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Liposuction is a technique developed in the 1970’s by Georgio Fischer, M.D. of Italy for the removal of fat deposits located in areas that are resistant to toning by diet and exercise, or that are naturally subject to fat deposition. While not a treatment for generalized obesity, this procedure is ideal for the removal of unwanted fat deposits in the face, chin, neck, hips, buttocks, abdomen, knees, calves, chest and breasts.
What is Fat Transplantation?
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Fat transplantation has been widely used for contour remodelling and scar revision. It requires a small fat extraction procedure on the hip, buttock, or abdomen followed by purification and injection of the adipose cells (fat cells) into a target site. Popular applications of this technique include contour remodelling of deep smile lines of the mouth to minimize the "jowling" effect, reduction of lip wrinkling around the mouth, replacement of lost tissue on the backs of the hands (commonly encountered with maturity), and filling in deep-set eyes. The appearance of scars and scarring processes may also be improved with this well-tolerated technique.
Who Should Have Liposuction Performed?
Liposuction may be performed on nearly anyone regardless of either sex or age, provided they are in otherwise good health.
Preparation, Surgery and Immediately Afterwards
Planning and discussion of liposuction may require one or two consultations before an appointment for the procedure is made. A consent form will be signed by the patient prior to treatment. Prior to having the surgery, patients should refrain from taking any aspirin, (it can interfere with proper blood clotting and lead to increased blood loss) for at least 10 days. On the day of the surgery, you may go about your usual routine, eat a light breakfast if the surgery is in the morning or a light lunch if it is in the afternoon. Avoid drinking large quantities of liquid, as the procedure may take a couple of hours. Be on time for your appointment and wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes. Pre-operative digital photographs will be taken prior to the procedure.
At the surgery, the doctor will mark the areas to be treated and inject local anaesthetic into the areas where he plans to make incisions. Small incisions are then made through which saline and numbing solution will be injected using a blunt-tipped needle. Some discomfort may be felt initially as the solution starts to go in, but that should soon fade as the anaesthetic takes effect. The doctor will inject the solution across the entire area to be treated. (Patients report a feeling more of pressure than discomfort or pain during this). Then, the doctor will insert the instrument (cannula) and start to remove the fat.
Once the doctor is satisfied that a desired quantity has been removed, the cannula is withdrawn and the small incisions closed with one or two sutures, and the surrounding skin cleaned up (it will have been prepared with iodine solution prior to surgery). If the liposuction was performed on the torso or legs the patient may even be encouraged to take an immediate, short shower at the clinic before getting dressed. If the procedure is on the buttocks, legs or abdomen, we request that the patient have someone to take them home if possible, and also recommend taking it easy for the first 24 hours, but there is no need to stay completely sedentary. In fact, light activity will help to stimulate healing. Post-operative bruising and discomfort is usually minimal and may be treated with low grade pain-killers such as Tylenol or Ketoprofen, a non-sedating painkiller.
A follow up visit two days later is usually scheduled to ensure that there are no post-operative problems. The sutures may be removed at this visit or at a follow-up visit the following week. The patient should not expect to be fully able to assess the results for a few months, at which time more photographs will be taken to add to the patient’s record and be compared to the pre-operative photos.