Suction Lipoplasty:

The Ultimate in Body Contouring

....picking up where diet and exercise leave off....

In a world of low fat diets, power workouts and personal training,

suction lipoplasty is often considered an easy out. There is a very strong contingent that believe that dedication to a healthy, low fat diet and a well rounded exercise program will deal with any and every bulge and produce a shapely, svelte body in everyone. This is simply not true

The truth is that liposuction is an excellent procedure

given that it is used as a body contouring technique and NOT a general weight reduction tool. Liposuction is not effective on widespread, generalized fat deposits. Rather, suction lipoplasty is directed at localized areas of fat that do not respond to diet or exercise. To be successful, this technique should be applied to fat deposits which are well localized. Localized fat deposits appear as a very well defined, discrete bulge in a given area. In addition, the skin overlying this bulge must have adequate elasticity. When the excess fat beneath is removed, the skin will shrink down and conform to the new contour. If skin has inadequate elasticity, or is loose, wrinkling and bagginess of the overlying skin may result. In different individuals, skin elasticity varies widely. There is no certain age past which this procedure should not be performed; however, it is critical that the localized deposit and the overlying skin be examined carefully to determine whether the procedure will be helpful.

There are two layers of fat beneath the skin.

The layer immediately beneath the skin (superficial skin compartment) is of uniform thickness in most individuals. This is the layer of fat that goes up and down with weight loss and weight gain. The deeper layer (deep fat compartment) is the layer which varies in thickness, and is responsible for the localized bulges corrected by suction lipoplasty. Usually due to an inherited pattern, the deep fat compartment is enlarged and causes a bulge of the overlying tissues even in individuals who are at and maintain their proper weight and workout routine. The superficial layer of fat next to the skin must be left intact for at least one quarter to one half inch beneath the skin to avoid rippling or contour deformities following the procedure. Through tiny incisions less than one half inch long, the suction tube is passed at least one quarter to one half inch beneath the skin, and fat is removed from that depth downward or deeper to the layer where muscle is present. It is the removal of the excess deposits in this fat compartment which corrects the localized bulging contour deformity.

 

 

 

Many areas of the body can be improved by removal of excess fat using suction techniques.

In women, the most common areas of localized fat deposits are the flanks (at or directly above the waist), lower abdomen, outer thighs or "saddle bags" and inner thighs. Men are more likely to notice unwanted, recalcitrant bulges in the lower abdomen and flank or "love handle" areas. Occasionally, fat deposits around the knee, calf and ankle area can be improved.

In the past three or four years, significant advances have been made in the technique of suction lipoplasty.

One of the main advances is the use of smaller diameter suction cannulas. When the procedure was first developed, the cannulas were the size of your index finger, allowing relatively large "globs" of fat to be removed all at once producing a high risk of contour irregularities following the procedure. Today, suction cannulas are tiny, most are smaller than a pencil. Although more time consuming, by removing fat in very small amounts we can control the procedure more precisely and achieve a much more even contour. Another advancement in liposuction techniques was the subject of an episode of 20/20 not too long ago. The Tumescent Technique centers around flooding the localized fat deposits with an inordinate amount of fluid allowing the fat to break down and suction much easier. There is even experimenting going on with ultrasound techniques to break up the fat globules prior to using the cannulas to suction it away; however, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved this technique for use in the United States.

Liposuction, depending on how many areas need to be addressed,

can usually be done in one to one and a half hours and is always performed as a day surgery procedure. Patients are sent home with tiny Steri Strips over their incisions and placed securely in a compression garment. This garment helps keep the swelling to a minimum and must be worn for two weeks. Following surgery, patients are only restricted from aerobic activity for two weeks and can expect to be back into their normal routine immediately.

The world of liposuction and the world of workouts and diets really go hand in hand

as is illustrated in this series of before and after photographs. This is the same woman in all three photos- before liposuction, after liposuction and one year after an aggressive workout program. Just as there is only so much a workout can do for you, there is only so much liposuction can do- but together they can produce incredible results and incredible bodies.

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For more information, call Dr. Tebbetts at 800-837-2530

Dr. John B. Tebbetts is a board certified plastic surgeon

who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face and body and breast reconstruction following mastectomy. He currently practices in Dallas and Longview, Texas. The emphasis of Dr. Tebbetts' practice and clinical research is increasing the level of scientific thought and technical perfection in plastic surgical procedures. His latest development is an anatomically shaped, textured saline breast implant that is currently on the market and changing the way both patients and surgeons think about breast augmentation surgery.

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