Liposuction Great Falls MT

Liposuction is a form of cosmetic surgery that involves removing fat deposits for a permanent contouring effect. Also called liposculpture, the most common area that people have treated is the tummy, but liposuction can be performed on the inner thighs, upper arms, hips, buttocks, knees, ankles and back. Even though it is most commonly used for body sculpting, it can also be used on the neck and face.

When it comes to fat removal, liposuction can get rid of fat in the areas that a person may not have been able to remove it through diet and exercise. The most rewarding aspect of this cosmetic procedure is that the fat cells, once removed from you body won’t be replaced. This means the results will be long lasting, especially with proper nutrition and exercise to maintain the body shape.

Dr. Giorgio Fischer, a gynecologist from Italy invented liposuction in 1974. By 1978, the original procedure was developed further by two French doctors, Fournier and Illouz. Although liposuction was becoming popular, in the 1980’s, there were some areas that needed improvement. Patients complained of undesirable rippling of the skin and there were some cases of excessive bleeding.

New techniques for liposuction were developed that involved smaller instrumentation and the use of local anesthesia. That resolved the excessive bleeding issues and problems with depressions in the skin.

Liposuction is not used to treat obesity, nor is it a treatment for weight control. People who are thinking about having the procedure done have to remember to have realistic expectations and to understand that there is a limit to the amount of fat that can safely be removed from some areas.

The basic procedure for liposuction involves making a tiny incision in the area of fat removal and inserting a small tube called a cannula. The cannula is pushed and pulled through the fat layer, breaking it up so that it can be suctioned out. A vacuum pump or a large syringe is used to suction out the fat. If liposuction is to be performed in a different area, a new incision is then made and the procedure is repeated.

Over the many years that this procedure has been carried out, there have been some technique changes. One technique that is commonly used by plastic surgeons is called tumescent liposuction. It involves injecting a medicated solution into fatty areas before the fat removal process. The fluid contains a salt solution, lidocaine (local anesthetic) and epinephrine. Epinephrine is a drug that contracts blood vessels and has proven to reduce blood loss from liposuction procedures. One advantage of the fluid injection method is that there is less bruising after surgery, another is that local anesthesia is widely considered the safest form of anesthesia.

The tumescent liposuction technique involves large amounts of fluid, usually 3 times more fluid than fat to be removed. This method takes quite a long time, especially if there is more than one site to inject.

Modified tumescent liposuction involves combining the local anesthesia with a general or heavier IV sedation. An anesthesiologist is needed if this type of liposuction procedure is used.

Similar to the tumescent liposuction technique is the super-wet technique. Less fluid is injected into the area and general anesthesia or IV sedation is usually used. This makes the procedure shorter, taking about 1 or 2 hours, compared to the 4 or 5 of the tumescent standard.

Finally, there is Ultrasound-Assisted-Lipoplasty (UAL). A special cannula that produces ultrasonic energy is used which explodes fat cell walls and liquefies the fat. The traditional suction is then used for fat removal. This procedure is the most time consuming and is used in high precision situations. It is a very effective form of liposuction.

Do you want to know if you would be a good candidate for liposuction? Here is a basic checklist. You should:
Be physically and psychologically in good health.
Have stubborn areas of fat that won’t budge with exercise or dieting.
Have excess fat, but skin that is firm and elastic.
Be close to your normal weight range.
Have reasonable and realistic goals and expectations about what liposuction will do.
Be prepared to continue with good eating habits and exercise, once healed.

Although women make better candidates than men, this should not prevent men from having liposuction. It may take longer to perform but can have just as good of a result. Age is only a factor, in that; an older patient’s skin may not have the same elasticity as a younger person, so the results may not be as good.

Who might not make a good candidate for liposuction? Anyone who has had surgery in the area selected for contouring. If you have a medical condition, such as heart or lung disease or you suffer from poor circulation and/or diabetes, the risks may be too high.

Whether you consider yourself a good candidate or not, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your health and determine if liposuction is an option for you.