Liposuction

Liposuction is the process of taking and shaping the fat accumulated in some parts of the body due to genetics or dietary habits. Equivalent uses given in parentheses have recently started to be used widely because they better describe the process.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method as it is mostly known among the people. It can be taken in a certain amount and area – it has limits in this respect and cannot be used to reduce overall body fat percentage.

Although it seems like a simple procedure as a method, if it is not done properly, the results can lead to aesthetically bad images. As can be understood from the term body shaping, lipoinjection is performed on the pitted areas by removing the fat from the excess area.

The face area, neck, arms, breast, abdomen and back area, hips, thighs, around the knees and legs are the main areas of fat removal. This procedure can be performed alone or in combination with procedures such as tummy tuck, breast reduction, arm and thigh stretching.

The complication rate was high since it was performed with thick cannulas in the first period. Today, complication rates are minimized with 2.3.4 mm cannulas. The dry technique, which was applied in the early days, has been replaced by the wet technique over time and additional formulas have been developed to reduce bleeding.

In addition to the conventional technique, ultrasound-assisted, laser-assisted and “power assisted” liposuction applications are available. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although the surgeon makes a lot of effort in the conventional technique, its usability in large areas is an important advantage. Other methods require less effort. However, liposuction can be performed in limited areas and volumes.

In the preoperative period, planning is done standing up. Existing asymmetries and deformations are shared with the patient. Age, skin quality, amount of fat accumulation reveal whether liposuction should be performed alone or with an additional procedure.

Pulling is done through 2-3 mm wide cannula holes drilled around the drawn areas. The process is continued until a flat surface is obtained by palpating the subcutaneous tissue. The surgeon’s experience is important in deciding where to stand at this stage. The operation takes 2-3 hours depending on the width of the area.

At the end of the procedure, an average of one stitch is placed in the entrance holes and removed after a week. A corset is used for about 1 month after the surgery. On the first day, the dressing becomes wet due to leakage from the cannula holes. Pain relievers are used for the first few days. There may be bruising in some areas, but it disappears in 10 days. Depending on the width of the area, the swelling disappears in 5-6 months, more quickly and in large amounts in the first months. Complete healing, like wound healing in other parts of the body, is completed in an average of 1 year.

As a complication, fluctuations in the skin and an increase in the amount of sagging due to decreased skin elasticity in patients over 45 years of age can be seen, albeit rarely. Serious complications such as fat embolism and deep vein thrombosis are extremely rare, and advanced age, co-morbidities, and long operation time are risk-increasing factors.