Also known as lipoplasty or “fat modeling”, also called liposuction or lipo is a cosmetic surgery that removes fat from different places on the body including the belly, thighs, butt, neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere. It is a form of body contouring with significant risks. The amount of fat removed varies but is typically less than 10 pounds. There are several factors limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session and negative aspects to removing too much fat like lumpiness or dents in the skin in those who have been “over-suctioned.” The procedure may be performed under general or local (”tumescent”) anesthesia and the safety of it relates not only to the amount of tissue removed, but to the choice of anesthetic and the patient’s overall health.
Tumescent liposuction is a technique that uses large volumes of very dilute local anesthesia injected into the fat, which causes the areas to be come tumescent, or swollen and firm. Local anesthesia is widely regarded as the safest form of anesthesia. Because local anesthesia lasts hours there is no need for narcotic pain medications after surgery. Modified tumescent liposuction refers to a combination of tumescent local anesthesia plus some form of systemic anesthesia. Because general anesthesia or heavy IV sedation can be dangerous, they must be administered by an anesthesiologist.
It is ideal for the patient to be as fit as possible before the procedure and not to have smoked for several months. To be a good candidate, one must be:
• Over 18 and in good general health
• Have already tried a diet and exercise regime, and find that the last 10 or 15 pounds persist in certain pockets on the body.
In older people, the skin is usually less elastic, so it does not tighten so readily around the new shape. In this case, other procedures can be added to the liposuction, such as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).