Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca 25 BC—ca 50), who lived in the first century AD, described plastic surgery of the face, using skin from other parts of the body. |
Liposuction
Purpose
To correct figure faults caused by localised fat deposits.
Details
The surgeon defines the areas requiring treatment with the patient pre-operatively.
Depending on the amount of fat intended to be removed, handheld syringe suction up to ultrasound assisted machines may be employed.
It is common nowadays to employ the tumescent technique in which a solution of diluted local and vasoconstrictors is used to infiltrate the area to be treated.
Stab incisions are then made at appropriate sites and cannulas are inserted to aspirate the subcutaneous fat layer in and from different directions creating empty tunnels.
Drains may need to be inserted after the procedure.
Supporting pressure garments help with recovery in the post operative period.
Result
The final result awaits settling of swelling which may sometimes take up to a few weeks to be fully resolved.
Caution
Liposuction is not a form of weight reduction procedure. When excessive skin redundancy is also present, skin and subcutaneous fat excision may be the more appropriate approach. Scars at the cannula entry sites will be present.
The Hong Kong Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons is affiliated with Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the official publication of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
