Liposuction is performed using local anesthesia. Local anesthesia makes the liposuction safer than general anesthesia. Postoperative pain and discomfort is greatly reduced due to the local anesthesia’s prolonged effect. Post operative recovery is also faster, and most patients can return to work within a week.
LIPOSUCTION Removal of fat from underneath the skin is called liposuction. This procedure is a revolutionary progress in cosmetic medical surgery. Localized fat accumulation is an inherited condition for most people. Fat accumulation varies according to genetic predetermination, food intake, exercise, various medical conditions, pregnancy, and medications, including birth control medications. Every person is born with a certain number of fat cells. The number of fat cells do not increase during the lifetime of a person. Fat usually accumulates in these cells causing generalized or localized accumulation of fat. In many cases, the localized accumulation of fat cannot be reduced by exercise or reduced calorie diets. However, this can be permanently removed by liposuction. This removal of fat will never return after weight gain.
Liposuction usually results in patients wearing smaller size clothes and improved overall appearance in clothes. However perfection can not alwyas be achieved with liposuction.
In most women, the most common areas treated with liposuction are the lower abdomen, thighs, hips, knees, calves, ankles, and beneath the chin.
LIPOSUCTION BY LOCAL ANESTHESIA
With this technique, a large volume of diluted solution of local anesthesia and a vasoconstrictive drug is introduced into the fatty tissue under the skin. Local anesthesia with this technique is so effective that the patient rarely needs any other pain medication. Even postoperative pain relief lasts for many hours, reducing the need for pain medication.
With this technique, the blood vessels in the fatty tissue constrict causing significant reduction of circulation. This results in minimal blood loss during the procedure. The need for a blood transfusion is extremely rare with this technique.
Another benefit of the technique using local anesthesia is that the cost of the procedure is greatly reduced due to a shorter hospital stay or the use of outpatient and office facilities.
Another benefit of the technique using local anesthesia is that the cost of the procedure is greatly reduced due to a shorter hospital stay or the use of outpatient and office facilities.
SAFETY
Because of the elimination of general anesthesia and no use of intravenous medication, the procedure is very safe. Common complications are infection, minimun amount of blood loss, dehydration, allergic reaction to medicines and skin irregularities. Like any other surgical procedure risk for injury to other organs is extremely rare. Most of these complications are minor and are treated on outpatient basis and hospitalisation is extremely rare.
COST
Previously, the major costs of liposuction were the cost of the hospital facility and anesthesia services. With the elimination of these two factors, the cost of liposuction is significantly reduced. This procedure has become affordable to the general population. Our office will provide you with the specific costs of this procedure.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Am I a candidate for liposuction?
A: If you believe you have areas of unusual fat accumulation, you may be a candidate for liposuction. Each patient has individual needs. A consultation with a physician is necessary to assess the individual situation before a final decision can be made. As with any other surgical procedure, every person is not a candidate for liposuction.
Q: What are the risks of liposuction surgery?
A: Major complications of liposuction under local aneshtesia are very rare. The common risks of liposuction are bruising, swelling, and temporary numbness. These symptoms usually spontaneously resolve in a few weeks. Another common side effect is some irregularities of the skin surface. These irregularities were more common with previous pregnancy, weght loss, infections and those patients that need removal of large amount of fat. Other complications of liposuction are infection, bleeding, and nerve injury. Infections are usually treated with antibiotics. A patient rarely may need surgicacal treatment. Bleeding is usually minor and almost always does not require treatment. Blood transfusión is rarely needed. Nerve injuries are extremely rare and do not require any treatment because of spontaneous resolution of symptoms. Although the results of liposuction are often quite spectacular, it is not realistic to expect perfection. Liposuction removes fat from under the skin. It is not always possible to achieve perfect resulst. Skin retraction may vary patient to patient. In some areas and in some patients skin may not retract enough or retract with some irregularity. The goal is to reduce the size of the area of liposuction and improve the patient’s look in clothes and in most cases give them a chance to wear smaller size clothes.
Q: How many incisions are required and how big are they?
A: Usually several small incisions are given for liposuction. The number of incisions can vary from two to six. Most incisions are about 2 to 4 mm, and heal with no or minimum scar formation.
Q: How is the skin affected?
A: When fat is removed from under the skin, the skin usually shrinks. However, sometimes skin irregularity is possible due to previous pregnancy, weight loss, infections or as a result of liposuction. Most of these irregularities do not need any treatment. However surgical correction may be done in some cases if desired. Keloid formation is a rare hereditory complication and sometime can be improved with steroid injection.
Q: What is the postoperative recovery period?
A: Liposuction with local anesthesia has faster recovery than when performed under general anesthesia. There is less nausea or vomiting, bleeding, or other complications noted than with the use of general anesthesia. After completion of the procedure, the patient usually leaves the facility within a few hours. The postoperative pain is minimal because of the anesthetic effect, which lasts up to twenty four hours. Tylenol or other pain medication is usually adequate.
Q: How soon can I return to normal activity?
A: Postoperative recovery after liposuction using local anesthesia is very quick. There are no physical restrictions after liposuction. Most patients resume their normal activities within a few days. The patient may resume physical exercise and return to work within one to two weeks.
|
