Liposuction permanently removes localised excess fat (steatomeries) that otherwise do not/only slightly vary, with weight fluctuation.
Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells using suction tubes. Since the fat cells do not have the capacity to divide, the result is permanent.
The remaining fat cells, however, have the ability to vary their volume in extreme weight change.
Several sites can be treated during the same operation, but the maximum amount of fat removed in one session should not exceed 5-10% of the overall weight of the patient to maintain the well-being of the body’s equilibrium.
Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity and should not lead to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Either the procedure is performed under assisted local anaesthesia (diazepine-induced analgesia) as an outpatient or, it is performed under general anaesthesia with a hospital stay of 10 to 24 hours when the volume of fat removed is very high.
Gentle liposuction refers to a technique performed under local anaesthesia using very fine suction tubes. The vacuum pressure used to remove the fat is gentle and is performed manually using syringes or with the use of equipment allowing to regulate the negative pressure.
The procedure varies from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the number of areas treated and the amount of fat to be removed. Almost invisible scars (3-5 mm) are often hidden in the natural folds.
The quality of the overlying skin is an essential factor to evaluate. Good quality skin is skin that tightens perfectly in the weeks following liposuction.
On the contrary, non-elastic skin, or skin with stretch-marks tightens poorly after liposuction. In the cases of damaged and/or excess skin, liposuction should be combined with a surgical skin tightening technique.
Surgical skin tightening is achieved either by :
Many areas can benefit from liposuction:
Once the operation is complete, a compression garment is placed over the dressing. It must be worn for 1 month to reduce swelling and pain, and to facilitate skin retraction.
Mild pain and fatigue can occur and can vary depending on the amount of fat removed.
Sometimes a daily anticoagulant therapy may be prescribed for a period of 8 to 10 days to reduce the risk of developing venous thrombosis.
Normal activity can be resumed 2-10 days after surgery depending on the type of employment. Sports activity can be resumed gradually after 3 to 4 weeks.
The result is generally very satisfactory and can start to be seen as of 3 to 4 weeks, after the disappearance of swelling.It only becomes permanent after six months once the skin is retracted.
As with any surgery, a number of complications can occur. But the likelihood of these complications is reduced in the hands of a qualified plastic surgeon and in the presence of a competent anaesthetist.
The patient’s compliance to instructions given by the surgeon is also essential and include :
Serious complications are rare where well-planned, quality liposuction has been performed.
Rare complications that could occur include, but are not limited to risk of seroma, infection, scarring and thrombo-embolic complications (phlebitis).
In the event of a complication, appropriate measures will be taken.
The patient’s fat is removed by a simple liposuction, which can be purified and then re-injected to increase the size of breasts, buttocks, chest and calves. Facial volume can also be restored.
Removal and reinjection of fat must take place during the same procedure as it is impossible to conserve.
It is not possible to take fat from another patient in order to carry out an autologous fat transfer. The donor and recipient must be the same, therefore eliminating the risk of rejection.
Fat reinjection is performed using fine cannulas via small incisions of 1 to 2 mm.
Lipofilling is a longer procedure however the postoperative effects are identical to those of a classic liposuction.
The patient will observe a 30 to 50% partial reduction of the transferred fat, which will stabilise within approximately 6 months. Fat cells can fail to survive the transfer from one area of the body to another therefore the surgeon only reinjects good quality fat in order to keep this loss at a minimum.
The patient’s compliance to the post-operative instructions is essential, in particular stopping smoking.
The final gain obtained depends on the initial fat reserves of the treated patient, the number of sessions performed and the rate of engraftment at each session.
Lipofilling also increases the volume of the breasts, buttocks, calves, pectorals, deltoid muscles, biceps or triceps. These fat injections can also help rejuvenate the back of the hands or face, correct scar hollows or treat intimate areas.