Liposuction (or lipo-sculpting) can correct imperfections caused by deposits of fat, which makes the body profile unharmonious. Today thousands of men and women in our country undergo liposuction procedure in order to significantly improve the appearance of their bodies. Liposuction is a surgical technique for the removal of unwanted deposits of adipose cells (fat) from the body. Liposculpture is a synonym for body profile surgery and should not be considered as a treatment for obesity. A thin pipet connected to a syringe is inserted through a small incision in the skin; an aspiration is then performed, by means of which fat cells (adipose cells) are removed. The result is a remodeling of the body profile. In the majority of cases, the liposuction procedure can be done with local anesthesia in a walk-in clinic and the patient is released on the same day. A light bandage should be worn for a few days and the patient can resume work the next day.
Which areas of the body can be treated with liposuction?
The most frequently treated areas of the body are:
- thighs
- knees
- sides (love handles)
- abdomen
- breast
- area under the chin (double chin)
Who are the best candidates for liposuction?
The best candidates for liposuction are:
- patients in a good state of health with skin that is solid and elastic
- patients, who have tried without success to eliminate fat deposits with diet and physical exercise
- patient with local deposits which cause a misshapen body profile
- patients with realistic expectations, who are only moderately overweight
- patients, who understand that liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy diet
Are the results of liposuction permanent?
Yes, the result of lipo-sculpting is permanent! It has been demonstrated that after puberty our body no longer produces adipose cells. When we gain weight, the cells increase in volume, but not in number. Liposculpting permanently removes adipocytes (adipose cells) and improves the body profile.
Modern liposculpture should be considered as a completely different procedure from the previous liposuction. Liposculpting is a much more delicate procedure. First of all, it begins with the administration of an anesthetic using a very, very thin tube: this tube is equipped with many small holes that allow the dispersal of the liquid anesthetic so to anesthetize the whole area to be treated. The liquid anesthetic not only anesthetizes the area but also softens the tissue to be aspirated.
One of the most advanced techniques of lipo-sculpting is vibro-assisted, whereby a slight vibration of the small tube aids the surgeon during the aspiration phase. For this reason the procedure is much more delicate and can be more precise and better aimed. Liposculpting, by directly aspirating the adipocyte, is the only treatment and procedure today that guarantees the complete and stable removal of adipose tissue. The procedure should be performed by a surgeon, who is an expert in the surgical field, but it can be safely performed with local anesthesia in the clinical setting of day hospital. Usually, work activities can be resumed after only a few days and the result is already visible after a few weeks and remains stable over time.
Liposculpting in brief
Superficial liposculpting is the fruit of an evolution, which has been occuring from the middle of the 1970s until today, passing from a simple procedure to a more modern operation. Liposculpting has greatly reduced the risks associated with this procedure, reducing the traumas of the operation, allowing a more rapid recovery and diminishing the swelling and the scars as well. The procedure consists of an aspiration that begins from the more superficial strata, which not only allows great accuracy in remodelling, but, above all, reduces the invasiveness thus lowering the risks of surgery.
Liposuction is more than 25 years old
2014 marked liposuction’s 25th year: classified in 1989 as a system for aesthetical redefinition of the contours of the body by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today liposuction is plastic surgery’s most widely practiced procedure, but also probably its most controversial. In these years the technique has changed, undergoing transformations and improvements, making the very fat that is removed aesthetically useful.
Many things have changed since the aspiration of excessive fat began: there have been improvements in medical knowledge and technologies that have increased the safety of the liposuction procedure. Recent years have witnessed a revaluation of excess fat: from something ugly to be removed at all costs, it has been turned into another tool for rejuvenating the face, thanks to lipofilling and the stem cells contained in adipose tissue. Excessive fat is used in facelifting procedures to restore lost volume: wrinkles and a tired appearance are caused by loss of fat and for this reason it is useless to merely stretch the skin.
Stem cells are the final frontier: thanks to a new technique, these precious cells contained in excess fat can be maintained intact. The introduction of stem cells regenerates the skin, making it more beautiful and alive, especially after summer, when the epidermis is stressed by prolonged exsposure to the sun. When deciding to undergo liposuction, it is important to be clear about certain aspects. This procedure is not a solution to all problems: a qualified plastic surgeon must be selected, his references verified, and information about the clinical settings and stuctures within which he operates should be obtained to increase both the safety and the satisfaction of the patient.