Outpatient procedure
For the most common form of liposuction, tumescent local anaesthesia (TLA), a specially prepared anaesthetic solution is first injected into the region to be treated. The fluid must be allowed to act until the originally firm adipose tissue has become soft. Then it is sucked out through a cannula by a vacuum pump. The procedure, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis, usually lasts two to five hours depending on the size of the area to be treated.
Local fatty pads on the outside of the thighs (so-called "jodhpurs"), the bottom, the tummy and in the lumbar area respond very well. But the method can also be used for the face. Firm, elastic skin over the area being treated improves the final outcome.
The decision to operate is made by the doctor and patient after a wide-ranging informed consent discussion that takes into account all medical or psychological risks.
Usually no more than two litres are removed at a single operation, although up to five litres are possible in exceptional situations. Larger volumes of up to 20 litres should only be removed in very exceptional cases and by extremely experienced surgeons. In these cases, hospitalisation is mandatory.
A variety of different techniques are available for liposuction today
While fat reduction used to be carried out using dry techniques and cannulas with a diameter of up to 10 mm, this old method has yielded to "wet" tumescent technique for liposuction. Other techniques that are combined with "wet" liposuction are ultrasound and laser technique. In fact today it is even possible to transplant the fat cells won by liposuction to other parts of the body. This is also called liposculpture.
Apart from small skin incisions, the skin layer over the fatty pads remains untouched. Since the cannula has a blunt cylindrical tip, the blood vessels in the fatty tissue remain largely intact.
- The risk of heavy bleeding is minimal.
- The fact that only small skin incisions are needed for this surgical technique is an added benefit, because the likelihood of wound healing disorders remains low.
- The procedure under local anaesthetic has the advantage of a minimum anaesthetic risk.
- As a rule, outpatient care enhances the patient's co-operation and mobility.
- Thus the risk of postoperative thrombosis is also low.
Nevertheless, liposuction remains a surgical procedure and its risks must be weighed up individually.
Aftercare
Aftercare with compression is the same for all these procedures and serves to maintain the desired surgical outcome.
Compression garments from medi
For aftercare following liposuction, it can be helpful to use special compression garments, in order to prevent irregular contours from forming.
Click here for more information about compression garments from medi.
The human body
Product tip
Beauty
Your doctor makes the diagnosis and decides on the therapy. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe wound therapy products. The patient is advised by trained personnel (e.g. in a medical supply store, pharmacy, wound centre). After this, the patient receives products that are customised to meet their individual needs.
