Model, not actual patient.
Today, liposuction ranks as the second most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States after breast augmentation.
Advanced surgical techniques have made it possible to undertake liposuction in a less invasive and more precise manner.
The surgeon may recommend a suitable liposuction technique to the patient, but the general steps in the liposuction procedure will largely remain the same.
At the time of the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient about the various facets of liposuction, including the steps involved in the procedure. After the patient understands what the liposuction procedure involves, they will typically feel more reassured about it and make well-considered decisions.
Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan provides liposuction body sculpting to patients in Dallas, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Anesthesia
Administering the anesthesia will be the first step in the liposuction surgery procedure.
In case large amounts of fat need to be eliminated from multiple areas, or where liposuction is performed in combination with other cosmetic surgery procedures, the surgery may be undertaken using general anesthesia. In other cases, local anesthesia with light sedation will usually be sufficient for liposuction.
Tumescent liposuction is a common technique used for fat removal. This procedure only necessitates local anesthesia. In tumescent liposuction, the surgeon will place smaller incisions. This enables the patient to recover faster and reduces the risk of complications.
Incision Placement
After anesthesia, the surgeon will place incisions in inconspicuous locations within the targeted area. The incision size typically ranges between a quarter and a third of an inch.
The surgeon will aim to keep the incisions discreet within the natural creases of the skin or other inconspicuous locations to minimize any future scarring.
Fat Tissue Reduction
The surgeon will then insert a thin cannula into the deeper layers of fat through these incisions to break down stubborn fatty pockets.
They will gently manipulate this vacuum tube to disintegrate fat deposits and make their elimination less traumatic. After the fat tissue is broken down, the surgeon will use a syringe attached to the cannula’s outer end to suction out the fat.
Sometimes innovative techniques such as ultrasound, laser, or RF energy may be used at this stage to ensure that the fat removal is more targeted and less invasive. The patient will receive replacement fluids intravenously during and after the cosmetic surgery procedure to compensate for the blood and fluid loss.
Heat-Based Techniques
At times, the surgeon may use cutting-edge heat-based techniques involving ultrasound, laser, or RF energy. This liquefies the undesirable fat cells without the need for traumatic physical manipulation and enables fat elimination in a less invasive manner. The patient will be given intravenous fluids to compensate for the loss of blood and bodily fluids during and after the surgery.
Closing the Incisions
After the surgery is complete, the surgeon will carefully seal the incisions with traditional or absorbable sutures. They may also place temporary drain tubes in the incision areas to collect excess fluid.
Initially, the incisions will be covered in bandages, and after a few days, these bandages may be replaced with a compression garment to support healing and firming up of the newly treated areas.
The drain tubes and sutures are typically removed in around seven to ten days. In the case of very small incisions, the surgeon may choose to let them remain open to attain the desired results with the least amount of inflammation and bruising.
Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan receives patients from Dallas, Texas, and nearby areas for liposuction body contouring.
To schedule a consultation with Board Certified Dallas Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Farah Khan please call 469-437-5426 or click here to contact us.
