Treatments / Liposculpture (liposuction)
Liposculpture/Liposuction
Even after continuous efforts of dieting and exercise, certain areas of fat just will not disappear! Areas that often remain stubborn in women are the hips, stomach and thighs. In men, it’s often the stomach, love handles and sometimes the chest.
With improved liposculpture techniques, it is possible to sculpt out a silhouette by removing fat in specific areas. Thus, giving you a harmonious shape, with curves and firmness where you’ve always wanted them. Liposculpture or removal of sub-cutaneous fat is one of the most popular methods in plastic surgery.
For really overweight people liposculpture is not the solution. It is advisable first to lose weight, either through strict dieting or by placing a gastric band or a gastric bypass.
Which areas can be treated?
The most common areas are the hips, love handles, stomach and interior thighs. But it is also possible to treat the knees, a double chin, and in men the chest.
Arms, calves and shins are rarely a good indication for liposculpture. Often the result is not satisfactory, plus blood circulation can be disturbed when treating these areas. Treatment to the front of the thigh is not recommended, because of the risk of a wave effect.
How is liposculpture done?
The areas to be treated are injected with a fluid. This fluid contains a mixture of saline, adrenaline (to minimize bleeding) and xylocaine (local anaesthetic) and when the fluid is injected it helps to breakdown the fat cells which are then removed layer by layer with the help of a fine aspirating tube. This method is known as tumescent liposculpture. The aspiration occurs by means of a very fast vibrating suction cannula. This is called vibroliposculpture.
The term “liposculpture” comes from the verb “to sculpt” which is exactly what is done. Liposuction is the old fashioned method of fat removal, where large tubes were used to remove the fat cells and surgery was done under narcosis. This technique is more painful and the risk of bleeding is higher.
The scar
There are practically no scars. The fat cells are sucked out through fine tubes, where the incision is no longer than 4mm. Furthermore the incisions are made in natural creases, for example in the groin, belly button.
Anaesthetic
These days a general anaesthetic is not necessary for a liposculpture. Often local anaesthetic, combined with sedation is sufficient. This form of anaesthesia allows us to remove more fat, and recuperation time following the procedure is much quicker, which means that hospitalisation is not necessary.
Convalescence
One or two hours following surgery you will be able to go home. The local anaesthetic will continue to take effect for several hours following the procedure. As the local anaesthetic wears off, you will feel some pain and tightness, you will be able to control this post-operative pain with an analgesic, such as ibuprofen combined with paracetamol.
The day following surgery you may have difficulty in getting up and walking. Sometimes after liposculpture to the abdomen, you might feel like you’ve done too many sit-ups the day before! These symptoms will subside after a few days.
During the procedure not all the liquid that is injected is removed, therefore it’s normal for this liquid to seep out through the tiny incisions for 24-48 hours following surgery. You just need to pad out these areas with some clean swabs, held in place by your panty. It is advisable to protect your mattress from any leakage for the first 48 hours.
Following surgery you will be fitted with a special panty, which you will have to wear for one month night and day. The aim of the panty is to compress the body’s tissue, to avoid fluid or blood collection in the empty spaces. It also helps the skin to retract back and adhere to the underlying muscles.
If you have a sedentary job, you may return to work 2-3 days later.
You may practice sport as soon as you wish following surgery. Physical exercise improves blood circulation and helps re-absorb post-operative oedema. Bruising will disappear 2-3 weeks following surgery. You may have a bath 2-3 days later. Sunbathing is only recommended 1 month following surgery.
After 2-3 weeks, when the swelling and bruising have subsided, you will already be able to see the results of your liposculpture procedure.
Precautions
All our surgical procedures are carried out under the safest and most sterile conditions, by a plastic surgeon surrounded by a team of highly qualified professionals.
Even though liposculpture is carried out under local anaesthetic, you are continually monitored (blood pressure, electro-cardiogram, and oxygen flow) by an anaesthetist and one or two fully qualified nurses. It is only by working in such an optimal environment, that we can guarantee patient security.
The objective of a local anaesthetic is not only to eliminate pain, but also to reduce the formation of ecchymosis and reduce the amount of bleeding.
If you are on any sort of anti-coagulant treatment (acetylsalicyl acid, cardio-aspirin, asaflow, dipiridamole, plavix, sintrom, marevan, etc…) could you please inform the plastic surgeon and anaesthetist?
Following surgery, the plastic surgeon will give you his personal mobile number, in case of urgent questions.
Possible complications
Liposculpture is one of the safest surgical procedures. Thanks to very high sterile techniques, infection is almost non-existent. And the small wounds heal very quickly.
The method of removing the fat cells layer by layer enables us to guarantee smooth contours and avoid any wave formation or dimpling.
Other questions about liposculpture
Will the fat come back?
Not only the fat but also the fat cells in the treated areas have been removed. The number of fat cells within an area diminishes. Therefore the risk of the fat returning to the areas is reduced.
Will I lose weight with liposculpture?
You probably will not lose more than 2-4 kg’s, although your silhouette will improve remarkably and your dress size will change for the better.
Will my cellulite disappear?
Unfortunately liposculpture does not change the aspect of your skin, either cellulite or stretch marks. But there are other treatments that can help (LPG).
Shall I have excess skin after liposculpture?
No, thanks to the elasticity and the fact that the skin retracts by itself.
Related treatments
tummy tuck
mini tummy tuck
male chest reduction
Contact
Surgery and consultations (after appointment)
A.Z. Jan Portaels
Gendarmeriestraat 65
B-1800 Vilvoorde
Belgium
T: +32 (0)2 257 59 74
A.Z. Lokeren
Lepelstraat 2
9160 Lokeren
Belgium
+32 (0)9 340 85 30
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