What is it?
Liposculpture is an advanced aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, designed for body contouring. The process is used to enhance and contour problematic muscle fat from different body areas, that don’t show response to diet and exercise.
Liposculpture and Liposuction
These are two cosmetic techniques used interchangeably in the medical community with subtle differences. Liposuction also known as “lipo,” is designed to remove excess fat deposits from the body areas like hips, buttocks, abdomen, lower leg, and upper arm. Liposculpting is an advanced trend in aesthetic plastic surgery. It involves removing fat and reshaping the body, by adding removed fat to the desired right places in order to improve the overall body’s shape and contour.
Who is a Good Candidate?
The following guidelines are for people who would be best suited to undergo Liposculpture.
- Patients with good skin elasticity.
- Candidates who are young and have no sun damage.
- Liposculpture is also more suitable for non-smokers.
- Patients with a BMI less than, or close to, 30.
- Patients in their later life who have lost skin due to pregnancy.
Surgical Procedure
Liposculpting is not a weight loss mechanism; instead, it is used to enhance body contours and tighten up certain areas. Most plastic surgeons use the Tumescent technique of liposculpture, which limits blood loss and scarring. Steps for the procedure are as follow:
- First, a sterile numbing solution is injected to anesthetize the targeted area.
- A tiny incision is made to place a tube or cannula under the skin into the fat.
- A medical suction pump removes the fat by creating negative pressure.
- Fat is removed by suction. This removed fat can be used to plump up other areas like the breast and buttocks, referred to as lipofilling.
Types of Liposculpture
There are three types techniques used depending upon the treatment, and the amount of fat to be removed.
Targeted Areas of Liposculpture
Following are the most commonly targeted areas:
- Thighs
- Arms
- Love handles
- Back
- Abs
- Under the chin
How to Prepare
Specific and detailed information is required to prepare for liposculpture, this may include;
- A list of current medical conditions and previous history of diseases, allergies, and sensitivities is required before getting liposculpture.
- A list of medicines and supplements that the patient is currently taken should be provided to the medical physician or certified plastic surgeon.
- If a patient has blood clotting problems, high blood pressure, and/or smokes, these conditions must be taken into account by the referred surgeon.
- The patient is advised to avoid taking alcohol two weeks before and after liposculpture surgery.
- The patient is advised to quit smoking four weeks before and after surgery.
- Use of Aspirin, ibuprofen, herbs, and vitamins is contraindicated two weeks before surgery.
- It is advisable to drink an adequate amount of water before going into the procedure.
Risks & Side Effects of Liposculpture
Risks and complications associated with Liposculpture are infrequent, but if the patient is facing the following of the less common but serious side effects, it is recommended to consult a doctor;
- Reaction to anesthesia.
- Formation of seroma
- Changes in skin pigmentation
- Infection at the site of surgery
- Bleeding
- Scarring of skin above or below the treatment area
- Changes in skin sensation.
What to expect after Liposculpture?
The process of Liposculpture is different from liposuction. Liposculpting takes into account the overall body shape and dimensions. The patient should expect gradual changes with time and realize that it is not a weight-loss procedure. The following are the postoperative recommendations, care, and expectations;
- Light movements or walk is recommended to form blood clots or seromas.
- The patient should avoid strenuous exercises and activities two to three weeks after surgery.
- The patient is instructed to wear postoperative compression garments for four to six weeks to minimize the risk of swelling, pain, and seroma.
Liposculpture is challenging to perform practice, and it would take almost six months to get noticeable results. An artistic eye, masterly hands, and excellent surgical techniques are required to produce the most aesthetic results. Very few doctors in the world have the necessary skill and experience to perform a highly successful liposculpture procedure so make sure to check the work of your surgeon. More info on liposculpture and prices.
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