close
Liposculpture (also known as liposuction and suction assisted lipectomy (SAL)What is Liposculpture?Liposuction or liposculpture is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure. It has been steadily refined and improved over the past 30 years so that current techniques mean a shorter recovery time for most patients, a high degree of safety, and excellent results for suitable patients. Who is this operation for? Ideally liposculpture is for people who are happy with their overall size and shape - other than one or two areas that have disproportionately more fat. Mostly these are people in good health who exercise and eat a high quality diet but just can’t seem to shift difficult areas. They have found that focal fat reduction (for example doing sit-ups to reduce abdominal fat) does not work. For those patients who are generally overweight, liposculpture to the abdomen and inner thighs can help to get them exercising more and to really motivate them to improve their lifestyle once they have seen a rapid improvement in their shape. However it is not a weight loss technique and is not recommended for large volume reductions. If you have a prominent abdomen you may have fat within the abdominal cavity (behind the muscle); this type of problem responds best to exercise and good eating, and cannot be improved with liposuction. Fat in front of the muscle can be reduced with liposuction. What is the procedure like? Under a light sedation or sometimes a light general anaesthetic special fluid is infused into the areas in preparation for the removal of fat. Small incision (2-3mm) are made in areas that are well camouflaged once healed and a thin tube-like instrument called a cannula is inserted to remove the fat. The entire operation can take anywhere from one to three hours depending on the size of the patient, the number of areas addressed, and the volume of fat removed. After a recovery of one to two hours patients can go home with their carer. How long is the recovery time? Most patients feel sore for 2 or 3 days, then can usually return to work after about 4 or 5 days. Special support garments need to be worn for the first 3 or 4 weeks. These are firm supportive elastic outfits that help to speed recovery and improve the contour, and are very important to achieving a good result. By the end of the first month most of the swelling gradually improves, so that most people feel back to normal at around the one month stage. There may still be some bruising and numbness which last for another few weeks. The final result is usually seen at around the 3 month stage when all the swelling should have settled. The small incisions still continue to improve for a year or two, and for most people become a barely visible blemish. Pain is usually manageable with simple analgesics (Panadol and Panadeine type). Massage can speed the recovery process, and will be discussed if this is appropriate for you. Is the fat removal permanent? Some people are concerned that the body can produce more fat, or that the fat can move. This is not the case. The removal of fat is permanent. Once you have a new shape it will remain. But if you are in a positive energy balance (eat too much or exercise too little) then you will gain weight again and be a larger version of your new shape. The opposite is also true. Which areas can liposculpture be performed on? The technique can be used on most areas, but some respond better than others:
Are there visible scars? For most people the scars are nearly invisible and cannot be seen after a few months of healing. For people with dark skin the incision sites may darken for a few months, but usually do return to a more normal shade. Will my skin shrink back once the volume is reduced? One of the challenges of this operation from a surgeon’s perspective is knowing when the right amount of fat has been removed from an area. If too much is removed then the skin might be too loose and not contract enough. Younger patients with more elastic skin are more likely to have skin that contracts well. Patients who are older, have sun damage, loose skin or prior large weight loss begin with or have lost significant weight are more likely to have loose skin after liposculpture. How long is the recovery time? For most healthy people no blood tests are required. Special tests may be required if there are medications or past medical history which may affect the operation or anaesthetic. What if I have more questions? Not all patients are suitable for this procedure, and a consultation is required to assess your suitability, medical history and general health & fitness, and to allow you to discuss the procedure including risks and complications with Dr David Topchian. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second medical opinion. Consultations can be arranged by appointment by calling the Endless Solutions on (03) 9681 7311 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
