Liposuction

Liposuction is aimed at female patients with an excess of LOCALISED fat, whose skin is of good quality and capable of shrinking. Patients with excess fat all over the body (whether or not they are obese) need to go on a diet. It is also for patients with flabby skin, that is irregular in shape and even sagging (wave-like folds).

Contrary to received ideas, liposuction is NOT a treatment for cellulite (orange peel skin), nor for irregularities of the skin (waves, hollows).

Liposuction cannot replace a diet (although it can be combined with one) and in any case the weight loss, even if large volumes of fat are removed, will be minimal.

It is not possible, without serious operative risk, to remove in one liposuction session the largest volumes of fat and in certain cases, it may be decided to perform a series of operations.

The right parts of the body for liposuction

• To get good results, there is a need to tackle deep localised areas of fat.
• Not all parts of the body are accessible for liposuction.
• The best areas (on condition that the skin allows it) are the buttocks, inside of the knees, the thighs and belly.
• In certain cases, liposuction can be used on the neck, the arms and between the thighs, but the removal is often less satisfactory.
• In other places, there is generally a high risk of complications.

The liposuction operation

Usually general anaesthesia, sometimes local, if the area to be treated is small (such as the knees).

The liposuction procedure consists, after infiltration of the area to be treated (using a mixture that will prevent excess bleeding), to perform micro-incisions in order to aspirate the grease with the help of foam cannulas, creating a regular network of tunnels that do not harm the blood vessels and nerves.

The quantity of fat extracted during liposuction should be adapted to the quality of the overlying skin (this constitutes one of the determining factors for the quality of the result).

Length of the operation: Depending on the number, extent and volume of the fatty deposits on which liposuction is to be performed, it may last from 30 minutes to two hours.

After the operation

Hospitalisation is usually for day surgery but it may be necessary to sleep at the clinic in the case of significant liposuction.

An elastic compression garment (lipopanty) must be worn over the treated region for at least two months (to be worn night and day for the first three weeks), in order to promote reabsorption of the œdema and shrinking of the skin.

The time needed for recovery and returning to normal after liposuction is proportionate to the quantity of fat removed and varies from one individual to another. It is common to be tired for several days and it is best to plan for two to six days of interruption of activities.

The areas aspirated will be where œdema and ecchymoses appear but these will disappear in a few weeks. The result, which will be virtually invisible in the early days (œdema will have replaced the fat), will take three to six months to stabilise.

The sequels and possible complications from liposuction will be explained to you by Dr COURBIER during the consultation and in the literature supplied to you.