Type of Surgery
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Last updated: 11/24/2009
Most liposuction procedures are performed under local anesthesia (loss of sensation without loss of consciousness) by the tumescent, or wet, technique. In this technique, large volumes of very dilute local anesthetic (a substance that produces anesthesia)...
are injected under the person's skin, making the tissue swollen and firm. Epinephrine is added to the solution to reduce bleeding, which allows the removal of larger amounts of fat.
The physician first numbs the skin with an injection of local anesthetic. After the skin is desensitized, the doctor makes a series of tiny incisions, usually 0.12–0.25 in (3–6 mm) in length. Flooding the area with a larger amount of local anesthetic, fat is then extracted with suction through a long, blunt hollow tube called a cannula. The doctor repeatedly pushes the cannula through the fat layers in a radiating pattern creating tunnels, thus removing fat and recontouring the area. Large quantities of intravenous fluid (IV) are given during the procedure to replace lost body fluid. Blood transfusions might be necessary.
Some newer modifications to the procedure include the use of a cutting cannula called a liposhaver and the use of ultrasound to help break up the fat deposits. The person is awake and comfortable during these procedures.
The length of time required to perform the procedure varies with the amount of fat that is to be removed and the number of areas to be treated. Most operations take from 30 minutes up to two hours, but extensive procedures can take longer. The length of time required also varies with the manner in which the anesthetic is injected.
The cost of liposuction can vary depending upon the standardized fees in the region of the country where it is performed, the extent of the area being treated, and the person performing the procedure. Generally, small areas such as the chin or knees can be done for as little as $500, while more extensive treatment such as when hips, thighs, and abdomen are done simultaneously can cost as much as $10,000. These procedures are cosmetic and are not covered by most insurance policies.
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Fat cells change in size throughout our lives, depending on what we eat and how active we are. One way to remove these fat cells is through liposuction, described in the video. Both traditional and newer liposuction techniques like laser ablation (Smart liposuction) are discussed and described.
The areas to be treated during liposuction are marked before surgery (A) and then injected with a solution to aid in fat removal (B). The surgeon inserts a cannula into the areas (C), then suctions out fat with a back and forth motion (D). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty ("fat modeling"), liposculpture or suction lipectomy ("suction-assisted fat removal") is a cosmetic surgery operation that removes fat from many different sites on the human body. Areas affected can range from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, to the neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere.
Liposuction is not a low-effort alternative to exercise and diet. It is a form of body contouring with significant attendant risks and is not a weight loss method. The amount of fat removed varies by doctor, method, and patient, but is typically less than 10 pounds (5 kg).
There are several factors that limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session. Ultimately, the operating physician and the patient make the decision. There are negative aspects to removing too much fat. Unusual "lumpiness" and/or "dents" in the skin can be seen in those patients "over-suctioned". The more fat removed the higher the surgical risk.
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