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Liposuction

  
What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is the removal of fat by suction. It is not a method of losing weight and is no substitute for diet and exercise, but it is a means of removing stubborn deposits of fat. It is most successful when used on young women, but it may be used satisfactorily on middle-aged women who are within a stone of their ideal weight and who have good skin tone. Skin should be elastic enough to contract after the fat has been removed.

Liposuction is very successful at dealing with diet resistant areas of fat such as saddlebag thighs and on the hips (love handles), and also on the lower part of the abdomen where it works well if the skin is thick. It does not work so well on the upper part of the abdomen. It works very well on the inner part of the knee, but not above the knee. When removing fat is combined with fat injections to smooth out bumps, this treatment is called liposculpture. However, liposculpture can cause scarring in the tissues that can show up as irregularities in the body.

In general, people are satisfied with liposuction, but occasionally they may be disappointed as it does take weeks for tissue swelling to go down.
Preparation

Patients are advised to take zinc and magnesium for at least two months before the operation to aid the healing process. Aspirin interferes with blood clotting and must not be taken two weeks prior to the operation (many painkillers contain aspirin). Smokers should stop smoking 2 weeks before and for at least a week after the operation.

What happens during Liposuction?

Fat is removed either by a dry technique or a wet technique, where the area to be treated will be injected with a mixture of liquids. Roughly the same amount of fluid is injected as the amount of fat to be sucked out. As much fat as possible will be removed, but there must be some left beneath the skin so it does not stick to muscle.

The amount of time taken to carry out a liposuction depends on the area treated. For hips and thighs it will take about an hour. Afterwards a stitch is placed in each liposuction, wide elastoplast or bandage wrapped around treated areas and you will be dressed in an elastic compression garment. This is worn to prevent the accumulation of fluid under the skin and to help skin spring back into shape.

Aftercare

After the operation you will stay overnight in a private hospital room with round the clock care. You will have drains inserted into the incisions and removed 24-48 hours after the surgery. The stitches will be removed after 8-10 days. You must wear the pressure garment for at least eight weeks.

Remember to keep taking vitamins everyday, especially Vitamin C, to promote healing. Healing is further aided by walking around as much as possible. Some pain is usual after the operation, but is controllable by simple painkillers.