Liposuction, or just liposuction, is a form of elective plastic surgery commonly used in cosmetic plastic surgery. It involves the selective elimination of fat from specific regions of the body. Liposuction does not seem to affect overall weight-related issues and therefore does not significantly impact on health-related concerns. In the United States alone, liposuction is currently the second most popular cosmetic surgery. Approximately ten to twenty percent of all liposuction surgeries are elective, compared to the ten to twenty percent of all breast lifts, tummy-tucks, and rhinoplasty surgeries.
One of the primary complications of liposuction occurs when the patient is under general anesthesia, which may require hospitalization and/or respiratory arrest. In extremely rare cases, excessive bleeding or adverse allergic reactions may result from liposuction. Anesthesia is typically provided by local anesthetics, with sedation through inhalation, oral or intravenous. If the patient is having more than one procedure performed, then all procedures will require general anesthesia.
Many cosmetic surgeons feel that liposuction is not appropriate for all areas of the body, especially if the patient has small or large amounts of subcutaneous fat to be removed. Liposuction should be considered for those patients with excess skin and fat deposits, who cannot safely be treated with any other form of surgery, such as an abdominoplasty. There are some liposuction techniques that do not require the use of general anesthesia and are very safe. Tumescent liposuction uses a small, hollow needle is injected with an anesthetic to liquefy the fat and allow for easy removal. This is often used to remove fat deposits from the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, hips, and neck.
If you are in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Chandler AZ area and would like a consultation on liposuction contact us for help today.
