Liposuction – types, price, indications, contraindications. What is liposuction?

Proven content

Liposuction is a procedure to remove fatty tissue from various parts of the human body. It is carried out to reduce body weight.

Liposuction – types

Liposuction is most often performed under intravenous or general anesthesia. There are several methods of carrying out the procedure – in all of them the fat is removed with a plastic aspirating tube (cannula). However, due to the tube’s mechanism of operation and the amount of injected fluid, liposuction is divided into several techniques:

1. suction liposuction (SAL) – standard method. It is done by making incisions on the skin and then inserting a cannula connected to a vacuum device. In this way, the fat is broken down and then sucked off;
2. ultrasonic liposuction – the process is supported by ultrasound or ultrasound waves. The tube transmits vibrations that destroy the walls of fat cells, turning the fat into a liquid form and facilitating suction. This technique is used primarily on the upper back and chest of men;
3. double cannula liposuction (TCAL or TCL) – two cannulas are used – one inside the other. The internal suction cannula moves in the slot of the external cannula, stimulating movement up to 5 cm (with vibrations assisted by electric devices it is only 1-2 mm). The cannulas do not heat up, which eliminates the risk of burns due to frictional heat;
4. Cavitation liposuction – a non-invasive method involving massage of body tissues, stimulating metabolic processes, the vascular system and the lymphatic system. Ultrasound is used for the procedure;
5. water liposuction (WAL, Body Jet) – uses a thin fan in the shape of a water beam that loosens the structure of adipose tissue so that it can be removed through a special needle;
6. laser liposuction (I-lipo) – this technique uses a laser led through the threaded fibers of the microcannula to melt the fat cells in the target area. The assumptions of this method are similar to the UAL. Laser liposuction may be limited to individual skin fragments.

Usually 3-4 liters of fat are removed during one treatment. Duration is approximately 2-5 hours.

Liposuction – indications for surgery

Liposuction is recommended for people who want to achieve the figure of a slim person, whose tissue is regionally accumulated, or for people who struggle with lipoedema, i.e. a disease involving severe swelling and locally accumulating fatty tissue in the lower limbs.

Liposuction is also recommended for women after pregnancies with accumulation of abdominal fat and for men suffering from gynecomastia.

The liposuction procedure also works well for people who struggle with body disproportions, such as, for example, fat knees, too generous breeches or lack of a waist. These types of problems often do not disappear after losing weight, and a proper diet supported by exercise does not bring the expected results.

Liposuction – risk

As with many treatments, there is a certain risk associated with liposuction, which in this case is, unfortunately, considerable. This is due to making small incisions that make it difficult to observe the operated sites. In addition, during the removal of adipose tissue, blood is also removed, and when the latter is too little life-threatening shock may occur.

In addition, the dangers of liposuction should be added the possibility of the so-called fat embolism. It consists in getting into the bloodstream of small particles of fat as a result of damage to blood vessels that may arise during the procedure.

Fat particles, while moving with the blood, stick to the walls of the vessels, which in turn causes the deterioration of blood circulation. Over time, the accumulating fat clumps together to form a cork (most often this occurs in the pulmonary artery). The resulting cork causes a sudden cardiac arrest. This situation may occur even many weeks after the surgery.

In addition to the above-mentioned, liposuction may also be associated with:

1. bruises;
2. swelling that may leak fluid;
3. temporary numbness;
4. skin infections, treatment of which can cause scarring;
5. kidney problems caused by changes in fluid levels;
6. drug-induced allergic reactions or materials used in surgery;
7. hyperesthesia and dysaesthesia;
8. skin discoloration, which may or may not be permanent.

Do you have a problem with excess body fat? You can use less invasive methods, such as Vitama Nature Fat Burner Complex, to improve metabolism and weight control.

Liposuction – contraindications

Liposuction is a procedure that cannot be performed in people suffering from chronic and autoimmune diseases, blood coagulation disorders, diabetes, skin and kidney diseases, as well as heavy smokers.

Liposuction of the abdomen and other parts of the body is also not possible with mental disorders. It should also be mentioned that people who have problems with maintaining a constant body weight are not suitable for liposuction.

Your doctor will provide you with detailed information on contraindications for liposuction during the consultation.

Liposuction – preparation for the procedure

Before liposuction can be performed, a number of tests are necessary. They include: blood count, group and blood coagulation indices (APTT, INR), ESR, creatinine, glucose, urine, electrolytes (Na, K), vaccination against hepatitis B.

2-4 weeks before the procedure, you should give up smoking (or limit it strongly), follow the diet recommended by the surgeon, and immediately inform about infections and colds. If the anesthesia is general and not local, then you should be on an empty stomach on the day of the procedure.

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Liposuction – the course of the procedure

The patient receives anesthetics during the procedure. Then the fat is sucked off, which affects the connective tissue, which after the treatment resembles a sponge or a honeycomb.

The fluid from these tissues along with the blood from damaged capillaries begin to gradually fill the free places, which in turn causes swelling and bruising. They will slowly fade away as they heal. Due to the lack of fat, the connective tissue will flatten and the skin, thanks to its elasticity, will adapt to new shapes.

The whole process, however, will still continue, and it will be accompanied by pains, especially severe ones, after about 10-12 days until the procedure is performed. How much the pain will be tiring will depend on how extensive the procedure itself was, and may be felt for up to several weeks.

Unfortunately, it happens that special body belts or corsets do not help at all, and in the case of some people it will be impossible to work normally for a while, so it will be necessary to go on a sick leave.

Liposuction – recommendations after the procedure

After liposuction, you should undergo a 4-6-week convalescence. Special compression garments should be worn during this. It is made of synthetic microfibers that let the air through. Its purpose is to prevent edema and hematomas, and it also accelerates tissue growth. It is only when the compression garment is removed that it can be assessed whether the procedure was successful and whether a possible correction will be needed.

Anticoagulant injections are required up to 10 days after surgery. One month after the procedure, you should avoid excessive physical activity, heavy lifting and exertion. Convalescence can be accelerated by massages.

Which does not change the fact that it is worth focusing on regular but light gymnastics or other activities such as swimming or cycling. In addition, you must not forget that from now on you should implement and follow a strict diet, as well as a caloric regime that will make the effects of the treatment persist.

Occasionally, people after liposuction must consume up to 1000 calories a day. It should also be remembered that during the first year after the treatment, it is not recommended to sunbathe too intensively, or to use the sauna or solarium.

Liposuction – another procedure

Sometimes it happens that even fat removal has failed, and when the swelling has disappeared, numerous lumps remain on the patient’s body. The chance of such inequalities is greater the more fat is removed. When such a situation occurs, it is necessary to repeat the procedure in order to get rid of the unsaved residues.

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Liposuction – NHF reimbursement

Liposuction is one of the plastic surgeries aimed at improving the patient’s beauty, and apart from cases where birth defects have to be removed or defects caused by an accident or injury, they are not reimbursed by the National Health Fund. Only liposuction for which there were medical indications may be reimbursed.

Importantly, you should not forget that you should apply for a refund before performing the procedure for which you will need a referral. However, if the liposuction procedure is to be performed only to improve the patient’s beauty, it will not be co-financed by the National Health Fund.

Liposuction – the price of the procedure

The price of liposuction surgery may vary and range from several to even several thousand zlotys. The high cost is due to the amount of sucked fat and the places on the body from which this fat will be sucked.

It is worth knowing that in private facilities where this type of surgery is performed, the cost of the stay as well as postoperative care should also be added to the price.