Liposuction is the procedure of removing fat that accumulates in specific areas of the body through vacuum suction using a thin cannula inserted through a small incision.
Is Liposuction a Risky Surgery?
There is risk in even the smallest medical intervention, even if it is very low. Is there a risk of a vehicle hitting you while walking on the sidewalk? Yes, there is. Should we then not walk on sidewalks? Of course not. What matters is performing surgery using current and reliable techniques and methods that minimize risks. With this approach, when appropriate techniques are applied with minimized risks, incredibly satisfying results are achieved safely.
Which Areas Can Liposuction be Applied to?
Technically, it can be applied to any area of the body that has fat cells. Liposuction can be applied to any area with excess fat accumulation and/or regional fat deposits. Regional fat deposits are stubborn accumulations that cannot be eliminated despite exercise and persistent diet programs. Regional fat deposits stubbornly persist despite all efforts. The only definitive and permanent way to get rid of these deposits is liposuction surgery. The areas commonly treated are the hips, under the chin, waist, abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, back, thighs and inner knees in women, and the belly, chest, under the chin and waist area in men.
For What Purpose is Liposuction Performed?
Liposuction is not performed for weight loss or losing weight, but for body contouring. The aim is to thin fatty areas to make them more compatible with other areas and to achieve harmony between regions.
How much Fat Can be Removed with Liposuction?
With liposuction, care should be taken not to remove more than 5-7% of the person’s body weight in fat at one time. When this limit is exceeded, disruptions in fat metabolism, fluid electrolyte balance, and blood levels may occur. If application to large areas is necessary, it can be repeated at 3-6 month intervals.
Are there other Limiting Factors in Liposuction?
One of the most important parameters for us in liposuction is the characteristics of the skin. As age increases, the skin loses its elasticity. When the fat under the skin is removed, the overlying skin becomes loose and more slack. Normally, thanks to the elastic structure of the skin, it should tighten, contract, and adapt to the new situation after surgery. In patients of advanced age where the skin has lost or is beginning to lose its flexibility and elasticity, post-operative adaptation may be difficult. For good results, the skin should be firm and tight. If there is loose skin structure that has lost its elasticity, a certain amount of fat can be removed, and then if necessary, it can be combined with other methods to achieve ideal results.
Can I get Rid of Excess in My Abdominal Area with Liposuction?
If the excess is below a certain level and the skin quality is good, you can certainly get rid of it. However, if the excess is above a certain level and/or the skin quality is not good, liposuction is performed but the skin sags and a worse appearance emerges. To get rid of this situation, an abdominoplasty surgery needs to be performed in addition to liposuction.
How is Liposuction Performed?
Liposuction is performed under local or general anesthesia depending on the size of the area to be treated. Special solutions that reduce bleeding, decrease post-operative pain, and facilitate the removal of fat cells are administered to the area where fat will be removed. Through an approximately 3mm incision, the area where fat will be removed is accessed with an instrument called a cannula. The fat is broken down with the help of the cannula and collected in special containers outside through a vacuum system attached to the back of the cannula. At the end of the surgery, the cannula entry points are closed with self-dissolving sutures. The surgery is completed by having the patient wear special corsets that encompass the liposuction area.
What Happens after Liposuction Surgery?
After surgery, you are usually discharged the same day or stay as a guest for at most one day. You will not have disturbing levels of pain, and if you do, your pain will subside with simple oral pain relievers. You can get up and walk around 1 hour after surgery. You can shower 3 days after surgery. Your dressing is also changed on the third day. You can return to your social life after 2 days. Depending on what type of work you do, you can return to work after 2-5 days. You need to wear your corset for 3-6 weeks depending on the area where liposuction was applied. Swelling definitely occurs in the early period, and bruising occurs to a large extent. Bruising disappears on its own in an average of 1-2 weeks. The resolution of early-period swelling takes 2-3 weeks. In the subsequent period, swelling gradually decreases and disappears over 3 months.
Do Depressions and Irregularities Occur After Liposuction?
Every procedure from the simplest intervention to the most difficult surgery has its own fundamental rules and conditions that must be followed. When an experienced surgeon adheres to these conditions, there is no question of seeing irregularities, depressions, or unevenness.
When Should I Have Liposuction Surgery?
You can have liposuction surgery 12 months a year, regardless of summer or winter. What I recommend to my patients is to have it during the most suitable time period when you have 3-5 days free and it will not put strain on your work and social life.
What Happens if I Gain Weight after Liposuction Surgery?
If weight gain occurs after surgery, fat accumulation occurs throughout the body, and the areas where liposuction was performed also receive their share. With the share it receives, an accumulation like the previous one is not expected to occur again. Fat cells in the body multiply until approximately 9-10 years of age and stop multiplying after that age. Therefore, after fat is removed with liposuction, there is no increase in fat cells again in these areas. As the body develops and grows or when weight is gained, the fat stores within the fat cells increase. When fat cells in an area are removed and reduced in number with liposuction, even if weight is gained, the gained weight is distributed throughout the body, and since the number of fat cells is reduced, there is no re-accumulation in that area like before. For this reason, the results obtained after liposuction surgery are permanent.
