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What is Liposuction?
The Theme of Liposuction
More Facts About Liposuction
The
Scenario of Your Liposuction Operation
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What
is Liposuction?
Many think liposuction is an operation primarily directed
to the treatment of obesity, it is not. Although it
can be used nicely in obese patients it is a procedure
that is directed to remove fat deposits in the body
that are exercise and dietary resistant.
The “saddle
bag” areas in women that prevail despite all forms
of diet and exercise. The flanks in men that never go
away no matter how much you diet or how far you run.
The thighs, that remain unchanged, the abdomen that
persists despite thousands of sit-ups. Let’s not
forget the arms, face, cheeks, neck, and buttocks. If
you fall into any of these categories and you are bothered
by it, you are a candidate for liposuction.
The
Theme of Liposuction
For decades surgeons have been trying with limited success
to remove fat deposits, reshape and recontour the body.
In the past, this was done through open surgical operations
lasting many hours and leaving the patients with large,
very noticeable, and terrifying scars.
Approximately
twenty years ago, surgeons in France and Italy began
experimenting with fat removal with suction tubes called
cannulas, under high vacuum. In the early years, these
pioneering surgeons only achieved limited success. Their
instrumentation was limited and their cannulas were
very large. Because of this, they were only able to
achieve volume reduction rather than precise recontouring
of the body. A lot of patients have begun to inquire
about a type of liposuction called “ultrasonic
liposuction”. As with anything new and possibly
innovative, it is viewed as an improvement over the
existing method. In this case it is not. I have found
ultrasonic liposuction carries with it a number of problems
such as burning of the skin and the need for larger
cannulas, which reduces the ability to precise the sculpture.
In this regard
I feel that liposuction would be better termed “Liposculpture”.
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More
Facts about Liposculpture
In the early days of liposuction and with only large
cannulas that are disposable, we tried to remove all
the fat cells between the skin and the underlying muscle
tissue. This often left an unevenness and ridging in
the skin’s surface, but now with micro-cannulas
and refined techniques we can leave a thin area of fat
cells beneath the skin for smoothness, yet we can contour
the remainder of the bulk to the normal curvature of
your body and in some cases we can even create greater
curves!
Therefore, although
no one wants to be a patient, should you decide to be
one there is no better time than today! Welcome.
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The
Scenario of Your Liposuction Operation
The operation can be performed in a hospital, in an
ambulatory surgery center, or in the case of my practice
I perform almost all procedures in my own surgical centers.
I am fully and
totally aware that it is somewhat difficult to ready
oneself for an operation that is of a purely elective
nature. This can certainly provoke anxiety and nervousness
which is understandable and normal, however should know
that this is a very common procedure in the field of
cosmetic surgery, in fact, it is the most common, and
is more or less difficult than any other operation.
A few days prior to your scheduled procedure I may ask
you to undergo a routine history and physical examination
as well as some laboratory studies, where your good
health and readiness for liposuction will be ascertained.
Furthermore, if you are under the care of a physician
for any reason I will contact him so that he may issue
you clearance for surgery.
Lastly, I will
arrange to have you photographed and please know that
this is very essential and vital information for me.
It is necessary as a chest X-ray would be to an internist
or an electrocardiogram to a cardiologist.
On the day of
your operation, you will report to my office approximately
fifteen minutes prior to surgery. My staff will receive
and greet you and answer all of your questions. I will
then personally escort you to the operating room suite
where the anesthesiologist will begin anesthesia. He
will do so by inserting a small I.V. and thus produce
a “twilight” state of anesthesia where you
will not see, hear, feel or remember anything! Yet,
at the conclusion of the procedure you will be readily
awakened without any hangover sensation. Please understand
that this is not general anesthesia where noxious gases
are used, or intubation (tubes inserted into the throat).
It is a pleasant and highly comfortable form of sedation
used for all of my patients. I promise you that the
operation will be completely painless.
The duration
of the operation will approximate between one and two
hours at most, yet under anesthesia it will appear to
be only a few minutes. Remember, I and I alone will
operate on you. I will use small incisions that are
less than ½” in length in most cases, and
through these incisions the micro-cannulas will be inserted
to remove the fat.
At the conclusion
of the operation small bandages will be applied to the
incision sites and a pressure garment will be placed
on you. You will then be escorted to the recovery area
where you will spend approximately one hour. You will
become fully awake and alert, be able to ambulate by
yourself and at that time you will be discharged to
the person escorting you home. When you arrive home,
will you have a great deal of pain? Certainly not! Will
there be some soreness? Somewhat. Will you be able to
sleep restfully that evening? Certainly!
The next day,
you will remove the pressure garment and the small drainage
pads. Then the pressure garment will be reapplied and
you will be able to ambulate on your own. In fact, you
may return to work in one to two days in some cases.
I tell my patients that if the operation is performed
on Friday, they may return to work on Monday in most
cases!!!
How long you
will wear the pressure garment will depend on the extent
of the liposuction I perform, as well as to the number
of areas. In most patients I will ask that they wear
the garment during most of the day for the first week,
they may sleep without it. In other patients, I may
ask that they wear the garment for a little bit longer.
The garment assists in contouring you better and also
assists in controlling post operative swelling. You
will find that the pressure garment is not uncomfortable
to wear.
You may begin
mild exercise within 7 days and progress this to a full
exercise program.
I would
like to end on a personal note. I myself underwent liposuction.
I had the procedure performed on a Friday morning in
California. I flew home on a Friday afternoon and went
to work in my office on Saturday. Two months later,
I ran the New York Marathon!!
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