Body Contouring (Liposuction)
Over the past decade body liposuction (also known as lipo-contouring,
lipoplasty and lipo-sculpting or body sculpturing) has become the most
common and popular cosmetic operation performed in the United States.
Liposuction is a technique developed for removal of fatty deposits
through very small skin incision. Liposuction is especially effective
for removal of localized, genetically predetermined, fatty deposits that
are particularly resistant to dieting and exercise. In women, the most
common areas for liposuction (lipocontouring, fat removal) are the abdomen, hips, and
the lower extremities. In men the most common areas are the
"love handles", the abdomen, and the breasts (gynecomastia, reduction
of the male breast).
In women, liposuction may also be used to teduce the breast
volume thus avoiding long incisions, but unlike a breast lift or breast
reduction this approach does not relocate the
nipple/areolar complex into a higher position. Having used power-assisted liposuction since
1998 with very satisfying results, Dr. Zemplenyi does not find a real need
for ultrasonic liposuction, VASER laser or laser- assisted
liposuction in his practice at this time. Should convincing,
literature-based evidence of increased efficacy of these techniques
becomes available, Dr. Zemplenyi may adopt these additional liposuction technologies in our
practice in the Bel-Red Center. Dr. Zemplenyi also feels that his
technique of liposuction yields much quicker and more predictable
results than do serial injections of various fat dissolving substances
known as (mesotherapy). At Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery we not
only serve patients from Seattle, Bellevue, and the entire Puget Sound
region, but patients also travel to see Dr. Zemplenyi from locations as
far as Oregon, California, Florida and New York.
Pre-operative Consultation
During your consultation for liposuction, Dr. Zemplenyi will address
your cosmetic concerns and will advise you whether liposuction may be
the right solution for you. He wishes you to understand realistic
goals, expectations and risks of liposuction so that you are empowered
to make an informed decision about a custom tailored procedure that best
fits your individual needs. Liposuction is best employed as a contouring
body contouring technique as opposed to a weight-loss procedure.
Fat cells extracted by liposuction are permanently removed and do
not appear to recur. However, a stable weight must be maintained
following the surgery because weight gain will cause enlargement
(increase in volume) of the remaining fat cells elsewhere. Liposuction
is definitely not an alternative to weight loss or exercise. The best
candidates are those people in good health who have localized deposits
of fat. Liposuction also results in contraction of the overlying skin
envelope but this effect is not fully predictable. Thus, in some
patients with large excess of skin tissue skin contraction is not likely
to be enough and an excision of additional skin or skin/fat layer is
required, especially on the abdomen. An abdominoplasty ("tummy-tuck" or
"mini tummy-tuck") may be combined with liposuction in selected
patients and may be necessary to achieve the desired contour.
Surgery & Anesthesia
Our goal is to perform all surgeries safely without any pain or
recollection of the procedure and with the least amount of discomfort,
nausea or any other anesthetic side-effects. Patient's comfort and
safety are paramount, and complete monitoring is performed for all
patients undergoing any anesthetic. Since all levels of anesthesia are
available in our Medicare-certified surgical center we are able to
tailor the technique to patient's needs, desires and wishes.
Since his training in liposuction in 1987 and as a result from his
large experience with this procedure over many years, Dr. Zemplenyi's
prefers lipoplasty (liposuction) using modified tumescent technique
along with power-assisted liposuction, usually administered under
sedation anesthesia (twilight sleep) for ultimate patient comfort. The
tumescent technique provides enough numbing for the area so that
liposuction can be performed solely under local anesthesia with mild
sedation achieved with oral sedative medications. However, at the
Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Cosmetic Plastic Surgery we find that most patients, if
given a choice, prefer to undergo sedation anesthesia when larger areas
of the body are being contoured. In this manner, patients are very
comfortable during the operation and have no recollection of the
procedure. Yet, at the completion of the surgery the patients are
comfortable and ready for discharge home usually within one hour
accompanied by a responsible adult. (Please the section on
Anesthesia and Pre-operative instructions).
Using a prudent approach, Dr. Zemplenyi limits the amount of fat to
be safely extracted in one session. Our lipoplasty technique consists
of infiltration of a large volume of a very dilute local anesthetic
solution into the areas to be contoured suctioned. The fatty layer thus
becomes inflated and firm (tumescent). The solution contains Lidocaine
to provide numbing, and Epinephrine to constrict blood vessels. With
this technique of liposuction little bleeding and bruising are usually
encountered. Special oscillating, power-driven, metal suction tubes (cannulas)
of various sizes are inserted into the fatty layer through small skin
incisions placed so as to be hidden once healing occurs. The cannulas,
attached to a vacuum pump, remove fat as they are passed back and forth
into the fatty tissues. The fatty layer becomes very noticeably reduced
in volume, and multiple small tunnels are formed. With liposuction the
overlying skin contracts and contours over the remaining fatty layer
muscles by collapse and contraction of the tunnels created in the fatty
layer. An improved body contour, with a normal look and feel of the skin
is achieved, though minor amounts of skin rippling may persist. A
compressive garment is applied at the end of the procedure.
After Your Surgery
In order to promote contouring of the sculpted areas, patients wear a
compressive garment all the time during the first one to two weeks, and
then at night for the subsequent several weeks. The amount of discomfort is
moderate and depends on the areas that have been contoured. Most
patients take the prescribed narcotic medications for the first several
days and then resort to Tylenol or anti-inflammatory medications such as
Ibuprofen. Following liposuction patients are encouraged to walk the night of surgery, and
most patients are able to return to work in two to four days, and resume
some exercise in about two weeks. Patients are seen for a check-up in
about one week. The small incisions are closed with absorbable sutures,
and drainage of fluid from these incisions usually ceases in about two
days. Massage and smoothing out of the suctioned areas with a
pastry rolling
pin filled with either cold or warm water is may be helpful in some
patients. The final cosmetic result
is not achieved for three to four months until resolution small areas of
swelling and residual contour irregularities.
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