Liposuction

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is surgery in which fat cells are sucked out of the body or face with a special cannula. Localized fat deposits are removed. The body or face will receive new, improved contours. In this context, the treatment is also called lipostructure. The unique characteristic of the procedure is that the removed fat cells do not come back.

Liposuction is carried out almost exclusively for aesthetic reasons. However, liposuction for lipedema can also be suitable for medical purposes, as liposuction is the only form of treatment that promises improvement in the long term.

Where Can Liposuction Be Carried Out?

Dissatisfaction with the own body often means significant psychological stress for many people. To achieve the desired figure, everything is tried out: sport, diets, wellness treatments. But often, these measures do not lead to the desired result. Because in some places, like knees or hips, the so-called subcutaneous fat tissue cannot be influenced.

Suitable body parts for liposuction are:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thigh
• Knee
• Upper arms
• Chin
• Neck
• Cheeks

For Whom is Liposuction Suitable?

Liposuction primarily targets patients of healthy weight with realistic expectations of the procedure. Liposuction is not suitable for treating overweight.

Candidates should be physically healthy and have fat deposits that cannot be removed with the help sport activities. Age does not play a decisive role in liposuction. However, it should be noted that the skin loses its elasticity after the age of 40, so that a skin tightening may be necessary after the procedure.

It should also be noted that not all parts of the body are suitable for liposuction. For example, the lower buttocks are not even allowed for the procedure. Patients with diabetes, heart, and lung diseases should abstain from liposuction, as the procedure involves a high risk for them.

Which Examinations Are Carried Out Before the Liposuction?

Before the procedure, the treating doctor will carry out a detailed consultation. The patient is informed about the procedure and the techniques of the surgery. The fat deposits and the condition of the skin are analyzed.

It should be noted that there should be no acute illnesses for three weeks before the procedure, and smoking is prohibited for two weeks before and after the procedure.

The liposuction treatment is carefully planned in advance and usually carried out under general anesthesia. The basic technique is always the same. However, there are several procedures for liposuction.

Immediately before the procedure, the affected body parts are marked. Then small skin incisions (0.5 to 1cm) are made in inconspicuous places. The cannula is inserted through these, and the fat cells are sucked out with a vacuum pump.

Tumescent anesthesia is often used, for example. A diluted solution of a local anesthetic is injected into the affected areas. The volume of the inserted solution can be several liters. Two effects are achieved. Firstly, the areas are safely anesthetized, and secondly, the fat cells are sucked up with the solution. This makes it easier for them to detach from the surrounding connective tissue. In this way, the blood vessels and nerves that run through the fatty tissue are also spared.

What Should Be Paid Attention to after Liposuction?

After the surgery, the patient is treated with a girdle, support stockings, or bandages over the affected areas. The purpose is to ensure that the cavities created after the procedure do not fill with tissue fluid, blood, or dissolved fat. They are worn around the clock for six weeks after the liposuction.

Immediately after the procedure, pain and bruising are normal. They disappear within a few weeks. Swelling, on the other hand, goes after three months. The final result is visible after about six months. Fat deposits no longer form on parts of the body where liposuction was carried out.

Which Doctors and Clinics Are Specialists for Liposuction in Germany and Switzerland?

Anyone who wants to have liposuction wants the best medical care. Therefore, the patient is wondering where to find the best clinic for liposuction. Plastic and aesthetic surgeons in Germany and Switzerland have the necessary training to carry out liposuction. Whether a doctor is a specialist in liposuction depends on his or her surgical experience in the field. The more liposuctions a doctor carries out, the more experienced he or she becomes this field. That is why it is important to get a personal impression from several specialists before having an aesthetic procedure done.

We will help you find a specialist for liposuction. On the PRIMO MEDICO website, you will only find experienced specialists and head physicians in their specialty. Currently, you can find specialists for liposuction in Berlin, Eschweiler, Munich, Bern, and Lucerne.

Sources:

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ästhetisch-Plastische Chirurgie www.dgaepc.de
• Prof. Dr. Peter M. Vogt; Klinik für Plastische Chi Medizinische Hochschule Hannover: Praxis der Plastischen Chirurgie : Plastisch-rekonstruktive Operationen - Plastisch-ästhetische Operationen - Handchirurgie - Verbrennungschirurgie. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, 2011.