Tag: liposuction

Liposuction is a surgery which is designed to help trim and slim a patient’s figure.  It does this by removing excess fat from problematic fatty areas on the patient’s body.  This surgery is performed in our state of the art clinic in Edmonton and it is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries of all time.

What to Expect

 

On the day of a liposuction, the patient will drive to see our liposuction specialist at the Rao Dermatology clinic where the surgery will be performed.  Upon arriving, the patient will be prepped by the surgeon and the surgical staff.  The surgeon may use a marker to draw lines on the patient’s body.  These lines will serve as guidelines during the surgery.

 

Our specialist may take a moment to review the surgery with the patient.  However, all of the important decisions regarding the surgery will have been made long before this moment.  Typically, a patient and surgeon will agree on exactly which areas of the patient’s body will be operated on and how much fat will be removed before the surgical date is even scheduled.

 

Once everything is ready, the patient will be anesthetized.  Depending on the preferences of our specialist and the patient, general or local anesthesia may be used, although local anesthesia is more common.  If the patient is feeling nervous, some sort of anti-anxiety medication or sedation can also be used.  Once the patient has been fully anesthetized, the surgery can begin.

 

The surgeon will begin by making small incisions around the area or areas where he or she will be operating.  Typically, a liposuction will only treat a small number of areas at a time.  Treating too many areas at once can make the surgery much more dangerous, and it can decrease a patient’s chances for aesthetically pleasing results.

 

When the incisions have been made, the doctor will slide a long, thin instrument called a cannula into the incisions.  A cannula is essentially a hollow needle which has been hooked up to some sort of suction device.  The cannula will be the surgeon’s way of both breaking up and removing the fat from the body.  As the surgeon moves the cannula back and forth, it disrupts the fat and suctions it away.

 

Liposuction surgeons must be careful to take just the right amount of fat.  Removing too little will not yield a significantly improved appearance.  Removing too much could cause unappealing dimpling.  The surgeon must also be careful not to allow the cannula to move out of the fatty tissue and into the rest of the body, as this could cause serious injury to the patient.

 

Once the surgeon has removed the optimal fat, the liposuction is all but over.  Typically, the surgeon will not close the incisions.  Leaving the incisions open helps to encourage drainage after the surgery, which will help to speed up the healing process.  At this point, the patient is typically moved to an observation area and allowed to recover from the anesthesia.  Once the patient is feeling well enough, he or she can be driven home.

 

The patient should try to rest and relax as much as possible for the first day or two after a liposuction.  Pain will most likely peak somewhere around 24 hours after the surgery, and it should gradually decrease from that point on.  Most patients are able to return to a sedentary job within just a few days after their surgery.

 

At Rao Dermatology our skilled surgeons will make sure you are clear on all these points and more before deciding to choose this procedure. If you have any questions please call our expert team and set up your consultation.

Liposuction is perhaps the most common cosmetic surgical procedure on a global level. And while many people rely on it for body contouring further research has focused on the functional and therapeutic advantages of the surgery. As a general background, entails the aspiration of adipose cells through small incisions. “The procedure preserves neurovascular structures while maintaining fluid balance and minimizing patient discomfort”.  In evaluation of a 2015 research published in Annals of Plastic Surgery, we will look at some of the more functional and therapeutic outcomes of liposuction.

Obesity and Lower Limb Arthritis

Dr. Bishara Atiyeh Et. Al., point out in the above noted article, that while liposuction is not recommended for obese patients, on the other hand, there are instances where liposuction serves as functional relief of “incapacitating symptoms”. Due to the risk that obesity poses for osteoarthritis and tears that derive from joint loading or infrequent physical activity, liposuction can inhibit these potential risk factors. Liposuction functions as a weight loss tool where losing weight is beneficial for improving overall health, quality of living and reduced risk of symptomatic lower limb osteoarthritis. According to Dr. Atiyeh, “acute weight loss of 10% of body weight by liposuction in an obese dog with severe bilateral hip osteoarthritis has resulted in rapid improvement of symptoms postoperatively”.

 Lipoma

Lipoma is a growth of fat cells in a thin, fibrous capsule commonly found below the skin in areas such as the neck, upper thighs, torso and armpits. They are noncancerous soft tissue growth and can vary in size ranging from small lesions to large tumors.  While the lesions are usually removed for cosmetic reasons, there are instances in which liposuction has been described in the treatment of some forms of noninfiltrating angiolipomas. Additionally, Dr. Atiyeh explains that reports have shown that deflation and shrinkage of relatively large adrenal myelolipomas with retroperitoneal laparoscopic liposuction can make laparoscopic en bloc tumor resection safer and easier without affecting its pathological diagnosis.

While liposuction continuously thrives as a cosmetic surgical procedure, research is transforming the way in which surgeons and patients are thinking about the procedure. As the two scenarios above suggest, liposuction is becoming more and more life changing from a risk prevention perspective.

Liposuction is a reliable procedure for individuals struggling with unwanted fat and problem areas that they have tirelessly been insecure about.  In fact, it has easily become one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures among women. Following surgery, the primary concern for patients’ is whether or not the fat will come back.  This question is certainly warranted. When you’ve invested in a procedure you want to ensure that the results have longevity.

A research conducted at the University of Colorado tackled the same question focusing their research primarily on two main hypotheses: whether fat returned after it was removed and if it did, when it would materialize. Using a sample size of 32 non-obese healthy females, the researchers randomly assigned them to one of two groups, namely, women who underwent “small-volume liposuction” and a control group who didn’t have liposuction at all. The subjects were weighed and measured prior to surgery, 6 weeks post-op, 6 months post-op, and finally one year after surgery. The results revealed that after 6 weeks, body fat for liposuction patients decreased 2% and only 0.28% in the control group. At six and 12 months however, the fat reappeared in the abdominal area (but not in the thighs) and the two groups were closer together than at the six-week mark.

One of the doctors explains the finding by suggesting that the if you try and lose weight the body will try and defend that by gaining it back. Although the women who had surgery in the study were happy with the results despite fat returning, this study shows what doctors perhaps warn patients about prior to surgery, namely, that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. If you want to see results and promote healthy living, it is necessary to exercise and make healthy diet choices so that your body and work in conjunction with surgery.

In conclusion, fat may return following liposuction, but if you want your body to defend against it, you must engage in an active lifestyle that combines daily exercise, a balanced and healthy diet, rest and consistency.

Liposuction or liposculpting is currently one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in North America. As a procedure that combats and vacuums unwanted fat from various parts of the body, it is unsurprising that this surgery has been so successful. At Rao Dermatology, we offer our patients the opportunity to benefit from tumescent liposculpture, removing excess fat through small incisions and a cannula. Requiring a mild anesthesia or general sedation, we help you achieve the body you desire so you can feel like a work of art and be confident in your skin.

Liposculpting is usually met with reservation, but that stigma is quickly eroding. The procedure is safe and effective and our clients particularly enjoy the fact that the skin maintains its plasticity rapidly as a result of the cannulas used in the procedure. Although liposculpting is primarily used to enhance your physical appearance by focusing on one particular area at time, the procedure is beneficial for other health issues.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema, a medical condition that causes excess fluid and swelling, primarily in the arms and legs, is treated with liposuction. When lymph drainage does not occur regularly, fluid builds up in the arms and legs. In rare instances, lymphedema occurs as early as birth. In severe cases of lymphedema, doctors use liposuction to reduce the swelling from the excess fluid. For patients with this medical condition, the severity of the procedure results in wearing a compression bandage for several months.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the enlargement of male breasts. “It is defined clinically by the presence of a rubbery or firm mass extending concentrically from the nipples.” Generally there is no set treatment for Gynecomastia. Patients are usually checked and evaluated regularly by a doctor. However, in some instances, liposuction is used to reduce the benign enlargement.

Extreme weight loss

In instances of extreme weight loss, perhaps by a gastric bypass procedure, liposuction is used to eliminate any abnormalities that developed following surgery.

The use of liposuction in chronic and severe medical treatment is telling of its effectiveness. You may not suffer from any of the severe medical conditions above, but if you’ve like to sculpt your body into one you love, give it a try. If you’d like more information, call our office and book your appointment today.