Liposuction

Introduction to Liposuction (Tumescent and Ultrasonic-Assisted)

iposuction is a procedure that safely removes stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Common areas that benefit from liposuction are the chin, neck, jowls, upper arms, abdomen, buttocks, hips, knees, and thighs. The two most common liposuction techniques are tumescent and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction.

Using the tumescent technique, fat cells are infused with a solution containing saline and adrenaline prior to suctioning. This solution provides a more gentle removal of the fat and reduces post-operative bruising and swelling. In ultrasonic-assisted, or UAL, ultrasound energy liquefies the fat before it is removed by suction. UAL is ideal for removing large volumes of fat, for fibrous body areas, and for areas where skin tone is less elastic.

Best Candidates for Liposuction

Liposuction is ideal for normal to slightly overweight men and women, 20’s to 50’s, who have a sensible diet and exercise regimen but still have persistent fat accumulations in specific areas. Since liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, it is not recommended for obese or greatly overweight individuals. It should also be noted that liposuction does not improve or correct the appearance of cellulite (dimpled or rippled areas of fat).

What to Expect at Your Consultation

At your initial consultation, Dr. James Matas will discuss your goals and motivations for having liposuction, along with assessing your physical and emotional health and reviewing information you provide about previous surgeries, past and current medical conditions, as well as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and pharmaceutical medications you take.

He will examine each area, assessing the quantity of fat to be removed, the density or type of fat and skin tone. He will recommend tumescent liposuction, ultrasonic-assisted liposuction or a combination of the two techniques. He will explain factors that may affect outcome, along with the risks and benefits of the procedure.

He may require you to take certain steps before surgery, including guidelines on eating, drinking, smoking and taking certain medications and vitamins. He may also ask you to lose weight before the procedure is performed in order to obtain best results.

How Liposuction is Performed

Before surgery, Dr. Matas uses a surgical marking pen to draw a diagram of the areas to be treated and those to be avoided. Small incisions (less than ½”) are made near the areas to be suctioned. When possible, these incisions are placed in discreet locations so they won’t be easily seen.

An instrument known as a cannula is inserted into the fat, and this is connected through tubing into a suction pump. With the tumescent technique, the area is injected with a saline/epinephrine solution prior to beginning the suctioning process. Then, using a gentle back and forth motion, Dr. Matas guides the cannula through the underlying fat until the desired contour is achieved. With the ultrasonic technique, energy from sound waves is used to liquefy the fat prior to beginning the suctioning process.

Once the incisions are sutured, sheets of foam are applied over the treated areas and a compression garment applies a gentle pressure.

Surgery is performed outpatient under general anesthesia and takes 1-3 hours, depending on technique and number of areas treated.

Recovery from Liposuction

You will be discharged wearing a compression garment, and this will be worn for the first several weeks to create a gentle pressure over the areas treated. Although liposuction has some mild pain and discomfort, you may also experience burning, swelling, itching, bleeding, and temporary numbness.

You can expect to feel the most discomfort in the first day or two after surgery, and Dr. Matas will prescribe medication to relieve your discomfort. Within the first week, swelling will reach its peak and begin to subside. You may feel heavier at this time, since you will be retaining excess fluids.

Over several weeks, our licensed massage therapist will use a special massage technique to reduce your swelling and increase your mobility.

Your New Look

Soon after surgery you will see a noticeable difference in your body contour. However, it may take 6 weeks or longer before all the swelling subsides and you begin to fully enjoy your new shape. As long as you maintain your weight after surgery, your slimmer contour will be permanent. But, should you gain weight, you will find that it distributes more evenly and does not go to those same problem areas as before.