Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost of liposuction in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine.

• Liposuction: Definition
• Liposuction: Overview
• Liposuction: Prevalence
• Liposuction: Procedure
• Liposuction: Recovery
• Liposuction: Expiditing Recovery

Liposuction: Definition

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty ("fat modeling") or suction lipectomy ("suction-assisted fat removal") is a cosmetic surgery operation which removes fat from many different sites on the human body. Areas affected can range from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, arms and elsewhere. The fat is usually removed via a cannula and aspirator.

Liposuction: Overview

While exercise and dieting may be useful for losing unwanted weight and fat, some fat deposits may not respond to efforts at weight loss. Applying liposuction techniques may be an option in these situations. Liposuction is not a low-effort alternative to exercise and diet. It is a form of body contouring and not a weight loss method. The amount of fat removed varies by doctor, method, and patient, but the average amount is typically less than 10 pounds (5 kg).

There are several factors that limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed using liposuction in one session. Ultimately, the operating physician and the patient make the decision. There are negative aspects to removing too much fat. Unusual "lumpiness" and/or "dents" in the skin can be seen in those patients "over suctioned".

Reports of people removing 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of fat from liposuction are exaggerated. However, the contouring possible with liposuction may cause the appearance of weight loss to be greater than the actual amount of fat removed. The procedure may be performed under general or local ("tumescent") anesthesia. The safety of the technique relates to the amount of tissue removed, the choice of anesthetic, and the patient's overall health.

Relatively modern techniques for body contouring and removal of fat date back to French surgeon, Charles Dujarier. A tragic case that resulted in gangrene in the leg of a French model[1] in a procedure performed by Dr. Dujarier in 1926 set back interest in body contouring for decades to follow.

Liposuction: History

Liposuction evolved from work in the late 1960s from surgeons in Germany using primitive curetage techniques which were largely ignored, as they achieved irregular results with significant morbidity and bleeding. Modern liposuction first burst on the scene in a presentation by the French surgeon, Dr Yves-Gerard Illouz, in 1982. The Illouz Method featured a technique of suction-assisted lipolysis using blunt cannulas and high-vacuum suction and demonstrated both reproducible good results and low morbidity. During the 1980s, many U.S. surgeons experimented with liposuction, developing some variations, and achieving mixed results.

In 1985, two U.S. dermatologists developed the tumescent technique, which enhances effectiveness and safety in office-based procedures, partly by avoiding the use of general anesthesia.

In the late 1990s, ultrasound was introduced to facilitate the fat removal by first liquefying it using ultrasonic energy. After a flurry of initial interest, an increase in reported complications tempered the enthusiasm of many practicioners.

Overall, the advantages of 30 years of improvements in liposuctionhave been that more fat cells can more easily be removed, with less blood loss, less discomfort, and less risk. A great deal has been written about it as practitioners and advocates wrestle with the alternatives and controversies.

Removal of very large volumes of fat is a complex and potentially life-threatening procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons defines "large" in this context as being more than 5 liters.

Liposuction: Prevalence

With over 60% of the population overweight in the US, it should not be surprising that liposuction is now the most often performed surgery in the country. Usually it is done to remove about 10 to 15 pounds of fat.

Most often, liposuction is performed on:

• The abdomen and thighs in women
• The abdomen and flanks in males

Not everybody is a good candidate for liposuction. As stated earlier, it is not a good alternative to dieting or exercising. To be a good candidate, one must be:

• Over 18
• In good general health
• Found that the last 10 or 15 pounds remain in pockets after dieting
• No diabetes
• No existing infection
• No heart or circulation problems

In older people, the skin is usually less elastic, so it does not tighten so readily around the new shape. In this case, other procedures can be added to the liposuction, such as a tummy tuck.

Liposuction: Preparation

Before receiving Liposuction the client should:

• Take no anticoagulantstwo weeks before the surgery
• Fast the night before starting at midnight, if receiving general anethesia
• avoid smoking two months prior to surgery. Smoking interferes with circulation and in the context of surgery, may increase the risk of blood clots

Liposuction: The Procedure

In all liposuction methods, there are certain things that should be done when having liposuction.

• The candidate and the surgeon will agree ahead of time on exactly which area(s) will be treated and both will discuss what outcome to expect
• A consent form is signed on the day of surgery
• An antibiotic will be given either about an hour beforehand, and/or afterwards
• The targeted areas are marked on the body while the candidate is in a standing position
• Sometimes photos will be taken of the area to be treated, so the patient will have before and after photos
• In the operating room, a sterilizing solution such as Betadine, is applied to the relevant areas
• Local anesthetic is injected and the patient may be given a sedative, either orally, or through an IV injection
• Incisions are small, about a quarter to a third of an inch
• The patient will probably have an IV fluid line, since they will be losing fluid with the fat, and the fluid balance must be kept intact
• There will be some monitoring devices attached to the body to keep track of the blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level
• The patient will feel only a scraping or rasping sensation from the cannula movement
• Usually the patient can get up, walk around, and go home the same day if they did not receive general anesthesia, although they will need someone else to drive

Liposuction: The Recovery

• Afterwards, a compression garment or Ace bandage will be worn until drainage has stopped, perhaps days, or perhaps for two to four weeks, depending on the specific case
• Bandages will be changed after one or two days
• Drains and sutures will be removed after five to ten days, or whenever the drainage is finished
• Any pain is controlled by a prescription or over-the-counter medication, and may last as long as two weeks, depending on the particular procedure
• Swelling will subside in anywhere from two weeks to two months
• Bruising will fade after a few days or maybe as long as two weeks later
• Numbness may last for several weeks
• Normal activity can be resumed anywhere from several days to several weeks afterwards, depending on the procedure
• The final result will be evident anywhere from one to six months after surgery, although the patient will see noticeable difference within days or weeks, as swelling subsides

Liposuction: Expiditing Recovery

The patient should:

• Drink enough water to prevent dehydration
• Avoid alcohol for a couple of days, both before and after surgery
• Avoid using ice packs or heating pads on the treated areas
• Postpone any submersion in water for at least a week (bathtub, swimming pool, river, etc.)
• If any dizziness is experienced, the patient should take it easy: stand up slowly, get some help for the shower, remove the compression garment slowly, etc.
• The suctioned fat cells are permanently gone. However, if the patient does not diet and exercise properly, the remaining fat cell neighbors could still enlarge, creating assorted bulges.

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The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

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