What is liposuction?
It is a surgical technique to remove fat or adipose tissue and is used in aesthetics. The duration of the treatment is 1 to 3 hours, depending on the area to be treated.
Although it is not the solution to obesity, it is intended to treat stubborn areas, body remodeling or weight loss.
During the procedure a cannula or syringe is used which is connected to a suction machine.
It can be combined with laser or ultrasound to help dissolve the fat and facilitate removal. The most demanded areas are usually abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs. But they are also performed on arms, knees, ankles, neck, jowls or face.
There are some variants in the technique. The abundant extraction of fat for volume loss, the small extraction of fat for liposculpture or liptransfer.
Lipotransfer consists of extracting fat from one part of the body to infiltrate it in other parts of the body to gain more volume.
Origin of liposuction
Liposuction appeared in 1974 by plastic surgeon Giorgio Fisher, but with a technique that consisted of removing the fat together with the skin. In 1977 Gerard Yves Illouzlo practical with cannulas.
At first it was performed under general anesthesia, but later localized or local-regional anesthesia was used. Cannulas, suction technique and anesthesia have also varied.
Liposuction procedure
First of all, rudimentary tests must be performed to verify that the patient is in good health since it is a complex surgery.
The surgeon introduces the cannula into the area to be treated and injects a solution made up of anesthesia and saline solution. This liquid will help to loosen the fat from the skin to facilitate extraction. This liquid is then suctioned out through a cannula connected to a suction machine.
During the recovery period, the patient must rest for a few days and will not be able to make any physical effort. You should protect the area with a girdle, wear appropriate clothing and follow guidelines provided by your physician.
Possible complications
There are some complications as with any operation. In liposuction the most frequent are: hemorrhages, venous thrombosis, fat embolism, pulmonary edema or cardiac infarction.
In the intervened areas may appear irregularities, asymmetries, skin depressions, ecchymosis, etc. Statistics show that there are some cases of mortality in this practice.
Liposuction without surgery or pain
Similar results to liposuction can sometimes be obtained with cavitation.
This technology consists of the application of high-energy ultrasound, which releases the fat into the interstitial space, partially breaking down the triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol, which are then eliminated naturally.
Our Cavitacell equipment eliminates stubborn fat painlessly and without side effects. Its state-of-the-art technology works by means of low-frequency, high-energy ultrasound with low-energy ESWT shock waves.
Commitment to quality
This text on liposuction has been written by professional editors and reviewed by Sisneo’s medical-aesthetic team. In addition, we have relied on experts in medicine, engineering and aesthetics as a source of information, as well as specific studies to maintain the quality of what we publish.
At Sisneo Bioscience we are committed to publish truthful and contrasted information. And to update or correct it as soon as new knowledge becomes available.
Among others, we have used the following references:
- Rodríguez Flores, Jordi, Palomar Gallego, María Angustias, García Recuero, Ignacio Ismael, Romance García, Ana Isabel, Bara Casaus, José Javier, & Torres García-Denche, Jesús. (2011). «Lipoescultura facial: técnica quirúrgica y revisión bibliográfica» en Revista Española de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial, 33(4), 150-156. doi.org/10.4321/S1130-05582011000400004
- Tabbal GN, Ahmad J, Lista F, Rohrich RJ. «Advances in liposuction: five key principles with emphasis on patient safety and outcomes» en Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2013 Dec 6;1(8):e75. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000007.
