Liposuction (Breast)
Overview | FAQ | Photo Gallery
- How does the SMART Lipo compare to traditional suction assisted liposuction?
- What happens to the fat during liposuction?
- Following liposuction does the fat go somewhere else?
- Do wearing compression garments improve cosmetic results following liposuction?
- Is liposuction safe?
- What is tumescent solution?
- What is micro-etching liposculpture?
- What areas can be liposucitoned?
- Are there any areas that should not be liposuctioned?
How does the SMART Lipo compare to traditional suction assisted liposuction?
SMART liposuction results in inferior aesthetic results when compared to suction assisted liposuction. SMART liposuction utilizes minimally invasive technique utilizing laser technology combined with fat dissolving injections in an attempt to dissolve excess fat. Unfortunately, current technology of SMART liposuction does not allow for accurate and controlled removal of fat. As a result, patients often present to plastic surgeons complaining of contour abnormalities demonstrating areas of under and over correction, pitting, and cellulite appearance. In contrast, traditional suction assisted liposuction provides controlled removal of fat resulting in smooth contour lines.
What happens to the fat during liposuction?
Liposuction utilizes small caliber cannulas to remove excess fat from areas of disproportionately localized fat depots. When patients undergo liposuction, they will be reducing the number of fat cells that were present in the area being liposuctioned. This results in overall improvement of aesthetic contour, as there will be fewer fat cells in the area of concern. In fact, if patients gain weight following liposuction, they will not gain the weight in the area liposuctioned when compared to areas not liposuctioned. In contrast, if they continue to lose weight, they will lose less fat from areas liposuctioned when compared to areas not liposuctioned. This is because as a patient continues to burn fat, the volume will appear to be lost proportionally from areas with increased fat cells when compared to areas with less fat cell density (areas that have been liposuctioned).
Following liposuction does the fat go somewhere else?
Patients may complain of areas of fat build up in areas previously unnoticed following weight gain after liposuction. This is because if a patient gains weight following liposuction, the fat cells are proportionately increased in number in the areas not liposuctioned. Since the areas of liposuction now have fewer fat cells, these areas will gain less prominence when compared to areas that have not been liposuctioned.
Do wearing compression garments improve cosmetic results following liposuction?
Wearing of compression garments is critical to attaining a smooth and even result following liposuction. Following liposuction, a thin layer of fat cells is retained to provide a smooth and natural contour to areas liposuctioned. These retained fat cells are free floating and not yet settled into their final resting position. Wearing of compression garments assures even distribution of these fat cells until they become fixed in their final resting position. Compression garments are ideally worn for at least 2 weeks following surgery.
Much research has been recently performed regarding the safety of liposuction surgery. The concern with liposuction surrounds two issues and these include fluid volume shifts and Lidocaine Toxicity.
First, there is the potential to have large volume shifts in the body by virtue of the fact that a solution, referred to as tumescent solution, must be infused into your body prior to performing the liposuction. This fluid is intended to numb the areas being liposuctioned (by use of Lidocaine) and to constrict blood vessels in the area so there is minimal bleeding (by use of epinephrine). In order to avoid large volume shifts, which can affect the hemodynamics of your system and your cardiac function, liposuction removal volumes should equal the tumescent solution infusion volumes. With meticulous monitoring of infusion and aspiration volumes, volume shift complications can be avoided. Finally, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has determined that the safe limit for outpatient liposuction cases is set at an infusion volume of less than 3 L.
Second, Lidocaine toxicity and specifically its breakdown products (metabolites) have been identified as a second area of concern. Although lidocaine is broken down within a few hours, its byproducts which also can alter your cardiac function, peak in your blood at 12 hours following surgery. Unfortunately, 12 hours following surgery, patients are likely to be at home and sleeping. As such, infusion volume of less than 3 L has been determined to be a safe volume avoiding unsafe build up of Lidocaine bi-products within the blood stream.
To ensure safety, patients are urged to have liposuction performed by board certified plastic surgeons who posses the training and experience to complete your liposuction surgery in a safe and effective manner.
Tumescent solution is the solution that is infused into areas being treated prior to liposuction. Tumescent solution includes: 1 L lactated ringers, 50 ml of 1 % Lidocaine with epinephrine, and 20ml of 8.4% Bicarbonate solution. The lactated ringers solution is merely the vehicle to deliver the medications and is a solution that mimics human physiological solution. The Lidocaine in the solution allows for numbing of the area prior to aspirating the fat with small caliber cannulas. The epinephrine in the solution allows the vessels in the area being liposuctioned to be constricted thus minimizing bleeding. The Bicarbonate solution allows for the Lidocaine to work almost instantaneously.
What is micro-etching liposculpture?
Micro-etching liposculpture refers to liposuction that is performed with small caliber cannulas as small as 2 mm in diameter, which allow the surgeon to liposuction areas of concern with greater finesse. Micro-etching allows for accurate removal of fat in areas with minimal fattiness, which may be bothering patients. Examples of areas that can be micro-liposculptured include the neck, jowls, and abdominal area in patients trying to get a six-pack. Micro-etching can also be used for revision of previous liposuctioned areas that have develped contour abnormalities.
What areas can be liposuctioned?
Many areas may be liposuctioned in order to achieve aesthetically improved contour lines. These include: the neck, jowls, upper arms, arm pit/lateral breasts region, breasts, entire abdomen, flanks, entire back, lateral thighs, medial thighs, and medial knees.
Are there any areas that should not be liposuctioned?
Several areas should not be liposuctioned, as aspiration of fat from these areas will result in dimpling of the overlying skin resulting in a cellulite look. These areas are prone to pitting since the skin is firmly attached to the underlying muscle and when the fat is removed, theses attachments result in the pulling in of the skin. Areas that are considered a contra-indication for liposuction include the area of the lateral buttocks between the flanks and lateral thighs, the anterior and posterior thighs, the inferior buttocks crease, and ankles.
