FAQ: Lipsuction

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, also referred to as fat suction or liposculpting, is a surgical procedure which removes localized areas of fat to achieve an improvement in body contour. The change of silhouette produced by liposuction is equivalent to being able to focus the effects of dieting to specific areas of the body.

The cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. The new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent. If a person later gains or loses weight, the change tends to be distributed proportionately over the entire body.

The procedure is designed for people who are close to their normal weight and have found that through diet and exercise they are unable to rid themselves of unwanted fat deposits. It is not used for the treatment of generalized obesity. It is also not effective for the treatment of stretch marks, cellulite or other contour deformities produced by tissue other than fat.

Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic procedure in North America. Prior to the 1970’s, cutting the fat out was the only option available for the removal of unwanted fat deposits. More often than not this left a large, cosmetically unattractive scar. In the 1970’s liposuction was introduced to the medical community. Over time, the procedure has been refined and developed to a degree of sophistication that provides reliable results in most patients. The tumescent technique is considered to be the best method for fat removal, amongst dermatologic surgeons, because it is safer and provides a more satisfactory cosmetic result.

Who is a candidate for liposuction?

And ideal candidate for liposuction would be characterized as having:

• Good skin elasticity
• Stable weight for six months prior to the surgery
• Good health
• A regular exercise program
• Normal blood clotting
• A tendency to heal well after injury
• Realistic expectations

Although the results of liposuction may contribute to an improvement in an individual’s body image and self esteem, it will not change or improve relationships or solve psychological problems.

Why is the tumescent technique superior to other liposuction methods?

The tumescent technique is a relatively new technique which significantly improves the healing time and the cosmetic results of liposuction. The older technique is now referred to as the dry procedure. The wet or tumescent technique involves the injection of a solution into the fat deposit targeted for removal.

The solution contains a local anesthetic which numbs the area to be treated so that general anesthetics or narcotic analgesics are no longer necessary. Post-operative discomfort is also minimized since the local anesthesia remains in the surgically treated areas for approximately 18 hours after surgery; analgesics are prescribed as required for discomfort after surgery.

Due to the presence in the solution of a drug called Epinephrine, which temporarily shrinks capillaries, the tumescent technique dramatically reduces both the bleeding during surgery and bruising after surgery. In fact there is so little blood loss with the tumescent technique that patients usually lose more blood from pre-operative laboratory tests (about four tablespoons) than during the actual liposuction surgery. Minimal bleeding shortens the post-operative recovery time. Most patients can return to work within a week after surgery.

The diluted solution also contains a mild Cortisone. This controls inflammation which in turn results in less postoperative swelling and discomfort.

Because the bulk of the solution is made up of a natural saline, which is similar to the body’s natural fluids, dehydration during and after surgery is significantly reduced.

All these factors contribute to a less traumatic form of surgery and a faster, more comfortable, healing time.

The tumescent technique also employs very small circular instruments called cannulas to suck out the fat as compared to large cannulas employed with the dry technique. The smaller cannulas allow the surgeon better control over the direction, depth and amount of fat removed during surgery. This reduces the risk of irregularities. Depending on the area treated, incisions can be so small that they don’t even require a stitch, which also means scars may be nearly undetectable once healed.

Light Laser Assisted Lipolysis and/or Liposuction

All forms of light assisted liposuction use the tumescent technique. The light treatments are added on to the tumescent procedure in the belief that the light may provide added value by tightening the skin creating a smoother skin surface.

There are two types of light assisted liposuction; external and internal.

Light assisted liposuction which is external passes infrared light over the skin during the tumescent phase of the procedure. A fairly significant power can be used because the light passes through the epidermis to effect a change in the dermis. The advantages over internal  light assisted liposuction is that external treatments are less invasive, the length of the actual procedure is not actually altered, and higher powers of laser light can be used.

In the long run it would appear that the results of tumescent liposuction alone or tumescent with light liposuction are the same. The latter tends to result in a smoother skin surface and a tightening of the skin earlier in the recovery phase. The factors that seem most relevant in determining the best outcome of liposuction are the size of the cannulas used to suction the fat and the skill of the surgeon.

How much does liposuction cost?

The cost of liposuction is all inclusive. The surgeon’s fee, the anesthetist’s fee, the nursing assistants, the surgical suite in a certified non-hospital surgical facility, the recovery room, all pre and post operative visits, and all material needed for post operative care are included. At this time we charge by area with the first area being $3500.00 and each additional area being determined by assessment. GST applies. This price may be subject to change.

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