What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a minimally invasive plastic surgery procedure to remove fat from specific areas of the body using a suction technique. Liposuction helps to improve the contour of your body. This procedure is sometimes called lipoplasty or lipoplasty. Liposuction is considered a type of body contouring.
Why is liposuction performed?
Liposuction can be helpful in treating stubborn fat deposits that remain after trying a healthy diet and exercise routine. It is highly effective in removing fat from almost any targeted area of the body, including:
- Abdomen and waist
- Arms
- Back
- Bosom
- Face, chin and neck
- Hips and buttocks
- Knees
- Thighs, calves and ankles
Liposuction will not help you lose large amounts of weight and is not a treatment for cellulite or obesity. Instead, doctors recommend regular exercise and healthy weight management.
For larger amounts of excess fat and sagging skin that has lost its elasticity, Ohio State offers other procedures that can help. These include facelift, breast reduction with breast lift and tummy tuck. Procedures like these may be more suitable than liposuction if you want to lift and tighten the skin or remove larger amounts of fat.
Non-surgical face and skin rejuvenation can also help enhance your new look by tightening, revitalizing and brightening your skin.
Preparation for liposuction
In the State of Ohio, surgeons perform liposuction in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed surgical center, or hospital surgical suite. Be sure to make plans ahead of time to have someone drive you to and from the surgery and stay with you overnight after surgery if needed.
Your surgeon will tell you how to prepare for liposuction. Preparation for a body contouring lipoplasty procedure may include these and other steps as discussed with your doctor:
- Medical evaluation, including health history
- Laboratory test
- Adjustments to medications or supplements
- Dietary guidelines
- Smoking cessation guidelines
What to expect if you have liposuction
The steps of the procedure vary depending on the extent of your surgery and which areas of the body your plastic surgeon is treating. If you are treating several areas, liposuction can take several hours. A liposuction procedure usually includes the following steps:
You may receive oral medication and intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia. If you receive local anesthesia, the doctor will numb the area to be treated and the surrounding areas. You won’t sleep deeply, but you will feel relaxed and drowsy during the process. If you have general anesthesia, you will be in a deep sleep state throughout the procedure. Your doctor will recommend the best anesthesia option for you and let you know what to expect.
Your plastic surgeon will make small incisions in inconspicuous places. You will receive a diluted local anaesthetic, which will help reduce bleeding and trauma. The doctor will insert a thin hollow tube (cannula) through the incisions. They will use the cannula to loosen the excess fat and suck it out of your body with a surgical vacuum or syringe, which is attached to the cannula.
If you have a more extensive surgery, you may have an overnight stay in the hospital.
Liposuction tools and techniques
Surgeons may use different tools or techniques to liquefy the fat cells before suctioning them out of the body with a cannula. Before some types of treatment, the surgeon will inject a medicine and a salt water solution. This will help limit fluid loss and make it easier to remove targeted areas of fat. Liposuction options include:
Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) — Types of UAL and treatment options include:
- Internal UAL – The surgeon attaches an ultrasound device to the cannula and inserts it to loosen and dissolve the fat before suctioning and removing it.
- External UAL – The doctor places the cannula outside your body and sends energy waves through the skin to the targeted area to break up the fat before it is removed.
Laser Assisted Liposuction (LAL) — The surgeon inserts a laser fiber through a small incision to break up fat deposits for suction removal.
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) — The doctor uses a cannula that vibrates in a back-and-forth motion. This allows the doctor to target precise areas and remove more fibrous or stubborn fat deposits. This approach can be used if you have larger amounts of fat to remove or if you have had a previous liposuction procedure.
Recovery after liposuction
Depending on your condition and treatment, recovery after liposuction can range from a few days to a few weeks. After your procedure, you may experience some swelling, bruising and discomfort. The doctor can prescribe medication to relieve symptoms if needed. Your condition will be monitored and your surgeon will tell you when you can go home. Most patients can go home the same day. More complex procedures may require an overnight stay in hospital.
You will have elastic bandages or a tight compression garment to manage swelling and compress the treated areas as they settle into their new position. You will need to wear them for a few weeks as you heal.
Your doctor may leave small tubes in your incisions to help drain any excess fluid that builds up. The doctor will remove any tubes or stitches during your post-op follow-up appointment.
The surgeon will give you personalized care instructions to follow once you return home. You’ll learn what to expect, when to report unusual symptoms, and when to schedule follow-up appointments. You should be ready to return to work or other routines within a few days. It usually takes a few weeks before you can return to other activities and exercise. Follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully to prevent complications and promote successful healing.
Results of liposuction
You will notice the slimming of the body in the treated areas once the swelling and any fluid retention subsides — usually within a few weeks. It is normal to see surface irregularities as the tissues are repositioned. It may take several months for your new look to become permanent.
You can expect long-lasting results after liposuction if you maintain a stable weight and positive lifestyle habits. Weight gain can change your body’s normal fat distribution patterns. Additional changes in your body are normal over the years with aging and other effects of gravity and time. Regular exercise and healthy lifestyle habits can protect your skin and body and help your results last longer.
Risks of liposuction
Your surgeon will discuss with you the potential risks and benefits of liposuction. The risks of any surgery include infection, bleeding, and risks associated with general anesthesia. Other possible complications of liposuction may include:
- Bruises
- Damage to deeper nerves, blood vessels and organs
- Fat embolism (clot) — medical emergency with heart and lung risk
- Excessive accumulation of fluid under the skin
- Risks of thermal damage from ultrasound liposuction
- Irregular pigmentation
- Lidocaine toxicity, if this anesthetic is used
- Numbness and possible nerve irritation
- Persistent swelling
- Poor wound healing
- Wavy or loose skin and worsening cellulite
- Uneven areas and irregular curves
The risks may increase if the doctor treats many or larger areas of the body. Your surgeon will be sure you understand the potential risks and benefits based on your unique situation and procedure.
It is important to ask questions at any time before and after the procedure. Strictly following your doctor’s care instructions helps reduce the risk of complications. In the State of Ohio, our board-certified plastic surgeons regularly take every precaution to minimize risks and enhance safety.
Why Choose Ohio State for Liposuction?
Plastic surgeons at Ohio University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, use sophisticated technologies to perform body contouring lipoplasty procedures. Ohio State board certified plastic surgeons have advanced skills and expertise in liposuction and related types of cosmetic surgery.
Ohio State is one of the nation’s leading academic medical teaching and research centers. Our physician leaders train tomorrow’s plastic surgery leaders. Ohio State plastic surgeons are part of research teams that are constantly developing exciting advances in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
At Ohio State, you’ll have access to safe, effective care from a plastic surgery team with proven multi-specialty expertise. comprehensive services from plastic surgery specialists who can help you achieve multiple personal cosmetic surgery goals. and advanced liposuction techniques that minimize discomfort and contribute to smooth, effective healing with limited downtime
