liposuction: All you Need to Know (Methods, Procedures, Costs, Risks, FAQs)

liposuction (Suction Lipectomy): Reduction and removal of excessive fat in the problem areas of the body in order to harmonize the body proportions (Body Contouring, Body Liposculpture) and in order to achieve an optically balanced body profile. The modeling of the body silhouette is commonly called Liposculpture.

Methods and procedures   

Classical Liposuction: 

Using small incisions, which are positioned as much as possible in inconspicuous places, the surgeon inserts the thin cannulas under the skin and removes the excess fat tissue. In certain cases the surgeon can perform liposuction of several areas during the same surgery. Not all patients are suitable candidates for combined liposuctions, however.

Power Assisted Lipoplasty: 

(Power Cannula): This advanced method works similar to the Ultrasonic Liposuction. Fine vibrations of a frequency of 100 hertz are emitted by the cannula.

Fine Cannula Liposuction: 

With this method the specialist uses a smaller cannula than the one used with the usual liposuction, and so it is more gentle and precise. It enables the specialists to work slowly and smoothly to carefully reach even very sensitive areas and achieve exact results. It also reduces the risk of post-operative skin irregularities. This method is especially suitable for removing medium and smaller amounts of fat tissue. It is suitable for all areas of the body as well as for Body Liposculpture.  

Micro-Cannula Liposuction: 

The specialist uses the smallest existing micro-cannula to remove the fat tissue. This method is ideal for leg sculpturing; the surgeon is able to remove the thin fat layer on ankles, knees, calves and inner thighs.  This method is also used for sculpting the chin and upper arms.

Tumescent Liposuction: 

This is the version of fat removal with local tumescent anesthesia. The tumescent liquid contains a local anesthetic solution (local anesthesia) and other medicines. This special liquid is infused into the fatty tissue deposits about one hour before the actual liposuction begins. During one session of Tumescent Liposuction up to approximately 2 liters can be removed, depending upon the area. The double effect: the concerned area is anaesthetized, and the infused liquid resolves the fatty tissue in such a way that the removal process becomes facilitated. Doctors are debating about the possible stress to the body due to the relatively large quantity of liquids injected into the body by this method.

Ultrasonic Liposuction: 

Using this version the fat is dissolved during the actual liposuction process by means of the ultrasonic effect. Since the ultrasonic waves loosen only the fatty tissue, the surrounding tissues remain completely safe. The risks of post-operative skin unevenness and of postoperative hematoma and bruising are reduced.

External Ultrasonic Liposuction: 

The External Ultrasonic Liposuction represents a technological advancement of the classical Ultrasonic Liposuction. The fat is removed through an external probe that emits ultrasound waves from the outside, in a non-invasive way.

Laser Assisted Liposuction: 

The Laser assisted liposuction belongs to the latest developments on the field of liposuction & liposculpture. The fat is pre-solved from outside using an external laser even before the suction process begins. The laser has a double effect: 1st: pre-solution of the fat on a non-invasive way with a respective easy suction process. 2nd: rejuvenation effect on the skin tissue through the stimulation of the the skin complexion and the natural skin own collagen production, which leads to an even more tight skin and therefore to an even more smooth final result in 4-6 months after the treatment, when the healing is completed.

Abdominal Etching: 

With the abdominal etching the experienced specialist removes remaining fat deposits on the abdomen over several 1-2mm small micro-incisions, using a special device, the micro-cannula. This fine-sculpturing procedure best suits the sporty person with remaining exercise-resistant fat deposits on the abdomen, and leads to a often desirable improved profile of  the abdominal muscles.

Hydroliposculpture: 

Hydroliposculpture is a term to describe the technique of using extra thin cannulas with small tumescent injection (microinjections) and moving in a specific manner to dissolve the fatty  tissue layers softly and gently during the suction process. The hydroliposculture can be applied with the fine cannula method as with Ultrasound or with the Power Assisted Lipoplasty and is today normally applied by every good plastic surgeon.
   

 Anesthesia 

Only small Liposuction procedures as around the knee or chin can be carried out under local anesthesia. Generally all medium and large sized procedures are performed under general anesthesia. In the Tumescent Liposuction procedure, the special tumescent solution itself contains the local anesthesia.  Read more on our special page over Anesthesia.

 Hospital stay 

Minimal liposuction, if carried out under local anesthesia, takes place as day surgery. The patient leaves the hospital the same day. If there is removal of medium or larger fat quantities under general anesthesia, an overnight stay in the hospital is required.     

Recovery

Swelling and bruising over the next 2-4 weeks. Compressive garments (mostly elastic pants) for 3-5 weeks.   

Longevity

Permanent 

Frequently asked questions about Liposuction

Are there some prerequisites for having liposuction ( Suction Lipectomy )?  

In principle everyone with a healthy heart and without a serious illness can have liposuction. The best results can be achieved for patients who are more or less at their ideal weight and who want to reduce diet-resistant areas of fat. The most problematic areas for women are: legs, thighs, the, abdominal region, hips and buttocks. For men: Abdominal region and hips.

How large and visible are the suture lines ?  

Usually the incisions are not larger than 4-6mm. Thanks to their careful positioning, in time the suture lines will be practically invisible.

Does Liposuction require a general anesthesia ?  

Small procedures such as at the knee or the chin can be carried out under local anesthesia. Medium and larger sized procedures are carried out almost exclusively under general anesthesia.

How much fat can be removed during one session ?  

The quantities of fat that can be removed vary greatly in each individual case, depending on such factors as the physical condition of the person and the area to be liposuctioned. Using special precautionary measures it is possible to remove a maximum of more than 5 liters of fat in a session. A small to medium liposuction lies within the range of .5 and 3 liters. On knees, calves, ankles and arms, the volumes are much lower. Generally there it is a matter of a few tenths of a liter to be removed.

How good can the aesthetic results of a liposuction be ?  

Liposuction brings permanent and generally very positive aesthetic results. Even with older patients usually no subsequent skin lift is necessary. Within 6-12 months after surgery the skin usually had a beautiful, smooth appearance.

Is Tumescent liposuction safer than “classical” liposuction ?

The Tumescent method of Liposuction enables the surgeon to remove a larger quantity of fat without the use of general anesthesia, which always means a certain stress for the heart. The large quantity of the infusion liquid (Tumescent), however, represents a similar stress for the patient’s heart.

Is it possible to execute more than one Liposuction at the body ?

Under certain conditions and after waiting a reasonable amount of time between procedures, it’s possible to perform several liposuctions on the same patient.   

Is there any thrombosis risk ?

The risk of thrombosis can never be completely excluded, with any operation, although it’s quite normal that in the modern plastic surgery the antithrombotic prevention treatment is done during the surgery, especially with the more extensive operations.

What occurs immediately after surgery ?

Right after the surgery the patient receives a compressive dressing around the treated areas. After abdominal Liposuction and all the areas below it (hips, thigh etc…), the compressive dressing will be replaced after one night by a particularly flexible support garment. In order to prevent or smooth irregular surfaces, daily massages on the treated areas during the first several weeks is recommended.

Can the fat in the treated areas accumulate again post-operatively ?  

Fat cells, once removed, do not grow back. However. liposuction does of course not protect against an increase in body weight. The remaining fat can become larger as a result of weight gain, although after Liposuction any new accumulation of fat will be much more balanced on the entire body than before. Liposuction is also ideal for sculpting of the body and harmonizing body proportions. It is not an alternative to a diet nor should it be used primarily for weight loss.

What means ‘Laser ‘Liposuction’ – Smartlipo ?

This procedure is often confused with a real liposuction procedure, but represents more an addition to than a substitution for liposuction. It can be helpful to eventually finalize after a liposuction treatment. This method uses basically the same procedure as the External Ultrasound Liposuction. In both cases the fat is pre-dissolved -with Laser or Ultrasound waves- using an external probe. With the External Ultrasound Liposuction the so pre-solved fat is removed by suction. With the Smartlipo the so pre-solved fat is left inside the body to be absorbed by the organism itself.

According to recent scientific studies pre-solved fat cells left inside the body can be infiltrated into the blood circulation. This can represent a considerable risk to the patients safety. So, only very small quantities can be dissolved and absorbed by the organism without excessive risks for the patient. In contrary to the real liposuction procedure a Smartlipo treatment does not stimulate the natural collagen production of the skin, which is helpful for the perfect smooth final outcome. For a good visible result several sessions can be required, while the result may still not be that good and efficient as with a modern liposuction procedure.

What is ‘Injection Lipolysis’ ?

 Similar to the “smartlipo” also Injection Lipolysis may not be confused with a real liposuction procedure. The effect and the efficiency of those treatments can not be compared with the effect and efficiency of a liposuction treatment which today can mostly also be performed in local anesthesia.

How Injection Lipolysis works: A special fat-dissolving fluid is injected into the area to be treated. The so dissolved fat cells are absorbed by the organism. Only very small changes can be achieved on this way. The results are hardly predictable, according to the doctors community with neutral experiences patients quite often complain that the treatment results are not recognizable.

liposuction Surgery Costs in Dubai?

The Society of Plastic Surgeons quoted the national average for liposuction Surgery Cost was between 24,000 and 28,000 AED for (Whole Body) and (Trunk/Limb/Face) between 12,000 and 16,000 AED.

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