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Director of Cosmetic Surgery, University of Illinois Chicago Department of Dermatology
Oakbrook Center Mall Oak Brook, Illinois (630) 928-0240 Jeffrey Melton, M.D., S.C.,
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Liposuction - New methods easier, better & safer than before Chicago - Every day hundreds of people are turning to liposuction as their solution. A way to help you get that trimmer, healthier, better-looking body and a way to keep it that way. But, what you may not know, is the fact there are new, easier ways to have liposuction. These new techniques involve much less discomfort than was possible before. And your recovery is quick (usually you can be back at work within 2 or 3 days). Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is the surgical removal of excess fat from fatty deposits between the skin and muscles. Developed in the early 1980's by a dermatologist, tumescent liposuction has become one of the best methods to eliminate unwanted body fat and achieve better body proportions. before after Because of its safety and effectiveness, liposuction has become the most common cosmetic procedure performed. In fact, just last year over 100,000 people had liposuction done. The liposuction procedure usually involves small incisions (about 1/2" in length or less) made in or near the areas from where the fat will be removed. Then a hollow, blunt-tipped instrument (cannula) is inserted through the incisions and connected to a suction unit. As the suction cannula is moved back and forth, it draws out the unwanted fat, while the blood vessels and nerves leading to the skin remain unharmed. The removal of fat is accomplished by the suction cannula creating tiny passages through the fatty layers. Then after the surgery these tiny passages collapse and result in an improved body shape. Liposuction can be performed in your physician's office, a free-standing surgery center or in a hospital. If you would like to see exactly what the tumescent liposuction surgery procedure is like, take the liposuction surgery tour. There is little if any actual weight loss, but dramatic changes in your silhouette and body shape are often possible. The cosmetic success of liposuction is based on removing inches not pounds. Thoughts ordinary people had before deciding to have liposuction: "I always thought that if I exercised more my saddlebags would disappear. Unfortunately, no matter how many toning tapes I tried or how often I ran on the treadmill those bulges wouldn't budge. I wasn't desperate for an amazing body -- I just wanted to feel better about myself." Woman 5'6" 128 lbs., age 32, retail buyer "I'd exercised faithfully for eight years -- putting in hours on the StairMaster, lifting weights, and doing more squats than any human alive. It was horribly frustrating to put so much energy into exercising and see so few changes in my lower body" Woman 5'5" 135 lbs., age 34, V.P. Marketing "Until recently, I dreaded getting up in front of people, knowing they were thinking, She's pretty -- but what a big butt...I wasn't grossly overweight. But shopping was pure torture because my thighs, butt and hips were so big...For several years I worked hard to slim down: I walked a couple of miles three or four times every week. I did tons of lunges and squats because I wanted to tone my legs and butt...Last year I came home from a five-hour shopping trip empty-handed...I then decided that I had to do something about my body" Woman 5'9" 145 lbs., age 32, cosmetics salesperson (excerpts taken from interviews in Fitness Magazine May 1998) Maybe you are thinking those same thoughts right now and wondering if your body is right for liposuction... See comments from our own patients Who are the best candidates for liposuction? Liposuction can benefit both men and women and there is no defined age or weight limit for liposuction. A good parameter is if you are within 20-30 pounds of your ideal weight and your weight has been stable for several years now. Plus it's important that you are in good health. What if you don't quite fit those guidelines? Even people who are somewhat obese have had success with liposuction, especially if there are certain concentrated problem areas. Also, realistic expectations are extremely important. Skin with a rippled or dimpled surface ("orange peel" or cellulite) usually cannot be improved with liposuction. No two people will respond the same way to liposuction, even if they have similar physical appearances. Overall factors such as your skin condition, underlying bone structure, location of fat, amount of fat, and overall health habits will all contribute to the final results. Liposuction is not a treatment for general obesity nor is it a replacement for good eating and exercise habits. More. Liposuction techniques: Tumescent Liposuction technique: This is the most significant improvement of the liposuction technique. The tumescent technique, developed by a Dermatologist in 1985, permits liposuction to be performed totally by local anesthesia instead of general. The tumescent technique uses large volumes of a diluted solution of lidocaine (a numbing agent), and epinephrine (a drug which temporarily shrinks capillaries and blood flow), gently injected into the targeted pockets of fat to numb the area. This "numbing fluid" then loosens the fat and shrinks the blood vessels for minimal bleeding and bruising. The large amount of diluted local anesthetics injected into the fatty tissue will cause the tissue to become swollen and firm (tumescent). This magnifies the fatty area which is to be treated by liposuction. With the tumescent technique very small micro cannulas are used, ranging in size from less than 2.0 to 3.4 mm in diameter. These micro cannulas permit a more delicate and gentle approach to the procedure. Since these micro cannulas require a minimum amount of force to place them inside the fatty tissue, the surgeon can better control the direction and position of the cannula with more precision. Which helps you end up with better and smoother results, since there is a greatly reduced chance of coming too close to the undersurface of the skin, which would cause irregularities. Also since the tumescent technique uses micro cannulas only tiny incisions are required. These tiny incisions are so small that no stitching is performed after the procedure. The wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear over time. Take these links for more on tumescent liposuction and the development of the tumecsent technique. Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Technique or UAL Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) is a newer liposuction technique here, but that been used in Europe since 1988. Similar to suction liposuction, ultrasonic uses a hollow cannula to remove fat. Liposuction is performed by passing an ultrasound probe through incisions in the fat. The ultrasound probe emits very high frequency sound waves causing the fat cells to rupture and makes it easier for the fat to be sucked out. Another variation of UAL is not using internal ultrasound but rather taking the ultrasound probe and passing it superficially over areas of fat to help liquify the fat. Every person's situation is unique, so before deciding which technique is best for you it's a good idea to come in for a consultation. More on ultrasound assisted liposuction. Here's what those same women said after having tumescent liposuction done: "I love my new body and I'm wearing clothes I wouldn't have been caught dead in a year ago. My husband tells me I look great, and he's ecstatic that I no longer stand in front of my closet and say, 'I can't go out! I have nothing to wear!'" Woman 5'6" 128 lbs, age 32, retail buyer Presurgery size: 8 Postsurgery size: 6 --- "Some people might assume liposuction gives you the freedom to be lazy. That wasn't the case with me. Dropping two sizes gave me new motivation to work out and eat right. These days I love to hike and bike. I exercise at least 3 days a week" Woman 5'5" 135 lbs, age 34, V.P. Marketing Presurgery size: 14 Postsurgery size: 10 --- "Once I decided to have the surgery, I didn't hide the fact from my friends. Actually, at the office, I bragged about how the lumps of fat on both sides of my thighs disappeared immediately...I'm a size 10 now and I'm so much more confident. It feels great not to have to try so hard to look good. I'm a regular at the gym and I've been in-line skating and biking with my sisters. I'm not ultraskinny, but finally, I feel normal." Woman 5'9" 145 lbs, age 32, cosmetics salesperson Presurgery size: 10 on top, 14 on bottom Postsurgery size: 10 top and bottom --- (excerpts taken from interviews in Fitness Magazine May 1998) You can read some comments from our own patients here. The most frequently asked questions: How will my skin look after liposuction surgery? Because the fat is removed by suctioning small "tunnels" through the fat, the skin remains completely connected to the muscles underneath it. So, as healing occurs, the fibrous strands which connect to the skin will contract and pull the skin closer to the muscles. This process does not leave the skin hanging in loose folds after liposuction. If done correctly, the surgeon should leave a thin blanket of fat attached to the skin which will let the skin have a soft and natural feel after surgery. Although the results of liposuction are often excellent, it's not realistic to expect perfection. For instance liposuction of the thighs will improve the silhouette, but won't necessarily remove subtle puckering of the skin or "cellulite." Stretch marks, dimples, and ripples remain unchanged following surgery. The changes following liposuction are similar to what you would expect if you could lose fat in a concentrated area just by dieting. Usually within two to four weeks you'll be able to see dramatic effects, however the ultimate results will be seen twelve to sixteen weeks after the procedure. Are there any scars after liposuction? Typically no. At least not very visible ones. The incisions made by the micro cannulas are so small that these tiny incisions will become almost invisible without any stitches needed. Will the fat ever come back to the sculpted areas? The fat cells that are removed will never return. As long as there is no excessive weight gains the new sculpted silhouette will be permanent. If you were to gain weight, the areas treated by liposuction are less likely to accumulate deposits of fat. Any new fatty tissue will be concentrated mostly in areas not treated. Liposuction can not be a substitute for abusing diets after surgery. See also: Is liposuction long lasting, or permanent? Can Tumescent Liposuction help me with weight loss? Can I still gain weight after Tumescent Liposuction? Is tumescent liposuction performed in both the Oak Brook office and at the University of Illinois in Chicago office? Yes. We perform tumescent liposuction in both the Chicago and Oak Brook facilities. How do I get to the Oak Brook office or the University of Illinois in Chicago office? Our offices are easy to get to. In Oak Brook, we are in the middle of the Oakbrook Center Mall, in the professional building. In Chicago, in the Chicago Medical District within the University of Illinois College of Medicine campus. For details, check our contact page. I've heard most liposuction patients must have second surgeries or touch-up procedures, is this true? Some patients have secondary surgeries to correct uneven contouring. Such as saddlebags with tiny remaining bulges. Many second surgeries are done because patients were pleased with the results and wanted additional areas done or more fat removed. What complications and risks are possible? Just like any surgical procedures, there are certain risks involved. However, serious surgical complications of liposuction (especially tumescent) are quite rare. More severe complications such as infection, blood clots, skin loss and even cardiac arrest can occur. These are very rare, particularly if a well-qualified surgeon performs your procedure. The use of local anesthesia for tumescent surgery greatly reduces the inherent risks with general anesthesia. Minor side effects such as swelling, numbness, and bruising are somewhat common, but go away with time. Although irregularities of the skin are possible following liposuction, this side-effect is greatly minimized using the tumescent technique. More on complications, safety, and risks of liposuction. How soon can I return to my normal activities? You can usually be back at work within 2 or 3 days. You'll probably be asked to start walking around as soon as possible (to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs). And normal physical activity immediately following surgery should be limited only by your common sense. Most patients are surprised how quickly they are out doing anything they like. You can find more on liposuction recovery and what it is like here.
also seeHow much does liposuction cost? Liposuction costs are based upon the areas performed. The larger the area the greater the cost. Most patients consider the cost an investment in themselves for life. Which specialists do liposuction? Liposuction can be performed either by dermatologic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, or plastic surgeons. In fact, dermatologic surgeons and plastic surgeons are taught liposuction during their residency training programs. How do you choose a qualified doctor or surgeon? When choosing a doctor or surgeon look for someone who has completed additional, specialized training in liposuction. Find out how much experience they have with the liposuction, especially more specialized techniques. Choose a surgeon are comfortable with. Someone who listens to your concerns and is easy to talk with. The only way to find this out is by scheduling a consultation. The decision to have liposuction is a personal one. No one can decide for you. Many people worry about what others will think or say after your procedure is done. Or whether or not you should tell anyone. Keep in mind your procedure or consultation will always be completely confidential, so your decision to tell anyone is up to you. Liposuction can make you feel more confident about yourself and your body. It can help you see results you've wished you could get from diet and exercise. But it's not a magic formula or surgery for happiness. |
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Why tumescent liposuction (with local anesthetic only) is so much better and safer - click here |
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