Click topic for more information:Email Dr. Tornambe
FAQ
Liposuction
Suction assisted lipectomy or liposuction is a technique used to aspirate or remove fatty deposits from virtually any area of the body. The most frequently involved areas include the chin, neck, cheeks, upper arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs and knees. Again, just as with body contouring procedures, liposuction is not a panacea or primary procedure for weight reduction. It is aimed at removal of focal areas of fatty deposition which are unresponsive to dieting and exercise. The best candidates for liposuction are generally patients who are in good physical health and psychologically stable with realistic expectations. In consultation with your Madison Plastic Surgery Physician, the elasticity or firmness of your skin will be determined and may be the most important factor dictating the results of your liposuction surgery. Your appearance and self confidence can be greatly enhanced with the changes made available with liposuction.
Multiple variations in the technique of suction assisted lipectomy are now available. These include superficial suctioning techniques as well as the most recent technological advance in liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction. Be sure to choose a physician who is adequately trained in all of the available techniques and maintains an American Board of Plastic Surgery Certification or Eligibility. The procedure itself is usually performed in our fully accredited ambulatory operative suite by our Plastic Surgeons. Multiple small incisions are usually utilized. The scars resulting from these small incisions are relatively inconspicuous. Even though liposuction remains a very safe procedure, infrequent minor complications including fluid accumulation, skin injury, or irregularities in the surface contour of the skin may occur even if your surgeon is extremely skilled. We at Madison Plastic Surgery have incorporated ultrasound therapy as a post liposuction adjunct to alleviate the infrequent surface contour irregularity. As always, smoking may increase your risks of liposuction surgery. You will likely be asked to refrain from smoking for two weeks prior to and following surgery as well as avoiding any aspirin containing medications which may increase your risk of bleeding and bruising.
During your initial consultation with one of our plastic surgeon you should be forthright in discussing your areas of concern and expectations from liposuction surgery. Your surgeon will be equally forthright in determining which areas should be addressed and which technique would be most efficacious for your particular situation. Your plastic surgeon will also describe the type of anesthesia to be used and the specific facilities available to perform the procedure.
Surgical Details
The surgery itself usually takes one to two hours, but time may vary depending on the number of areas and the amount of fat to be suctioned. During the operation, a hollow tube cannula is inserted through the small incisions. The cannula is manipulated within the layers of fat to break up and suction the fat from your body. The ultrasonic technique involves melting the fat cells away with ultrasound energy. The melted fat is then aspirated through the aspiration cannula. This technique generally affords better results in more fibrous areas such as the flanks, lower back and male breasts. Your certified Plastic Surgeon at Madison Plastic Surgery will determine if ultrasonic liposuction is best for you.
After the surgery you will be placed in a snug elastic garment or girdle which must be worn over the suctioned area to help control swelling and fluid accumulation. This garment may be worn anywhere from two to six weeks depending on your surgeon's instructions and preferences. The first 24 to 48 hours of recovery may find you sore and bruised. In addition, your weight may even slightly increase due to the fluids given during the surgery. The pain and soreness may be controlled with medications prescribed by your plastic surgeon. Sensation will most likely be decreased in the areas which were suctioned. This is usually a temporary phenomenon and subsides over the ensuing weeks to months. You will most likely be on your feet within one to two days of the surgery depending on how much work was performed. Any stitches which were placed are usually removed in 7 to 10 days. Your follow-up visits will be scheduled as indicated by your individual recovery pattern.
Liposuction is an extremely effective technique for creating a new body, neck or facial contour with minimal scarring. The results are permanent provided you maintain a routine exercise regimen and eat a sensible diet. Most patients have an improved self confidence and self esteem after liposuction and are very satisfied with their results. If you follow your plastic surgeon's recommendations and instructions you should be pleased with your new appearance.
Ultrasonic Liposuction (UAL)
Ultrasonic liposuction is the latest technique available in liposuction/body contour surgery. This technology uses sonic (sound) energy to emulsify or melt fat cells. After the fat cells are emulsified, they are evacuated with gentle vacuum suction. Vital structures such as blood vessels are selectively spared from injury by the ultrasound energy. This results in a less traumatic procedure with lower blood loss. It has also been reported that less swelling and bruising occur with this technique, although this remains to be proven in large series of patients. The safety of this technique has been proven in Europe where UAL has been in use for over a decade. In this country we are in the process of defining which situations and body regions would benefit most from this newly available technology.
An even newer technologic advance in liposuction surgery has recently received press, that of External Ultrasonic Liposuction (EUL). This technique applies the ultrasonic energy through the skin. Incisions and an evacuation phase are still required, however. Ultrasonic technology is available at our certified operating suite at Madison Plastic Surgery. Ask our Plastic Surgeons if you might benefit from this technique.
Email Dr. Tornambe
Back to top
