Do you have stubborn areas
of fat that won’t go away no matter what you do? Do you feel your figure is
spoiled by a particular problem area?
Liposuction might be the solution you’re looking for.
The procedure can be used to
effectively sculpt your silhouette and remove those lumps and bumps that make
you feel self-conscious. Read on as we answer the most frequently asked
questions about this treatment…
What parts of the body can
be treated with liposuction?
Liposuction is a versatile
treatment that can be used on most areas of the body where fatty deposits
collect. The most frequently treated areas are the stomach and flanks, hips,
buttocks, outer and inner thighs, arms, back, chin and neck area.
In more colloquial terms,
people often want to know if we can treat their “love-handles”, “saddle bags”,
“bra rolls”, “banana rolls”, or “double chin” – and the answer is yes!
What type of liposuction
does Ocean Clinic Marbella offer?
There is a wide variety of
liposuctions machines available and many different brand names such as
CoolLipo, SmartLipo, AquaLipo and Vaser. You can read more about all the
different types here.
Our preferred method is
Tickle Lipo – otherwise known as Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture (NIL). This method uses a vibrating cannula which breaks
up the fat high at the same time as infusing the tissue with pain-numbing
fluid. The vibration can cause a tickling sensation
for the patient, hence its name.
How much does it cost?
The cost of your treatment
will depend on how many areas you’re having treated, as well as the volume of
fat you’re having removed. Liposuction at Ocean Clinic Marbella starts at
€2,500.
How much fat can be
removed?
It’s
important to recognise that liposuction isn’t a treatment for obesity and it’s
not an alternative to healthy eating and exercise. Liposuction is best used for
areas of fat that prove resistant to diet and exercise. You should therefore
have a healthy starting bodyweight to be a good candidate.
Safety is
our first priority when performing liposuction and for that reason we will
usually only remove up to 5,000 cc of fat (11 lbs) in one session. Larger
amounts can be removed but the potential for cardiac and pulmonary
complications rises dramatically and the patient must be closely observed.
Where do you make the
incisions and how big a scar are you left with?
Incisions
sites for liposuction are typically very small and hidden as much as possible. They
can be concealed in the belly button when treating the abdomen and waist, in
the pubic hairline when treating the lower tummy and pubis area, and in the
creases of the buttocks, groin, breast and neck for treating other areas.
We can also
place them in existing scars, such as C-Section or appendectomy, or mole
removal scars. The incision site does not always have to be right next to the
area being treated.
Do you have general
aesthetic for the procedure?
We perform
liposuction on an outpatient basis, which means you do not have to be fully put
to sleep or stay in overnight.
Local
anaesthetic is delivered by the tumescent solution that is injected into the
area/s prior to fat aspiration meaning you won’t feel any pain. It is now
standard for patients to be awake during treatment as this is safest way for it
to be performed and patients can normally go home within half an hour of
surgery completion.
Removal of
larger amounts of fat (above 5,000 cc) does require general anesthesia and an overnight stay.
How painful is it?
There is very little pain
during the treatment itself, although you will feel a prodding or tickling
sensation.
Following surgery, the level
of pain you experience will depend on the amount of fat you’ve had removed and
the areas treated. You will be most sore in the two days immediately after
liposuction, but this can usually be controlled with over the counter
painkillers.
As you continue to heal over
the following four to eight weeks you may experience a tingling, itching or
burning sensation, or sudden sharp pain, which occurs as the damaged nerve
fibres fuse back together.
How long is recovery?
If you have
a desk job you can usually return to work very quickly – within a few days. Light
exercise/activity is also recommended to prevent blood clots and discourage
swelling. Heavy exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for
two to three weeks.
You may
have some stitches and dressings that will prevent you from being able to bathe
until they are removed, around a week later. You may also have compression
garments to wear for several weeks in order to decrease swelling and encourage
loose skin to retract.
Liposuction
is a well tolerated but invasive treatment and complete healing of the tissues
can take some months. Fibrosis (scar tissue) can cause hardened areas under the
skin but this can be helped by massage and radio frequency treatment and is
usually gone within four to six months.
In general, final results
from liposuction can be seen within six months, but it can take up to a year.
Are there any possible
complications?
All surgery comes with risk
of complication, such as infection and bleeding,
but these are very uncommon.
More common
side effects from liposuction include contour irregularities like lumps and
dimples, but these are often short-term
and resolve themselves as the body recovers and heals.
How long do the results
last?
Unlike dieting or
exercising, liposuction permanently removes fat cells. The body will not
produce new cells, however the remaining fat cells can still increase in size
should you increase your calorie intake or become pregnant. This means it is
still possible to gain weight.
To maintain your results you
should implement good eating and exercise habits prior to surgery and
stick with these habits after your treatment.
