Liposculpture is an aesthetic surgery indicated to remove localized fat from small areas of the body through liposuction and use this fat in other parts of the body, such as buttocks, facial folds, thighs and calves to remodel and improve body contour.
This type of surgery can be done by women or men who want to remove fat from a place that cannot be eliminated with an adequate training and diet plan, and, unlike common liposuction, liposculpture is not recommended for weight loss or weight loss. . See how liposuction is done.
Liposculpture must be performed by a plastic surgeon in specialized clinics or hospitals, and can be performed with local anesthesia and sedation, epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the region of the body to be treated.
When is it indicated
Liposculpture is recommended to remodel the body contour, removing fat located between the skin and muscle in different parts of the body, and placing the removed fat in strategic parts of the body to improve and harmonize the body contour.
Generally, liposculpture is recommended for people who are close to their ideal weight, but who are unable to eliminate localized fat and remodel their body with diet and exercise, and is not recommended for people who want to lose a lot of weight or suffer from obesity.
Where on the body can it be done?
The most common places on the body to perform liposculpture, removing localized fat, are:
- Stomach;
- culottes;
- Father;
- Thighs;
- Arms;
- Knees;
- Flanks.
After removing the localized fat, it can be placed on different parts of the body that you want to remodel, the most common being the face, thighs, buttocks, calves, breasts or hips, for example.
Which doctor performs liposculpture?
The doctor who performs liposculpture is a plastic surgeon, who specializes in aesthetic and body repair procedures, and can indicate the best type of treatment individually and according to the person’s goals.
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How to prepare
To prepare for liposculpture, some precautions are important, such as:
- Clarify all your doubts about the surgery with the plastic surgeonrecovery and expectations;
- Inform your doctor of all medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements that you take frequently, as some can affect recovery, interfere with anesthesia or increase the risk of clot formation or bleeding;
- Inform your doctor about the use of anticoagulant medicationssuch as warfarin, heparin, rivaroxaban, acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel, as the doctor may advise stopping these medications a few days before surgery;
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to anestheticsiodine, latex or any other type of medicine;
- Inform your doctor if you have any health problems, such as blood clotting problems, high blood pressure or diabetes;
- Quit smokingin the case of people who smoke, at least 4 weeks before and after liposculpture so as not to interfere with healing;
- Avoid alcoholic drinks for at least 2 weeks before and after the procedure;
- Avoid taking medications that have not been prescribed by your doctorincluding home remedies and teas;
- Increase water intake and decrease salt consumption before surgery;
- Fast for at least 8 hours before surgery, as advised by the doctor;
- Take your usual medicines normallywith little water, as per medical advice;
- Bring a companion on the day of surgeryas driving should be avoided after the procedure.
In addition, it is important to carry out some tests requested by the doctor to check the health status and reduce the risk of complications, such as heart tests, imaging tests, urine tests and blood tests. Find out more about the exams that must be done before plastic surgery.
How liposculpture is done
Liposculpture is performed by a plastic surgeon, normally with local anesthesia and sedation, general anesthesia or spinal or epidural anesthesia, depending on the region of the body in which the procedure will be performed.
To perform liposculpture, the surgeon must follow some steps, such as:
- Mark the skinto identify the place where the fat will be removed;
- Apply local anesthesia with adrenaline and serum to the skin, to prevent bleeding and pain, and facilitate the removal of fat;
- Make a small cut in the area so that a microtube can be inserted to aspirate the fat;
- Vacuum excess fat which is located under the skin with the microtube;
- Place the aspirated fat in a centrifuge to separate the aspirated fat and blood;
- Introduce adequate amounts of fat into the new location that you want to enlarge or shape.
Thus, in liposculpture, excess fat is removed and can then be used to be introduced into a new place on the body where there is a lack of it, such as the face, lips, calves or buttocks.
The duration of this cosmetic surgery varies according to the amount of fat to be aspirated, as well as the area to be improved and the person’s general health status. However, it usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours and, normally, hospitalization is not necessary, and the person can be released home on the same day.
What is recovery like?
After liposculpture, it is common for mild pain or discomfort to appear, as well as some bruising and swelling, in the places where the fat was aspirated and where it was introduced.
Recovery is gradual and takes between 1 week and 1 month, depending on the amount of fat removed and the location, but the first 48 hours are the ones that require the most care. Therefore, you should wear an elastic belt and not exert yourself, trying to take only short walks around the house to avoid the formation of clots in the legs.
In addition, you must take the pain medication prescribed by your doctor and remain off work for about 1 week, which is the time needed to remove the stitches from the skin and ensure that healing is occurring correctly. See all the care you need to take post-operatively.
When you can see results
After surgery, it is already possible to observe some results, however, as the region is still painful and swollen, it is common for people to only begin to see definitive results after 3 weeks and up to 4 months after surgery.
Thus, in the place where the fat was removed, you get more defined curves, while in the place where the fat was placed, a rounder and fuller silhouette appears, increasing the size and reducing the ridges.
Although it is not weight loss surgery, it is possible to lose some weight and have a slimmer body, as localized fat is removed.
Possible complications
Liposculpture is considered a safe surgical technique when performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, however, like any surgery, some complications may arise such as:
- Bruising and pain, which normally disappear after 15 days;
- Bleeding;
- Infections;
- Formation of clots in the legs;
- Changes in sensitivity or skin color;
- Irregularities in body contour.
In addition, a reaction to anesthesia may also occur during the procedure. In this case, medical care is immediate, as the surgery is performed in a hospital environment or specialized clinics, with equipment for medical emergencies.
Another risk is the formation of seromas, which are liquids accumulated near the scar site, which can be reabsorbed by the body or can be removed by the doctor with the help of a syringe, days after surgery. Find out the factors that favor the formation of seroma and how to avoid it.
When to go back to the doctor
It is important to return to the doctor if symptoms such as severe swelling or intense pain appear in the areas where the fat was removed or applied, chest pain, fever or shortness of breath.
