Surgical Procedures & Innovations  Cosmetic Procedures
Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Liposuction, or lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure used on both men and women to remove excess fat from the body. Liposuction is used on a number of areas, including:
- Cheeks, chin, and neck
- Upper arms
- Breast or chest area
- Back
- Abdomen and waist
- Hips and buttocks
- Thighs
- Inner knee
- Calves and ankles
Liposuction may be performed on several areas of the body at the same time. It is also commonly performed with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast reduction surgery and abdominoplasy.
Techniques
Liposuction requires one or more small incisions made near the fatty area that is going to be removed. A hollow tube called a cannula is inserted which suctions the fat. Most liposuction is performed using the tumescent technique, which provides sustained local anesthesia and minimizes bruising. Another technique called ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), which uses ultrasonic waves to break up the fatty tissue, is indicated for certain patients undergoing liposuction.
Anesthesia
The type of anesthesia used depends on the nature and extent of the procedure to be performed. Some procedures may require local anesthesia, while others require intravenous sedation, a regional anesthesia such as an epidural block, or in some cases, general anesthesia.
Before Surgery
- Avoid taking aspirin, advil, motrin, or other aspirin-containing products for two weeks.
- If you are a smoker, stop smoking to aid in healing.
Recovery
- You may return to work after several days.
- You will feel better after a week or two.
- You will need to wear a snug elastic garment for several weeks.
- Strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month.
- Swelling and bruising subside in about 3 weeks, although some swelling may persist for 6 months.
Results
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