LIPOSCULPTURE / LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction, also known as Lipoplasty or Liposculpture, shapes and contours areas of the body in men and women by removing excess adipose tissue (fat) and, in some cases, relocating it to other areas, in order to improve the contour and proportions of the different aesthetic units of the human body.

The liposuction technique was introduced by Dr. Gerard Yves Illouz, a French plastic surgeon, in 1977, and year after year significant advances have been made in technology, technical aspects, and medical indications, making it possible today to obtain excellent results.

Currently, Liposuction or Liposculpture is established as a revolutionary Plastic Surgery procedure, statistically considered the most performed in the world.

Despite good health and good physical condition, some people develop localized fat deposits that cause irregular body contours. In these cases, the genetic component is important.

In some cases, patients with mild skin laxity can benefit from liposculpture due to the secondary effect of skin contraction. This must be carefully evaluated by the surgeon to determine whether the expected benefits will be achieved.

The goal of this procedure, after extracting the adipose tissue, is to achieve a harmonious and balanced body shape.

Surgical time is related to the number of areas to be treated and the amount of fat to be removed. It may take 1 to 4 hours.

Surgical Technique

There are different liposuction surgical techniques, but all are based on the same principle. Some of these techniques use a process of fat destruction or liquefaction prior to extraction.

The surgical approach is made with one-centimeter skin incisions placed in skin folds, making them discreet.

Infiltration with certain physiological preparations into the body areas, prior to fat extraction, is important to reduce bleeding and minimize post-surgical inflammation.

In the last 20 years, technological advances have improved results and patient recovery processes. There are conventional suction devices, ultrasound devices, vibration, oscillation, and laser devices — each with different mechanisms of action and very precise indications for use.

This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis or may require hospitalization. This depends on surgical time and the amount of fat extracted.

Pre-Surgical Examinations

Complete blood count, PT, PTT, platelets, creatinine, blood glucose, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and other cardiovascular tests when pre-surgical evaluation deems them necessary.

Post-Operative Care

Early mobilization to reduce certain risks.

Use of antibiotics and analgesics.

Compression garments or bandages for 4 to 6 weeks.

Post-surgical therapies such as external ultrasound, local heat, and radiofrequency during the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.

Recovery

Work and social activities restricted for 5 to 7 days.

Sports activities restricted for 2 to 3 weeks.

It is important to note that recovery time involves factors such as the patient's personality, pain threshold, skin type, and physical constitution, among others.

The final result of liposculpture can be observed between 2 and 6 months.

Complications

It is important that patients inform their Plastic Surgeon of their medical or surgical history; the use of medications such as contraceptives, aspirin, hormonal supplements, vitamins, or natural products; their diseases (cardiovascular, digestive, recent infectious processes, endocrine disorders, etc.); their allergies; and the frequency and amount of alcohol or cigarette consumption.

All of this can alter results or increase the risk of complications.

Liposuction or Liposculpture is a safe surgical technique, provided it is performed in a well-equipped operating room by a certified Plastic Surgeon. However, even under these conditions and recognizing that we are operating on patients in perfect health with no significant medical or surgical history, risks exist.

Complications in this procedure are almost always associated with prolonged surgical times, extraction of large amounts of fat, and the combination or multiplicity of procedures.

Although uncommon, I am obligated to list the complications:

1. Infections.
2. Poor scarring.
3. Hematomas / seromas.
4. Fibrosis and irregularities.
5. Asymmetries.
6. Skin pigmentation changes.
7. Reabsorption of injected fatty tissue.
8. Risks inherent to the anesthetic procedure.
9. Deep vein thrombosis.
10. Pulmonary thromboembolism.
11. Fat embolism.