Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the major innovations in plastic surgery in the last two decades.  The concept is that fat can be removed from a wide area in a controlled fashion using long narrow metal tubes that are inserted through small inconspicuous incisions.  This technique has been improved and experience gained over the last decade that makes this predictable and safe.

Patients who have specific areas with fatty excess are the ideal candidates for this procedure.  Any part of the body can be treated.  Because of the apparent simplicity of the procedure there are many doctors who are not trained in plastic surgery who will attempt this procedure and care should be taken to choose a physician who is suitably trained not only in the technique of liposuction but in plastic surgery as well.

There are limitations to the technique and patients who have laxity of the skin will not have ideal results because of the increased irregularity and laxity of the skin caused by removing the underlying fat.  Sometimes patients who are only concerned about their appearance in clothing will opt for liposuction understanding this limitation.

There are variations in the detail of the technique used in liposuction.  The technique that Dr. Green uses is that he injects an amount of saline with local anesthetic and epinephrine approximately equivalent in volume, to the amount of fatty tissue that is expected to be removed.  (This is also known as the "super-wet technique"  This allows for a safe removal of fat with minimal blood loss.  In larger procedures general anesthesia is used although minor touchup type procedures can be done under local anesthesia in the office.  Sometimes the removed fat will be used to inject into an area for augmentation.  Recently there have been scientific reports suggesting that it is even safe to inject fat into the breasts for augmentation, although this was thought for many years to be contraindicated because this might interfere with mammography. Today mammography can almost always differentiate breast cancer from calcification due to fat injection.

In general Dr. Green does not use Ultrasound Assisted Lipoplasty because this precludes liposuction close to the skin. There is also increased risk of postoperative fluid collections using this technique.

A mainstay of the procedure is the use of postoperative compression garments.  This is necessary to prevent swelling and scarring that I would spoil the optimal result.  Initially Dr. Green recommends wearing the garment almost continuously for the first week.  Thereafter depending on the extent of the procedure, the garment can be removed for short periods of time.  Usually some form of compression is used for several months however to optimize the results.

During your consultation with Dr. Green he will discuss your particular options including possible other techniques that may give better results.  He will examine you and discuss your personal options.  Margie our patient coordinator will provide you with information on the costs and other details.  On the day before the surgery markings will be made on your skin to plan the actual areas to be treated and you will be provided with the necessary prescriptions for medications for after the surgery.  Photographs will be taken.  Instructions for the day of surgery will also be provided.

The surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure.  You will need to be accompanied by someone who will take you home after the surgery.  Dr. Green will check on you within a week and if necessary at any time that you have any concern.