In which areas is liposuction performed?
Liposuction can be performed on areas such as abdomen, waist, back, inner thigh, outer thigh, inner knee, legs, arms, jowl. Slimming the waist and thinning the inner parts of the thigh are the most common reasons for preference. It is not recommended to perform liposuction on the breast, genital area, scalp, hands and feet.
Is liposuction safe?
There are some risks in liposuction surgery, as in any surgery. If we classify them;
Anesthesia-Related Risks: local anesthesia poisoning, allergy, drug reaction, etc. General anesthesia related respiratory problems, pulmonary edema, intensive care hospitalization or life-threatening anesthesia complications.
General surgical procedure risks: Bleeding, Infection, Scar tissue, Wound healing problems, Numbness areas on the skin, Edema-Bruise
Risks specific to the liposuction procedure: Asymmetry, Contour Deformity, Hemodynamic disorders in case of excess fat removal, perforation of the deep structures of the cannula (lung, intestines, etc.) and damage.
Risks specific to energy-used liposuction methods (LASER, VASER, J-PLASMA): burns, scar tissue under the skin or on the skin, and hardness/stiffness in the connective tissue.
Is liposuction a painful operation?
Although liposuction surgery is not a very painful operation, sensitivity can be seen especially in areas close to the bones. There may be a burning sensation under the skin, especially when moving. It is necessary to use mild to moderate pain relievers for the first 3 days. Rarely, some patients may be more sensitive and need narcotic pain relievers.
Where should liposuction be done?
Liposuction can be performed both in the doctor’s Office settings, in small surgical medical centers and in large full-fledged hospitals. The important thing here is the type of anesthesia to be used and the amount of liposuction to be performed.
What should be considered before liposuction surgery?
It is absolutely necessary to inform the doctor about all drugs used before liposuction, all diseases, and all other cigarette-alcohol-pleasant substances, vitamins-minerals, food supplements and medicinal plants-herbs, and about when these medications were stopped.
It is recommended to terminate hormonal treatments such as contraceptives or HRT 1 month before liposuction.
It is recommended to stop taking blood thinners such as asprin 1 week before liposuction.
It is recommended not to use alcohol or substances 24 hours before liposuction.
It is recommended to stop taking food 8 hours before liposuction and 4 hours before fluid intake.
How long does the liposuction procedure take?
Liposuction usually takes about 20 minutes on each body area. If the patient needs to turn during the procedure, this may take up to 15 minutes (removal of drapes, turning the patient over, sterile cleaning and draping). For example, it may take about 2-2.5 hours for a person to have abdominal, waist, back liposuction. If general anesthesia was used in the surgery, the patient can be kept under observation in the recovery room for 20-30 minutes after the surgery. If the area of the operation is small, the patient can be discharged on the same day. If a large amount of more than 2-3 liters of fat is removed from the large area, it is safer to keep the patient under observation in the hospital for at least one day. If the patient’s blood level drops, blood transfusions may be required. In such a case, additional costs may arise.
Patients usually wear a corset immediately after surgery. Even if it is not put on immediately for some reason, the patient should start wearing it within the first 2 days.
What should be considered after liposuction surgery?
After the liposuction procedure, it is necessary to dress the cannula entrance wounds daily or every 2 days.
Dissolving sutures are used in our clinic, and if they do not fall off on their own in 2 weeks, they can be removed. Or you can wait for them to fall off.
It is recommended to use a corset for 6-8 weeks after liposuction.
Lymphatic massage or liposuction massage is recommended for at least 3 months after liposuction.
Scars usually become indistinct within 6-12 months. In order to accelerate this process and make it more obscure, scar removal creams and gels can be used after the wounds heal (such as contractubex gel, silicone gel..)
How many days after liposuction surgery can I start working and return to sports?
Usually, the first 2-3 days after liposuction is the period when the pain is highest. After the first week, the pain goes away to a great extent, only a tenderness is felt while moving. For desk workers, it is usually easy to return to work after 7-10 days. It should not be forgotten that although this varies from person to person, it can be on the 3rd day or on the 15th day.
After liposuction, light sports can be started within 20-30 days. Sports activities that will increase blood pressure are not recommended as bleeding, bruising and deformities may occur in the first two weeks of liposuction. It is recommended to wait 2 months for heavy sports and combat sports after liposuction.
Which methods are liposuction surgery performed?
Liposuction surgery is usually performed with stainless steel cannulas between 2-6mm, with a blunt tip and approximately 20-32cm in length. There may be 1-2-3-4-5-6 holes just behind the tip of these cannulas. These holes can be in the form of a cannula on 3 different sides in the form of a mercedes or on a protruding part (basket). In the method called classical liposuction, these cannulas are manually slid back and forth by hand, and they are performed by collecting the fats in a container thanks to the negative pressure attached behind them. In tumescent liposuction method, before starting liposuction, the subcutaneous fat tissue is infiltrated with a fluid solution using a cannula with a thickness of about 2 mm with tiny holes, which is called an infiltration cannula. This liquid contains a substance that causes the vessels to contract and shrink, such as local anesthesia, bicarbonate buffer, adrenaline or epinephrine. It makes it possible to remove fat tissue with less bleeding.
In the laser-assisted liposuction method, there is a laser probe at the end of the blunt cannulas mentioned above, and with the heat generated by the laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) energy, it both burns and melts the fats (instantly) and creates a scarring in the skin and connective tissue (within months) . This method can be used to create lines in surgeries such as making the abdominal muscle lines more prominent, such as “6 packs”, by giving more point energy compared to vaser.
VASER (ultrasound assisted) liposuction: In this method, there is an ultrasound system at the tip of the probe and with the energy created by sound waves, it both burns and melts the fats, liquefies them (instantly) and provides tightening by creating scars in the skin and connective tissue (within months). This method gives more controlled energy than laser. It can be used in more commonly, since it is safer than Laserand J-Plasma.
J-Plasma (helium) or Argon Plasma: In this method, Helium or Argon gas is infiltrated into the subcutaneous fat tissue by means of a liposuction cannula and stimulated with radiofrequency. This causes the helium or argon gas to be oxidized to the plasma (high temperature) phase. In this way, it liquefies the fat by burning the tissue and causes tightening in the skin and connective tissue. Due to the high heat generated in this method, the results may be more aggressive than other methods. Likewise, side effects may be higher. Due to its side effects, this method was not found suitable for use for aesthetic purposes with a statement made by the FDA in March 2023. However, it continues to be popular due to the advertisements of the companies and the radical results of those who have the procedure.
In energy giving liposuction methods, burns may occur in the body. It should be done by experienced doctors, calibrated devices of high quality companies should be used and the patient should be followed up continuously during the procedure. Despite all this, a burn may occur, and heat-broken fragments from the probe of the device may remain inside the patient. On the other hand, bleeding is lower in energizing liposuction methods. There is less bruising. But the edema may take longer.
Can I find out if a person has had liposuction?
It is very difficult to understand that liposuction is done. Some signs that can reveal a person who has had liposuction are as follows: hypertrophic healing of the cannula entry incision scar, contour deformity due to connective tissue scar after the procedure, contour deformity due to significant weight gain after the procedure. Exam by plastic surgeon, medical aesthetics doctor or esthetician may also reveal if a liposuction has been performed.
