Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove body fat in specific areas, such as from the abdomen, hips, thighs or buttocks. The procedure shapes or contours these areas. Candidates for liposuction are t hose who have too much body fat in specific spots, but who otherwise have stable body weight.

Liposuction isn't an overall weight-loss method. If you're overweight — rather than having a stubborn belly that won't go away even though you're otherwise fit, for example — you're better off losing the weight through diet and exercise.

 

Other terms for liposuction are lipoplasty, body contouring and body lift.

 

Why It Is Done?

Liposuction is not a weight-loss alternative, but rather a way to treat isolated areas of fat that are resistant to exercise and diet. Fat cells increase in size and volume with weight gain. Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in a specific area. The amount of fat removed depends on the appearance of the area and the volume of fat. The resulting contour changes are long lasting, if your weight remains stable.

 

Liposuction can remove fat from various areas of the body including your:

 

Thighs

 

Buttocks

 

Hips

 

Chest

 

Back

 

Abdomen

 

Upper arms

 

Neckline and underchin area

 

Because the skin molds itself to new contours following liposuction, people who have good skin tone and elasticity are the best candidates. If your skin is thin with poor elasticity, the skin in the treated areas may appear loose. Also, candidates must be in good health, without conditions such as restricted blood flow, coronary artery disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system that could complicate surgery.

 

Liposuction doesn't improve cellulite dimpling or other skin surface irregularities. It won't remove stretch marks.

 

Risks

As with any major surgery, liposuction carries risks, such as bleeding, infection and an unwanted reaction to the anesthesia. And like all surgeries, complications vary depending on how large the procedure. If the surgeon is working on larger surfaces of your body or doing other procedures during the same operation, the risk of complications increases. Talk to Dr Deepak Kalia about how these risks apply to you.

 

Possible complications specific to liposuction include:

 

Contour irregularities. Your skin may appear bumpy, wavy or withered due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity and unusual healing. This condition can be permanent. Cannula-induced damage beneath the skin may cause a permanent spotted appearance to your skin. A cannula is a thin tube that is used during the liposuction procedure. Temporary pockets of fluid (seromas) can form under your skin, particularly after ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) treatment. These may need to be drained with a needle.

 

Numbness. You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the area of the surgery. Temporary nerve irritation also is possible.

 

Infections. Severe skin infections are rare but — if they occur — may require surgical treatment with the potential for significant scarring.

 

Internal punctures. Punctures in internal organs occur very rarely, when a cannula penetrates too deeply into the body. These punctures can require additional surgery to repair, and can be fatal.

 

Death. Fatalities may be caused by anesthesia or by shifts in the body's fluid levels as fluids are being injected and sucked out. The fluid shifts can cause kidney and heart problems. Death is very unlikely.

 

 

How U Prepare

Before the procedure, discuss your medical history and what to expect from the surgery with Dr Deepak Kalia. Tell him about any medications, supplements or herbs you're taking and any medical conditions you have, as these may affect the success of your procedure.

 

If your procedure requires the removal of only a small amount of fat, the surgery can often take place in an office setting, after which you can go home. If a large amount of fat needs to be removed — or if you plan to have other procedures done at the same time — the surgery may take place in a hospital, followed by an overnight stay.

 

When you arrive for surgery, you may be asked to change into a dressing gown and have photographs taken of the areas Dr Deepak Kalia  will work on — so that before-and-after photos are later available. Before surgery, the doctor may mark circles and lines on the areas of your body to undergo liposuction.

 

Procedure

How your liposuction procedure is done depends on the technique that's used.

 

Tumescent liposuction.

During this most commonly used liposuction procedure, Dr Deepak Kalia injects fluids into the area of your body being operated on, causing it to swell and stiffen. The amount of fluid can vary, depending upon your size and the area being worked on.

 

The injected fluid is a mixture of salt water, an anesthetic (lidocaine) and a drug that causes your blood vessels to constrict (epinephrine) so that you lose less blood during the procedure. The anesthetic helps relieve pain. The salt water helps to remove the fat and is suctioned out along with the fat.

 

Dr Deepak Kalia then makes small cuts into your skin and inserts a tube called a cannula — which is about as thick as a thin writing pen — under your skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that sucks the fat and fluids from your body. Because you're losing fat and fluids from the suction, the doctor may replenish your body fluid through an intravenous line, also called an IV.

 

During the procedure

Some liposuction procedures may require only local or regional anesthesia — anesthesia limited to a specific area of your body. Other procedures may require general anesthesia, which induces a temporary state of unconsciousness.

 

If your procedure requires only local anesthesia, Dr Deepak Kalia gives you several numbing shots in the area to be worked on. More numbing medication is then injected deeper into the fat to prepare it for the liposuction. You may also be given a sedative in pill form — or through an IV injection — to help you remain calm and relaxed.

 

If you need general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist or anesthetist gives you an anesthetic medication as a gas to breathe through a mask or injects a liquid medication into a vein.

 

The surgical team places several monitors on your body to help make sure that your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen remain at safe levels throughout the procedure. These monitors include a blood pressure cuff on your arm and heart-monitor leads attached to your chest.

 

If you feel anything during the procedure, it may be a dull "rasping" type sensation as the cannula moves under your skin. This is typical. If you feel definite pain, tell your doctor, as the medication or motions may need adjustment.

 

If your procedure requires only local anesthesia, you may be asked to stand up at times during the procedure to ensure proper fat removal.

 

The procedure may last up to several hours depending on the extent of the surgery. After the procedure, Dr Deepak Kalia may leave your incisions open so that fluid can drain from your body. If you've been given general anesthesia, you regain wakefulness in a recovery room. You generally spend at least a few hours in the hospital or clinic so that medical personnel can monitor your recovery. If you're in a hospital, you may stay overnight. The more fat you have removed, the greater the potential risks of the procedure. Dr Deepak Kalia may want you to stay overnight to ensure that your body isn't dehydrated or in shock from fluid loss.

 

After the procedure

Expect some pain, swelling and bruising after the procedure. You may need to wait a few days before returning to work, and a few weeks before resuming your normal activities and exercise.

 

Dr Deepak Kalia can prescribe medication to help control the pain. You may also need to wear tight compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for a few weeks. Dr Kalia may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. During this time, expect some contour irregularities as the remaining fat settles into position.

 

Results

About four weeks after the procedure, when most of the swelling has subsided, the area in which fat was removed should look less bulky. Within six months, the area should have its new leaner, tighter appearance.

 

If you maintain your weight, results are usually permanent. However if you gain weight after a liposuction procedure, fat distribution may change. For example, if your abdomen and hips were the areas suctioned, your thighs or buttocks may become problem areas.