Liposuction (suction assisted lipoctomy, liposculpturing, ultrasonic assisted lipechomy)
Liposuction is the surgical removal of localized, diet resistant, fat deposits through small incisions. The technological advances in the last decade have made liposuction a tremendously safe and effective procedure. As a result it has become one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. The use of wetting solutions containing adrenaline and local anesthesia, which are injected into the tissues, have enabled surgeons to suction fat with minimal bleeding. Also, the smaller size of the cannulas used to remove the fat in conventional liposuction has decreased the amount of trauma to tissues. Finally, the addition of ultrasound-assisted liposuction has been useful in treating more difficult areas of fat removal such as the back and chest where the fat is more fibrous.
Patient selection is crucial, since liposuction will rarely tighten skin that is very loose. Therefore, women who have experienced significant stretching of their abdominal skin after having children or patients that have had massive weight loss would be advised against the procedure and would instead require skin tightening surgery (see “tummy tuck” and “lifts”).
Liposuction is also not a cure for obesity or a substitute for weight loss. In fact, in properly selected patients, the surgery provides dramatic improvement in contour but little change in body weight.
The surgery itself is performed at our office surgical facility under local with sedation. It is often done in conjunction with other procedures. The post-op course varies depending on the number of areas suctioned but is generally well tolerated by patients. A compression garment should be worn for a few weeks and will be provided. Time off from work varies from an extended weekend to a week.
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