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LIPOSUCTION
"To sculpt the contour of your body requires the best surgical and artistic execution using state-of-the-art technology."
WHAT IS A LIPOSUCTION?
Liposuction is a concept that has evolved a lot in recent years, since in addition to removing fat and retracting the skin, the fat removed can be processed and auto-transplantation (lipograft) from one area to another of the patient and thus model the treated area to meet the needs. This is what is currently called "Liposculpture", being the most suitable technique with excellent results.
It is a surgical technique that tries to eliminate the accumulations of fat located in one or several zones of the body, by means of its extraction by aspiration. For this purpose, different incisions are made near the areas to be treated and, through aspiration cannulas, the fat is gradually removed, shaping the desired shape. It is not a slimming method, but an operation that reshapes the silhouette of the body, eliminating these fatty deposits.
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¿Por qué se realiza?
Liposuction is used to remove fat from areas of the body that have not responded to diet or exercise, such as the following:
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Abdomen
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Arms
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Buttocks
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Calves and ankles
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Chest and back
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Hips and thighs
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Neck
In addition, liposuction is sometimes used for breast reduction.
As you gain weight, fat cells increase in size and volume. Liposuction reduces the amount of fat cells in a specific area. The amount of fat removed depends on the appearance of the area and the volume of fat. The resulting silhouette changes are usually permanent, as long as your weight remains stable.
After liposuction, the skin is reshaped to the new contour of the treated areas. If you have good muscle tone and elasticity, your skin will likely maintain a smooth appearance. However, if your skin is thin with little elasticity, the skin in the treated areas may appear loose.
Liposuction does not improve sagging due to cellulite or other irregularities on the surface of the skin. Similarly, liposuction does not remove stretch marks.
Liposuction is not recommended for people who have conditions that could complicate surgery, such as the following:
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Restricted Blood Flow
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Coronary Artery Disease
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Diabetes
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Weak Immune System
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Risks
As with any major surgery, liposuction carries risks such as bleeding and reaction to anesthesia. Possible complications specific to liposuction include:
Abnormalities in the silhouette. Skin may appear lumpy, wavy, or weakened due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity, and unusual healing. These changes may be permanent. Damage under the skin from the thin tube (cannula) used during liposuction may give the skin a permanent stained appearance.
Accumulation of liquids. Temporary collections of fluids (seromas) may form under the skin. This fluid may need to be drained with a needle.
Numbness. You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the affected area. Temporary nerve irritation may also occur.
Infection. Skin infections are rare but likely. A serious skin infection could be life-threatening.
Internal puncture. It is unlikely that a cannula that penetrates too deeply can pierce an internal organ. This may require emergency surgical repair.
Fat embolism. Pieces of loose fat may break off and become trapped in a blood vessel and accumulate in the lungs or go to the brain. A fat embolism is a medical emergency.
Kidney and heart problems. Changes in fluid levels such as fluids that are injected and suctioned can cause life-threatening heart and kidney problems.
The risk of complications increases if the surgeon is working on larger areas of the body or doing multiple procedures during the same operation. Talk to your surgeon about how these risks apply to you.
How do you prepare?
Food and medicine
Before the procedure, talk to your surgeon about what to expect from the surgery. Review your medical history, list any medical conditions you have, and tell your surgeon about any medications, supplements, or herbal remedies you are taking.
Your surgeon will recommend that you stop taking certain medications, such as anticoagulants or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), at least two weeks before surgery.
Other precautions
If the procedure requires only a small amount of fat to be removed, the surgery may be performed in an office setting. If a large amount of fat needs to be removed (or if you plan to have other procedures at the same time), the surgery could take place in a hospital where you could spend the night. In either case, arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
What to Expect
Before the procedure
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Before liposuction, the surgeon may mark circles and lines on the areas of the body to be treated. Photographs may also be taken to compare pre and post images.
The way the liposuction procedure is performed depends on the specific technique used:
Tumescent liposuction. This is the most common type of liposuction. The surgeon injects a sterile solution (a mixture of salt water that helps remove fat, an anesthetic [lidocaine] to relieve pain, and a medication [epinephrine] that causes the blood vessels to constrict) into the area to be treated. The liquid mixture causes the affected area to swell and harden.
The surgeon then makes small cuts in the skin and inserts a thin tube called a cannula under the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that draws fat and fluids from the body. The body's fluid may be replenished through an intravenous line.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction. This type of liposuction is sometimes used in conjunction with tumescent liposuction. During tumescent liposuction, the surgeon inserts a metal rod that emits ultrasonic energy under the skin. This breaks up the walls of the adipocytes and liquefies the fat for easier removal.
Laser-assisted liposuction. This technique uses high-intensity laser light to liquefy the fat in order to remove it. Here, the surgeon inserts a laser fiber through a small incision and emulsifies the fat deposits. The fat is then removed through a cannula.
Propelled liposuction. This type of liposuction uses a cannula that has a rapid forward and backward movement. This vibration allows the surgeon to remove the hard fat more easily. Sometimes, propelled liposuction may cause less pain and swelling, and may allow the surgeon to remove fat more accurately, especially in smaller areas such as the arms, knees, or ankles.
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During the procedure
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Some liposuction procedures may require only local or regional anesthesia (anesthesia that is limited to a specific area of the body). Other procedures may require general anesthesia, which induces a temporary state of unconsciousness. You may be given a sedative (usually by intravenous injection) to help you stay calm and relaxed.
The surgical team will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level throughout the procedure. If you feel pain, tell your surgeon. Adjustments to medications or movements may be needed.
The procedure may take up to several hours depending on how much fat is removed. After the procedure, the surgeon may leave the incisions open to allow the fluid to drain.
If you've had general anesthesia, you'll wake up in a recovery room. You will usually spend at least a few hours in the hospital or clinic so that the medical staff can monitor your recovery. If you're in a hospital, you could spend the night there to make sure you're not dehydrated or in shock from fluid loss.
After the procedure
You may have pain, swelling, and bruising after the procedure. You may need to wait a few days to return to work and a few weeks to resume your normal activities, including physical activity.
Your surgeon may prescribe medications to help control pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. You may also need to wear tight compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for a few weeks. During this time, you can expect some abnormalities in your silhouette, as the remaining fat must be accommodated.
OUR METHOD
To obtain the best results in liposuction, we have been practicing for years the safest and most evolved technique in liposuction: SAFE lipo. Created by Dr. Simeon Wall in Shreveport (United States), it improves the results of conventional liposuction by systematizing it and avoiding the undesirable effects on the skin of conventional liposuction. To further improve the results of liposuction we have incorporated The PAL System. The PAL system (power-assisted liposuction) is a technology to extract fat with great precision, while allowing to model and collect viable adipose tissue for grafting (liposculpture).
Results
After liposuction, swelling usually disappears within a few weeks. By then, the treated area should look less voluminous. After a few months, the treated area should look thinner.
The results of liposuction are usually long-lasting if you maintain your weight. If you gain weight after liposuction, the distribution of fat may change. For example, you could accumulate fat around the abdomen regardless of the areas that were originally treated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the ideal candidate for liposuction?
The best candidate for liposuction is a person with normal weight for their height and age, who has a fat accumulation located in specific areas. Liposuction will improve and shape your contour to fit your weight, height and body shape. In order for the results to be excellent, the patient must have good skin quality with adequate elasticity and without laxity. Therefore, keep in mind that this procedure will not improve the flaccidity of the skin or the existence of "cellulite".
What is the best time to have liposuction in Playa del Carmen?
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In latitudes like ours, where the heat is extreme in summer, it is not advisable to perform such an intervention on that date. The reason is not the surgical procedure itself, but the use of post-liposuction garments whose use is unavoidable. A patient operated on with liposuction in Playa del Carmen would find it difficult to endure wearing the compression garments that are absolutely essential after the treatment.
In which cases would liposuction be contraindicated?
In principle, it would be contraindicated in patients with poor skin quality, excessive obesity or with unrealistic expectations. As well as patients with chronic-degenerative diseases with poor control.
How is liposuction and its postoperative?
The duration of a liposuction will depend on the areas to be treated. Depending on the areas to be treated and the amount of fat to be removed, this surgery can be performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia with sedation or spinal anesthesia (similar to that used for childbirth).
Once operated, you will remain one night in the hospital and will be discharged the next day. Generally, the day after the operation you will be able to go home. You will wear a compressive garment in the treated areas to achieve the appropriate skin retraction and thus achieve the desired effect.
The first follow up after the surgery will be three days after the intervention to check its general state and evaluate the immediate result.
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