Body Contouring with SmartLipo
All bodies, whether male or female, come in different shapes and sizes. Genetic females store fat a lot easier than men. Women’s’ bodies store fat in different areas such as the hips, buttocks and thighs – but not usually around the waist. As a result, their bodies appear curvier and more voluptuous – which is something many transgender women worry about during their physical transformation.
Though it’s possible to achieve a feminine form through a variety of surgical and lifestyle choices, it’s important to recognize the natural differences in body types between men and women, and to form realistic expectations based on your natural physical form.
No two women’s bodies are the same. The female form comes in many different physical packages, all which are beautiful in their own way.
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, is a body-sculpting procedure to remove fat deposits that are unresponsive to dieting and exercising. This procedure can be applied to many different areas of the body. Liposuction results in a slimmer and better proportioned figure.
In the abdomen, liposuction can be used alone to decrease flank fullness (“love-handles”), and decrease the thickness of the abdominal wall. Sometimes, it is used in conjunction with an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, to provide the patient with the best possible results. This mainly depends on the amount of excess skin and the quality of the skin in the abdomen, which will be evaluated during your initial consultation. This procedure can also be done in conjunction with other procedures such as the tummy tuck, fat grafting, breast augmentations in order to help contour the body to fit the desires of the patient.
Reasons for Considering Liposuction
-Create a more proportioned figure
-Contour the body
-Eliminate fat from any of the following areas:
-Chin and Neckline
-Back
-Upper Arms
-Stomach and Waistline
-Hips and Buttocks
-Thighs and Knees
–Calves and Ankles
Liposuction versus Diet and Exercise
Liposuction is not a replacement for proper exercise and diet. Patients that have excess weight will do better by starting with a professional diet regimen such as Weight Watchers® and with a regular exercise regimen. Once natural weight loss is achieved, which takes a number of months, liposuction can be used to address stubborn areas to complete the transformation.
How Many Areas Can I Have Done?
Several areas can be liposuctioned on the same day. For your safety, we generally limit liposuction to approximately five liters of “aspirate”. For some people, only one or two areas can be done before reaching this level, for others, four or five areas can be done. This all depends on the amount of preexisting fat in the region.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Liposuction?
Liposuction is a popular procedure for persons looking to improve their body contour by reshaping areas of excess fat. The best candidates are people looking to remove fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise.
Anesthesia
Liposuction is generally done under general anesthesia or under intravenous sedation. When administered by a certified anesthesia provider, these techniques are very safe and provide patients with a comfortable experience. Smaller areas can be performed under local anesthesia only where the area is numbed and the patient remains awake. Make sure, however, that the provider offering to perform liposuction under local anesthesia in the office still has privileges to perform the procedure in a surgical facility under general or intravenous sedation. This will assure that he or she is recognized as qualified to perform the procedure by his or her peers.
General Procedure
Through tiny incisions in the skin, an infiltrating canula is inserted and “tumescent” fluid is infiltrated. This fluid consists of a mixture composed of lactated ringer’s solution mixed with a local anesthetic (lidocaine), mixed with a constrictor of the blood vessels to decrease bleeding (epinephrine). The solution is massaged and given time to work. The amount of solution can differ between techniques ranging from a “super wet” technique where approximately the amount infiltrated is the same as the planned aspiration, to a “tumescent” technique where even more fluid is inserted. The technique used will depend somewhat on the amount of total aspiration planned and your body habitus. After the infiltrate is given time to work, a narrow tube or “canula” is inserted and used to vacuum out the fatty tissue beneath the skin. Different sizes of canulas with different lengths and apertures will be used according to each patient’s fat location. The surgeon determines the amount of fat to be removed by massaging the skin and squeezing the tissue. After eliminating the excess fat, the incisions are closed.
Compression
A compression dressing or bandage is applied to the area and will need to be worn for an extended period of time (approximately six weeks). This will prevent bleeding, reduce swelling, and support the affected area. There are a variety of specialty garments manufacturers that provide specialized wear for liposuction patients.
Variations on Techniques
There are several different types of “newer” liposuction procedures, such as ultrasonic and power assisted liposuction, that has developed as a result of recent advancements in new technologies. These are especially useful in targeting areas where the fat is more fibrous, such as in the back or breast. Together, the patient and the surgeon can discuss which method(s) are best during the initial consultation visit. Liposuction can last from thirty minutes to several hours depending upon the amount of fat to be removed. Liposuction surgery is an excellent procedure that can benefit those who want to remove unattractive fatty deposits. Lasers may be used to enhance the lipolysis and skin tightening associated with liposuction
Recovery Process
The length of the recovery will depend on how extensive of an operation the patient undergoes. A support garment may need to be worn for several weeks after the surgery, depending upon which area(s) are selected to utilize the liposuction procedure. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated effectively with oral medication.
