Currently liposuction has been established as the biggest revolution in plastic surgery, being the most performed surgical procedure in this specialty worldwide in the year 2009, where a suction mechanism removes excess fat which has accumulated under the skin in almost any part of the body, and do not improve with diet or exercise. An excellent method to shape the contour of the body and whose results are going to be evidenced continuously and progressively with the course of the days, as the skin remodeling occurs simultaneously with the decrease of the inflammatory process.
There are different techniques to do it, the conventional one being the most commonly used and not only for its excellent and incomparable results, but also because it allows us to reuse the extracted fat, which after a special preparation process is injected in the regions of the body where we want to increase the volume as for example the buttocks, hips, face, among others, defining this is what we call lipo- sculpture.
It is very important to know that it is not a method to lose weight, it does not improve the sagging of the skin, nor the stretch marks or cellulite, much less corrects the muscular incompetence of the abdominal wall, being indicated for those particular cases are other procedures.
The best candidates for liposuction are those that regardless of sex and with relatively normal weight, have localized areas with excess fat. Also, should be physically healthy, with realistic and emotionally stable expectations.
It has an average time of approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on the number of areas to be treated and the volume of fat to be removed, and is usually performed with regional anesthesia (epidural block) plus sedation for the tranquility and relaxation of the patient.
This procedure is done by means of minimum incision (0.5 cm.), Located in strategic points which makes them practically invisible passing unnoticed, being perfectly hidden by the underwear or swimsuit as they are very small, and through which special cannulas are inserted connected to a machine that generates negative pressure which allows us to suck the fat.
It is important for the patient to know that due to the fact that important amounts of solution are infiltrated during the surgery to facilitate the extraction of fat, it is necessary to leave small drainage through some of the incisions.
The patient is usually kept in the hospital for 24 hours, as this allows him to be kept under surveillance, as well as being able to carry out better management of postoperative pain, which is controlled by an external infusion pump connected directly to the epidural catheter that was placed in his column before the surgery, and through which special drugs are administered in a continuous form that will allow the patient during the first hours a greater comfort, to be removed the following day before leaving the hospital.
The person should plan to stay at home by maintaining relative rest, take the prescribed medications as directed, eat normally according to tolerance and drink plenty of fluids.
You must make daily washing on the operative wounds, maintain the proper care of the bandage and drainage, it is recommended not to be exposed to the sun for at least the first 8 weeks.
This period implies that the patient must maintain a bandage that will keep the operated areas covered, which is removed between the 4th and 5th day after the surgery along with the drainage, at which time a special medical strip should be used 24 hours seven days for 8 weeks, and because of the potential for inflammation of this procedure the patient is subjected to ultrasound and post-operative lymphatic drainage therapies.
Usually the sutures are removed at 8 days, which also corresponds to the average recovery time, returning the patient to his daily activities one week after the procedure, as long as he is not exposed to physical exertion.
Liposuction is unlikely to present complications. It can reduce the appearance of these with a meticulous surgical technique and a careful preoperative analysis, however among these we can mention: fluid accumulation (seroma), Irregularities in the contour, alterations in the sensitivity and pigmentation of the skin, and being the most feared fatty embolism.