Diet and exercise often lead to general weight loss but cannot remove localised fat deposits in certain areas. These are corrected with liposuction, or liposculpture, which removes excess fat through cannulas connected to suction devices or syringes.
The technique has been known for many years and has been continually improved: from large cannulas, which often gave unsatisfactory results, to small cannulas of various shapes that allow good control during surgery and good results. The most commonly treated areas are the hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, abdomen and the area under the chin. The final result depends on the amount of fat removed, on good surgical technique and on how the body responds: the skin, whose ability to retract varies from area to area, adapts over the following months to the new shape of the deeper tissues.
Although it may seem a minor procedure, liposculpture is a real surgical operation, not free from risks and complications, even serious ones. A careful assessment of each patient is therefore essential, looking for underlying conditions that might make the operation inadvisable and for any medication being taken. The operation is often performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation.
Recovery
Liposculpture can almost always be performed as a day case; for large volumes a stay of at least one night may be advisable. After surgery patients wear compression bandages for one week and elastic garments for three to four weeks. The result, already visible early on, becomes clear after at least two months and continues to improve thanks to skin retraction.
Despite the bulk of the compression garments, normal activities can be resumed from the following day.
Power-assisted liposculpture
An evolution of the classic technique, power-assisted liposculpture uses a handpiece that moves the cannula back and forth automatically. This makes the surgeon’s movements more precise and requires much less effort. The device can sense the density of the tissues and stops automatically if it meets a harder structure, reducing the risk of error, since the cannula tends to glide naturally through the fatty tissue. Indications, planning, suction pattern and aftercare are the same as for the classic technique.