What is Liposuction ?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 6 years of experience
What is the meaning of Liposuction?
Liposuction, which is also known as lipoplasty/ body contouring, is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat stored in specific parts of the body. This procedure is usually done on the waist, abdomen, ankles, cheeks, upper arm, thighs, buttocks, neck, inner knees, and hips. Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure and is most helpful for people with normal or slightly overweight bodies with pouches of fat that they cannot get rid of with diet and exercise.
Liposuction enhances the appearance and contour of the body. In many cases, this procedure can be done more than once. If you are thinking about getting this procedure done, talk to your plastic surgeon beforehand.
Let us talk about liposuction in detail in today’s article.
- What is the purpose of Liposuction ?
- Who can get Liposuction done ?
- Who should avoid getting Liposuction ?
- What are the types of Liposuction ?
- What is the procedure of Liposuction ?
- How to take care after Liposuction ?
- What to expect after a Liposuction ?
- What are the risks of Liposuction?
- What is the cost of Liposuction Surgery in India?
- FAQs about Liposuction
What is the purpose of Liposuction ?
- Liposuction involves surgical removal of undesirable deposits of body fat in specific parts of the body, rather than the whole body.
- Liposuction is normally advised to patients with normal or a little overweight bodies in whom exercise and dietary changes fail to reduce fat from specific parts of their body.
- Liposuction is usually done to remove excess fat from the waist, abdomen, ankles, cheeks, upper arm, thighs, buttocks, neck, inner knees, and hips.
( Know more about- What is Abdominoplasty? Purpose, Procedure, Risks, Cost )
Who can get Liposuction done?
Liposuction Surgery shows best results in the following people-
- People with a normal or slightly overweight body having abnormal pouches of fat deposits in specific areas of their bodies. ( Know more about- What is Obesity ? )
- Men who have gynecomastia (Enlargement of the breasts) ( Know more about- What is Gynecomastia? )
- Breast reduction procedures ( Know more about- What is Breast Reduction Surgery ? )
- People with lipodystrophy (Abnormal amount and/or distribution of fat tissue in the body)
- Younger people with tighter skin will show better results than older people with loose skin.
Patients should keep realistic expectations from the procedure and consult their plastic surgeon to know if this is an ideal procedure for them.
Who should avoid getting Liposuction done?
Your doctor will do a complete checkup to determine whether this surgery is advisable for you or not. Some of the conditions in which liposuction surgery is not advised are-
- Diabetes ( Know more about- What is Diabetes? )
- Chronic smoking ( Know more about- Home remedies to Quit Smoking )
- Heart conditions
- Age under 18
- Bleeding disorders
- Unhealed wounds
- Previous history of surgery
What are the types of Liposuction ?
There are 4 main types of procedures which the doctor can choose from-
Tumescent Liposuction: This is the most common type of liposuction surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon injects a fluid in the marked area.
The components of this special fluid are:
- Saltwater for aiding fat removal
- Lidocaine which is an anaesthetic
- Epinephrine is used to constrict blood vessels to control bleeding at the surgery site
This fluid helps to break down the fat. A cannula is then inserted at the site through a small incision and suction is attached to it to suction out all the fat.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL): An ultrasound probe is used over the skin of the desired area to breakdown the fat which is followed by suctioning the fat via a cannula administered through a small incision. The newer modification of the technique is called VASER assisted liposuction. VASER stands for vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance.
- Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL): A laser beam is used to break down fat via a small incision. The broken down fat is suctioned out by a cannula and suction.
- Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): PAL technique uses a cannula that moves in a rapid back-and-forth motion. This back and forth movement helps rigid fat to be easily removed. PAL can allow the surgeon to remove fat with high precision. This technique is used for patients who require the removal of large quantities of fat.
There are many specialist doctors and hospitals in India where bariatric surgery is done with great success.
What is the procedure of Liposuction ?
- Before the liposuction procedure, the patient receives general or local anaesthesia and a sedative to minimize the pain during the surgery. Now, the surgeon marks circles and lines on the areas to be treated and selects the appropriate technique based on your treatment goals.
- The main goal of liposuction surgery is to reduce the number of fat cells in the desired area. The fat cells are suctioned out by a cannula (small stainless steel tube that is inserted through an incision in the skin and removes subcutaneous fat) in this procedure.
- Your surgeon may use various procedures to remove fat.
- The duration of the surgical procedure depends on the amount of fat that has to be removed.
- After the procedure, the patient is allowed to go home. But in some cases, if the condition is serious, he may have to stay at the hospital for a few days. You can talk to the doctor for more information about this.
How to take care after Liposuction ?
After liposuction surgery, the patient needs to take special care of himself. However, the following tips may help in quick recovery.
- The doctor may prescribe some antibiotics after surgery to prevent infection and inflammation.
- Painkillers are prescribed to minimize pain after surgery.
- After surgery, the patient is given compression clothes to wear to hasten the healing process.
- The patient should avoid lifting heavy weights and doing any physical activity for a few weeks after the surgery.
- The patient may take at least six to seven months to fully recover.
- Talk to your doctor about your diet chart and exercise after the surgery. ( Know more about- Exercise for Weight Loss )
What to expect after a Liposuction?
- The swelling typically subsides within a few weeks.
- The treated area looks less bulky because of the reduction of inflammation.
- Within several months the area which was treated starts appearing leaner.
- If a lot of fat was suctioned out, the skin might appear loose.
- Even in old age loosening of skin is seen.
- Liposuction is a permanent procedure as long as the patient maintains his or her weight with proper diet and exercise.
- Patients need to keep realistic expectations and remember that consistently maintaining their weight after the procedure is non-negotiable.
What are the risks of Liposuction ?
There is a possibility of risks after any surgery, in the same way, liposuction surgery has some of the following risks. Let us explain below-
- Skin infection ( Know more about- What are the causes of Skin inflammation ?)
- Fat emboli which means shreds of the broken fat can enter the circulation and block major blood vessels by lodging in them. This increases the risk of heart or kidney problems.
- Internal puncture
- Changes in the skin colour around the incision
- Permanent irregularities in the contour of the skin
- Accumulation of fluid under the skin
- Side effects of lidocaine, the anaesthesia
- The incision may not heal quickly.
- Puncture to an internal organ because of the cannula
- Damage to the blood vessels of the site of the surgery, due to the incision
- Numbness in the affected area
- Risk of infection due to fluid accumulation at the surgical site
- The skin may appear loose.
- If the surgery is unsuccessful, the procedure can be done again.
If you experience any discomfort after the surgery, you should contact your doctor immediately.
What is the cost of Liposuction in India?
The total cost of liposuction surgery in India can range from around INR 60,000 to INR 80,000. per area. However, there are many large hospitals and doctors in India who offer liposuction surgery. The costs may vary among different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, apart from Liposuction surgery, there will be added costs of staying in the hotel, local travel and food expenses. The patient is advised to stay in the hospital for 2 days and in the hotel for around 10 days after the surgery for faster healing. So the total cost of Liposuction in India comes to be around INR 80,000 to INR 1,20,000.
FAQs about Liposuction
Q1. Does liposuction permanently remove fat?
Ans. Yes, liposuction surgery permanently removes fat. The fat cells that are removed will never come back however, the existing fat cells can grow in size with weight gain. Hence, the patient has to make sure by exercise and diet to not gain more weight.
Q2.When can liposuction results be seen?
Ans. Liposuction results can be seen 1 to 3 months after the procedure.
Q3.Does liposuction surgery leave scars?
Ans. Yes. Liposuction surgery is done by making 1 or 2 1inch incisions which can later form scars.
Q4. Will there be pain after the procedure?
Ans. The doctor will give you medication to control the pain however some discomfort and pain will still be there.
We hope that we could answer your questions regarding liposuction through this article.
If you want to get more information and treatment about liposuction, you can contact a Plastic or Cosmetic surgeon.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication, treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
