LAL over other liposuction ways is that the optical maser energy stimulates collagen production. This may help prevent the skin from sagging after liposuction. Collagen is a fibrous protein that helps maintain the structure of the skin.
Liposuction Recovery – Post-Liposuction
- You may have pain, swelling and bruising after the procedure. Your surgeon may prescribe medications to help control pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.
- After the procedure, your surgeon may leave the incisions open and place temporary drains to promote fluid drainage. Generally, you may need to wear tight compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for some weeks.
- You may have to wait a few days to return to work and a few weeks to resume your traditional activities, including exercise.
- During this time, you can expect some abnormalities in your silhouette, as the remaining fat must settle.