Description

Liposuction

Overview

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that allows you to
get rid of fat that resist diet and exercise. The procedure may be combined
with other plastic surgery procedures, including face lift.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure and is basically
not a weight loss method, even if the result is weight loss. Liposuction allows
not only removal of abnormal regional fat accumulation, but also recontouring
the body part, where excess fat is suctioned.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that involves
risks. Therefore, you overall health should be good before proceeding to a
liposuction. It is important that you have ideal body weight, healthy and
elastic skin and do not smoke.

Liposuction is not recommended for people with blood
circulation disorder, heart disease, diabetes mellitus or weak immune system.

If you want to have liposuction, please consult our
plastic surgeons for techniques, expectations, and potential risks.

Why is liposuction procedure done?

Liposuction aims removal of excess fat accumulation
and recontouring in a particular body part in persons with otherwise healthy
body weight. Therefore, liposuction should not be regarded as a weight loss
method.

Accordingly, the objective should be thinning body
parts, where fat accumulates despite diet and exercise.

Liposuction is a body part specific operation, such as
abdomen, hips, thighs, legs, arms and neck.

Liposuction is contraindicated in persons with heart
disease, blood circulation disorder and chronic diseases, such as diabetes
mellitus and hypertension, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. In
addition, your plastic surgeon will make extra tests and investigations to
determine whether liposuction is an option for you or not.

Accordingly, it is very important that you clearly
inform your surgeon about your health history.

On the other hand, liposuction does not help skin
disorders. Moreover, it has no effect on weight gain and recurrent accumulation
of fat.

You should discuss aim of the liposuction with our
plastic surgeon in order to get most realistic and satisfactory outcomes.

Risks

Among the risks you may experience during liposuction
surgery are;

– Bleeding

– Anesthesia-related complications

– Hematoma and seroma

– Infections

– Fat embolism

– Irregular contours

– Numbness of skin

– Injury of nerves, blood vessels, muscles and nearby organs

– Formation of blood clots

Our expert surgery team will employ all practices to
minimize the risk of complications and our plastic surgeons will preoperatively
inform you about risks listed above and all other potential complications and
will address all your concerns.

Preparation

The first phase of preoperative preparation is same in
all Medicana Hospitals.

After you decide to have a liposuction surgery and
discuss with our plastic surgeons, following examinations are performed to
decide whether you can undergo this surgery:

• Review of health history
• A detailed physical examination
• Necessary laboratory tests and radiology studies
• Assessment by anesthesiologist and other
  laboratory tests and radiology studies to minimize anesthesia-related
  complications

The first step in liposuction is talking tothe plastic
surgeon. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss your expectations, options,
risks and all other details that are related to the liposuction surgery.

If you decide to undergo liposuction surgery, your
plastic surgeon will inform you about the preoperative preparations.
Pre-operative preparation is extremely important, and diet and alcohol
restrictions are the case.

After it is verified that the surgery does not pose
risk, you will be asked to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and to stop
taking certain medications that increase risk of bleeding. Your allergies, if
any, and prescribed and over-the-counter medications, herbal products and
supplements will also be questioned and you will be informed to continue or
stop taking them.

You will also be instructed to stop eating and
drinking at a particular time before the surgery and you should strictly follow
this instruction in order to undergo the surgery at the scheduled date.

Moreover, it is reasonable to plan discharge,
post-discharge accommodation and travel at this phase in order to manage
postoperative period better.

Surgery and early postoperative period

You can go home in the same day after liposuction.
However, it is recommended that you have a companion with you after the operation.
You may be asked to stay at the hospital if too much fat is removed in the
liposuction.

The intended site will be marked and before and after
photos will be taken to make comparisons.

Although liposuction is performed under general
anesthesia, local or regional anesthesia can be considered for minor
procedures.

Different techniques can be used for liposuction
surgery. However, the common point of all is the use of a thin tube, called a
vacuum-linked cannula, to absorb fat from your body.

Tumescent liposuction is the most common technique.
Your surgeon injects a solution that contains sterile saline, lidocaine and
epinephrine into the area where the fat will be suctioned. This technique is
accompanied by less bleeding, mild pain and ease of suction.

In the ultrasound-assisted liposuction technique,
sound wave energy is used to break up (emulsify) the cellular walls of the fat
under your skin. In this technique, the solid fat is liquefied.

Laser assisted liposuction uses laser energy to
liquefy the fat. The liquefied fat is suctioned using the cannula.

You may feel pain and recognize swelling in the area,
where fat is suction, after the surgery. Or, you may even notice bruising in
skin of the region. These are expected symptoms that will spontaneously disappear
within several weeks.

Although you will feel minimal pain, your plastic
surgeon will prescribe pain killer pills to manage the pain. Moreover,
antibiotic can be prescribed to avoid a potential infection.

You may be asked to apply compression bandage or wear
tight garments, such as corset, depending on the body part, where liposuction
surgery is performed. Here, the aim is to reduce swelling and provide support
to the new contour of the region.

Your plastic surgeon will inform you whether you need
to be observed or you should stay in hospital.

After you recover from anesthesia and you are ready to
walk, you will be mobilized by or under supervision of our healthcare
professionals.

Before you are discharged, your plastic surgeon or
another healthcare professional will inform you about the time interval that
you should rest and the time that you can start non-strenuous exercises.
Although routine daily life activities are allowed, your doctor will instruct
you to avoid strenuous works for a particular time.

It is substantially important to follow those
instructions to facilitate recovery period and get best outcome from the
surgery. Therefore, please ask all your questions to your plastic surgeon
before you leave the hospital.

You should visit your plastic surgeon for follow-up
visits that are scheduled before you are discharged.

If you experience warmth and redness in your incision
line or the surgical site, or if you have a fever or any symptoms that you
think are due to surgery after you are discharged, contact your plastic surgeon
immediately.

Results

Liposuction permanently removes fat cells. However, the risk of weight
gain cannot be eliminated, as new fat cells will grow. You will need a healthy
diet that contains fat-free foods, fruits, vegetables and wheat in order to
protect your new contours after the surgery. Regular exercise is also very
important.