Liposuction, Here's What You Need to Know

Liposuction is a surgical procedure performed to remove unwanted body fat. Liposuction is generally used to maintain body shape, but sometimes it is also done to treat certain health conditions. The requirement to do liposuction is a person must have an ideal body weight or approximately 30 percent of ideal body weight. In addition, someone who wants to do liposuction must also have tight and elastic skin, and not smoke.

Indications Liposuction

Liposuction can be performed to reduce the buildup of fat embedded under the skin, and is useful for:

• Improve body shape, by eliminating piles of fat that cannot be lost by regulating diet and exercise.
• Cosmetic reasons, for example, want to eliminate double chin or pile of fat in the stomach.
• Improve sexual function, by reducing the accumulation of fat in the inner thighs, making it easier to access the vagina.

In addition, liposuction can also be used to treat several conditions, such as:

• Axillary bromhidrosis. The emergence of body odor due to interactions between sweat glands with bacteria in the armpits.
• Axillary hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating in the armpits.
• Hematoma. Hematoma is blood that collects outside the blood vessels and is not absorbed by the body.
• Lipoma. Lipomas are lumps of fat that grow under the skin.
• Madelung's disease. Abnormalities are indicated by symmetrical fat deposits on both sides of the upper body, neck, arms, and legs due to genetic disorders.
• Pseudogynecomastia. Breast enlargement in men due to accumulation of fat, not because of the enlarged breast glands.

Contraindications to Liposuction

Liposuction or liposuction is performed for patients who are generally healthy, especially the function of the heart and lungs, and do not have the disease. Some conditions that are not recommended for liposuction, including:

• Someone who routinely takes anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (such as aspirin), and should not be stopped for a while, such as patients with a history of replacing heart valves, heart rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation), deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.
• New patients on a very low calorie diet.
• Have a history of heart disease, diabetes, or immune system disorders.
• Morbid obesity, which is obesity which has disrupted physical activity and is at risk of causing other more serious diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Liposuction in this condition is still debated between the benefits and the risks that can lead to death.

Liposuction is not a procedure that aims to lose weight instantly without regulating diet and exercise, especially as a primary treatment for obesity. So, if your expectations are too high for liposuction, it is recommended not to do liposuction.

Before Liposuction

The doctor will review your medical history, conduct a physical examination, and evaluate the psychological condition of the patient. Starting from the preparation stage until the liposuction is complete, patients are advised to be accompanied by family or closest relatives. One day before the procedure, blood and urine will be examined to determine the potential complications that may occur. The doctor will also take photos of body parts that will be performed liposuction, as a comparison for before and after the action. Some things to consider when meeting with a doctor, before performing liposuction or liposuction procedures, include:

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to certain medicines.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking any medication, including supplements and herbs. Blood thinning drugs should be stopped 2 weeks before performing the liposuction procedure.
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of certain diseases such as blood flow disorders, diabetes, heart disease, or a weak immune system.
• Tell a certain lifestyle, such as smoking habits or just following a strict diet pattern is very low in calories.

Types of Liposuction Method

In general, liposuction uses a device in the form of a thin tube or canulla that is connected to a suction or vacuum. The types of liposuction based on the technique of destroying the fat are: Tumescent liposuction. The most commonly used liposuction technique is done by injecting a tumescent solution into the body fat to be aspirated. This tumescent solution facilitates suctioning of fat, while minimizing pain and reducing bleeding. A tumescent solution is a saline or salt water solution mixed with epinephrine and lidocaine.

• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). This technique uses sound wave energy under the skin to break down fat walls. Furthermore, the fat will melt and make it easier to be sucked out.
• Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL). Laser light is used to produce a series of energy that melts fat.
• Super-wet technique. The technique that is similar to tumescent liposuction is just that the tumescent solution is used less. The amount of solution injected is adjusted to the amount of fat to be sucked. This technique is faster, but requires administration of anesthesia or general anesthesia.
• Power-assisted liposuction: Uses a special canulla tool that is small in shape with rapid vibrations to destroy fat cells. The advantage of this technique is that the incision is made quite small and does not damage the surrounding tissue.

Liposuction Procedure

The liposuction procedure is very dependent on the liposuction method used and the amount of fat that is suctioned. However, in general this is how liposuction is performed:

• Administration of anesthesia, whether local or general, will depend on the suction technique chosen and the amount of fat to be taken.
• Liposuction and canulla (suction tubes with sharp edges) are used for this procedure.
• The doctor makes a small incision to insert the canulla into the skin which contains fat. Collection of fat and then sucked up with a pump or a large syringe.
• Some punctures on the skin may be needed to suck up fat over a wider area. The doctor will also poke the suction device from various directions or different angles to obtain an effective suction path.
• A small tube will be placed in the area of ​​the newly aspirated fat. This tube is useful for draining the fluid and blood that will collect several days after the procedure.

The length of the liposuction procedure varies considerably, depending on the liposuction technique used. Usually this procedure lasts 1-3 hours.

After Liposuction

The doctor will put a bandage or elastic corset in the area of ​​handling liposuction to reduce swelling, bruising, and prevent bleeding, and can maintain the shape of the body area that has been suctioned with fat. Bandages or elastic corsets will be used for 2 weeks, but occasionally elastic bandages may be removed, for example when bathing. The patient will feel pain, tingling, or numbness in that area of ​​the body. In areas of the body that do liposuction will also cause bruising and swelling. This condition can be felt by patients for 5-10 days. The patient will be given anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and swelling. Doctors can also give antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. Patients usually recover completely after 2 weeks, but have been able to return to activity a few days after liposuction. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities for 4 weeks after liposuction. The results of liposuction may only appear 6 months after liposuction, after the swelling in the area is completely gone The need for hospitalization after liposuction depends on the amount of fat extracted, the type of anesthesia given, and the complications that arise. Patients who are allowed to go home after liposuction are not allowed to drive themselves.

Risk or Side Effects of Liposuction

Possible risks of the liposuction procedure are:

• Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacterial infections.
• Bleeding.
• Shock, because the body lacks fluids when undergoing surgery.
• The formation of a liquid-filled pouch under the skin.
• Fat embolism, which is fat that is released and carried by the bloodstream, resulting in a blockage in the bloodstream.
• Uneven skin surface.
• Side effects and allergic reactions from anesthesia or anesthesia.
• Numbness around the skin.
• Damage to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, and abdominal organs.