Liposuction to reduce localized fat
Although the first to hypothesize the procedure was the German doctor Schrudde, the technique was invented in Italy in 1974 by Arpad Fischer. The first to use this technique for aesthetic purposes was the French Gerard Yves Illouz in 1977. Initially, the side effects encountered by German doctors were serious and it was thought that the technique had no future. Then, thanks to Fischer and the French doctors Illouz and Fournier, the technique was perfected.
Liposuction surgery should not be considered a simple and alternative method to lose weight, but a real surgical procedure to be used only when the classic cosmetic and dietary-behavioral interventions have not produced the expected results in terms of reduction. of localized adiposity.
See also
In addition to localized reduction of fat, liposuction is also used for the reduction of gynecomastia (i.e. the development of fatty tissue in the male breast) and to treat certain medical conditions, including lipomas, lipodystrophy and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Liposuction: what to do first
Before proceeding with liposuction, you will undergo a complete physical examination (including blood tests), during which your health (both physical and psychological), the elasticity of the skin and the position of the fat pads will be assessed. .
During the consultation pre-procedure the details of the surgery will be defined: which area exactly will be treated, which procedure is most suitable, what to expect during and after liposuction, what results can be obtained and the possible associated risks.
In addition to stopping the use of certain drugs and quitting smoking, as nicotine interferes with circulation and can cause tissue elasticity to lose, you will be prescribed an antibiotic to be taken before and after surgery, to prevent any infections.
On the day of surgery, the doctor with a pen will mark circles and lines on the target areas, to mark the insertion sites and the adiposities to be aspirated.
In the operating room, a sterilizing solution will be applied to the affected areas and you will then be given a local anesthetic, limited to the specific area of the body and the insertion sites, or general.
In most cases, the first phase involves the injection of a wetting solution into the area to be treated, consisting of physiological solution, epinephrine (to reduce bleeding) and a local anesthetic. The surgeon proceeds by making a small incision (or more incisions) in the area, through which he inserts a thin cannula connected to a vacuum pump by means of a flexible tube. By rapidly manipulating the cannula back and forth, the surgeon can separate and remove the excess fat cells; in the meantime, if you are vigilant you will feel a scraping sensation caused by the movement of the cannula.
Overall, the operation can last from 1 to 4 hours, depending on how much fat is removed, the removal technique and the number of sites that are aspirated until the desired result is achieved.
Liposuction: what to do next
After the procedure to aid fluid drainage, the surgeon may leave the incisions open or apply a couple of sutures.
The tissues, deprived of fat, will create the new shape of the body during healing. For this reason, after liposuction, you will need to wear a compression garment.
Recovery is quite fast and you will be discharged the same day in case of local anesthesia or the next day in case of general anesthesia. The stitches will be removed after about 10 days and small scars may remain.
After liposuction, many patients experience pain, numbness, tingling, or burning during the recovery process, but these symptoms usually go away within six to eight weeks. Swelling and bruising may also appear, which will take 4 to 6 weeks to six months to subside and disappear.
The final result of the liposuction will be evident within a couple of weeks, even if it takes a few months for the swelling to disappear, making visible the aesthetic improvements produced by the surgery.
The results of liposuction are generally long lasting, as long as it is possible to keep the body weight stable over time; in any case, it is important to understand that liposuction will in no way prevent you from gaining weight. To maintain the new shape obtained with liposuction, it is therefore necessary to follow a balanced diet, combined with regular exercise.
Liposuction: the risks
As with any surgery, liposuction involves risks such as bleeding, infections and an unwanted reaction to anesthesia.
The possible specific complications are:
• Skin irregularity: your skin may appear irregular, wrinkled or cracked due to irregular removal of fat, skin inelasticity or an unusual healing process. These imperfections can also be permanent.
• Numbness: You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the area.
• Infections: Serious skin infections are rare but, if they occur, they may require surgical treatment, with the possibility of scarring.
• Internal punctures: it is very rare, but not impossible, for punctures to form in the internal organs, when the cannula penetrates too deeply into the body.
• Death: deaths can be caused by anesthesia or by changes in body fluid levels, since fluids are injected and sucked in. These fluid movements can cause kidney and heart problems. However, death is a very unlikely event.
