Ελληνικα
Liposuction started to be applied in the 1970s and today is the most popular aesthetic surgery in the world. This is an extremely safe method of removing the local fat and improving the overall body image.
In which areas of the body liposuction occurs:
Liposuction can be applied in the following areas:
- belly
- thighs
- waist
- hips
- calves
- flanks
- knees
And in any other problematic area eg chest, for men suffering from gynecomastia, chin, etc.
Who can have liposuction?
All adults who wish to have a harmonious, well-balanced body and general health status are good, are not suffering from an illness that could be aggravated during surgery or during recovery, they are able to undergo liposuction. Ideally, people whose weight does not differ greatly from normal, and their expectations for the result are realistic.
When should one think of liposuction as a solution?
If despite the balanced diet and exercise the local fat insists by making some areas of the body appear disproportionate to the rest of your body, then liposuction is an ideal solution for your case.
Under no circumstances is liposuction applied to reduce body weight. If you have a problem with obesity, you should turn to other types of surgery along with liposuction.
Liposuction: First exam
During the first visit to the clinic, the plastic surgeon will record your history in detail to see if you are taking any specific medication if you have undergone other surgeries in the past or if you suffer from certain diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Then you will have a lengthy discussion about which parts of your body you feel problematic, what are your expectations of the operation, what results you consider satisfactory, the potential s having the surgeon, what technique is best to follow etc.
Liposuction: preoperative steps
If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking 3 to 4 weeks before surgery and for at least 2 weeks after, as it is known that the healing procedures performed by the body slow down with smoking. If you are taking medication with anti-inflammatory and anticoagulants you should stop it at least a week in advance. Also, if you are taking contraceptives, it would be beneficial to stop them 4 weeks before liposuction to minimize the risk of blood clotting.
Medical tests prior to liposuction
Before proceeding with liposuction you should undergo the following examinations:
- general blood test
- general urine test
- urea
- creatinine
- blood glucose
- chest X-ray
- electrocardiogram
In some cases it is possible for the doctor to ask for additional hormonal testing.
Liposuction: what is the procedure of surgery?
During liposuction, either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with mood can be applied. The surgery should always be performed by a qualified surgeon in a well-equipped clinic. Its duration varies from 40 minutes to 4 hours, depending on how many points are and where they are. Today there are various techniques and machines that make liposuction. Some are combined with the use of laser, others with an ultrasonic generator, etc. The basis of the intervention is the same. The plastic surgeon performs some very small cuts, just a few millimeters in size. A microchannel enters through the holes, passes through the fatty tissue breaking the fat, then extra fat is aspirated and passes through a pump that is attached to the microchannel.
Liposuction: Postoperative course
Depending on the way anesthesia is selected, either you leave the clinic after a few hours, or stay in the clinic for precautionary reasons and you are discharged the next day. In the first hours after surgery, swelling and bruising occur, which resolve over the course of days. Post-operative pain is minimized by the administration of analgesics. You will need to wear a special pressure bandage (as a corset) for the next 4 weeks. If the sutures are not absorbable, they are removed after about 7 days.
Usually you can do mild daily activities after a week but full recovery is achieved after a period of 4-6 weeks. The final results from liposuction are evident after 3-4 months where swelling has completely subsided and the body has acquired its definitive form. The scars in the beginning as will be natural will be intense, but slowly over time they will fade and it will be extremely difficult to distinguish them.
Does Liposuction Have Possible Complications?
Complications during or after liposuction are rare. It may cause hematoma, thrombosis or inflammation. There may be an allergic reaction, rough scars or temporary mumps. Anything that may arise is of mild or moderate severity and is fully treatable.
Liposuction: are the results definitive?
There are a certain number of adipocytes in the human body. With liposuction the fat cells removed can not be regenerated again. This means that the results of the intervention are definitive. If for any reason your weight increases fat cells will not proliferate, they will simply increase in volume. You will thicken but the pounds will be evenly distributed in the body without fat accumulation in specific points. Your body will still be symmetrical even with extra pounds.