Liposuction Procedure

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is simply the process of surgically removing fat deposits beneath the skin from certain areas of the body, such as - the thighs, abdomen, and chest; through a hollow suction tube called a cannula. Liposuction can be performed either with the use of general anesthesia, or with heavy IV sedation, or totally by local anesthesia alone; depending on the complexity of the procedure. This also determines if you will be a day case patient or if you will need an overnight stay.

Lipo works best on people with stubborn areas of fat, which cannot be shifted by diet or exercise alone. Although not a cure for obesity, it helps people who have sagging folds of fat from losing huge amounts of weight following obesity surgery. The maximum amount of fat that can be removed is 3000 cc.

How is Liposuction performed?

The procedure starts with an intravenous drip of saline being administered to the patient to keep them from being dehydrated. The basic liposuction procedure involves the insertion of a small, tube-like stainless steel instrument called a cannula through tiny incisions made by the surgeon. The cannula is then pushed and pull to loosen the fat cells, and the unwanted fat deposits beneath the skin are suctioned or vacuumed away.

There are several techniques of performing liposuction. They are:
Tumescent Liposuction: There is no general anaesthetic requirement with this procedure. A fluid or solution containing local anaesthetic is injected into the subcutaneous fat to be suctioned off. This causes the fat to become ‘firm’ which helps to prevent blood loss, and the volume of fluid creates a space between the muscle and the fatty tissue, allowing more room for the cannula.
Dry Liposuction: This technique is the traditional way of removing fats but is hardly employed now; as it causes a lot of bleeding and bruising. It involves forceful movements of the cannula to break down the fatty tissues.
Wet Liposuction: Involves injecting a small amount of fluid into the area to be treated. This fluid contains lidocaine as a local anesthetic, adrenaline to contract the blood vessels and minimise bleeding, and a salt-solution to make it saline, like bodily fluids. The fluid used is lesser than the fat removed.
Super-Wet Liposuction: This technique is very similar to wet lipo but involves using the same amount or more fluid than the fat removed.
Laser Liposuction: This is one of the least invasive liposuction techniques; where a laser is used to emit a high frequency beam of light to liquify stubborn fat deposits, to be removed.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL): Involves using a specialised ultrasonic probe to emit ultrasound vibrations or waves to disturb and emulsify fat cells, making them easier to be sucked out.
Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL): This technique involves using high-powered cannula that goes back and forth at a very high-speed, making it easier to break down fat cells. This means less physical work for the surgeon. The broken down cells are suctioned off as usual. This variation allows for the gentler removal of fat cells, resulting in less pain during surgery and less bruising afterward.