Liposuction
 

Having a smooth, well contoured body has always been every body's dream. Unfortunately some of us have bulges in certain areas of our bodies that don't come off no matter how much we diet or exercise. Our weight may be perfect but we can't wear certain clothes because of our body contour. In most cases hereditary factors play the main role in that. You see the entire family with the same bulges in the same areas. Thanks to liposuction these fat cells can be permanently removed giving you the smooth shape you've always wanted.
 

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction or "Lipoplasty" is a surgical procedure that sculpts the body by removing unwanted localized fat deposits from specific areas of the body. Liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods. The most commonly used liposuction techniques are: super-wet liposuction, tumescent liposuction and dry liposuction. The areas most commonly treated include the hips, inner and outer thighs, abdomen, upper arms, knees, chin, cheeks, neck and back for women. For men most commonly treated areas include the abdomen, love handles and chest. Liposuction can give you a perfect shape as in body contour, but make no mistake liposuction is not a weight loss procedure nor does it remove cellulite or loose skin, it only removes fat.

Check non-surgical fat removal
 

Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

You would be a good candidate for liposuction if you are not excessively over weight and have firm, elastic skin. You may notice that you have bulging fat areas that ruin your body contour and prevent you from wearing certain clothes even if you are thin. You may like your overall size but feel that your upper body and lower body are not proportional. You may have fleshy areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction can correct all these issues. Liposuction can be performed starting age 16.
 



Preparing for Your Surgery

Before your surgery, Dr. Metwally will perform a complete evaluation with you. He will check where your fat deposits are, evaluate the condition of your skin and listen carefully to your expectations. All these factors will be taken into account during the evaluation and Dr. Metwally will explain to you the procedure that best serves your case. Sometimes if the skin tone and/or muscle tone is not good liposuction of the abdomen can not be performed instead a tummy tuck may be the suitable procedure in your case. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you to and from our center the day of the surgery. You should wear loose fitting clothes and bear in mind that your outfit may get soiled. Do not wear jewelry, contact lenses, or bring valuables to the operating room. Remove all body jewelry from pierced body parts.

Duration of the Surgery

It takes Dr. Metwally 1 to 1 and a half hour to perform an average liposuction depending on the amount of fat removed and the number of areas being treated.

Anesthesia Used

Depending on the amount of liposuction done and the number of areas treated, the surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation (you won’t be totally asleep but you will be relaxed and drowsy and won’t feel anything during the procedure). It can also be performed under general anesthesia (you will be asleep throughout the procedure). Or if the liposuction is done to the lower body, it can be performed under regional anesthesia (anesthetic injected in the spine, similar to that used in child birth) where only the lower body looses sensation but you will be awake. In this case you will be given sedation which will make you relaxed and drowsy. You will be ready to leave after 2 to 3 hours from the completion of your surgery depending on the anesthesia used.
 

During Your Surgery

During your surgery an incision 1 cm wide is made in each area being treated. Through this incision a large amount of fluid is injected in the areas from which the fat needs to be suctioned. This fluid is composed of a local anesthetic and a drug that contracts blood vessels, this makes the fat removal easier, reduces blood loss and provides anesthesia during and after the surgery. Fluid injection also helps to reduce the amount of bruising after the surgery. After injecting the fluid, a cannula (narrow suction tube) is used to vacuum the fat layer beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed forward then pulled backward through the fat layer suctioning the fat cells out. In very rare cases, a dry liposuction technique is used where no fluid is injected prior to the suction. This technique is only used when a very small area is to be suctioned or in the case of revision liposuction. After the suction process is completed, 1 stitch is usually used to close each 1 cm incision.
 

After Your Surgery

After your surgery, you will probably experience some fluid drainage from the incisions for the first 2 to 3 days. You will also feel a bit sore. Dr. Metwally will prescribe to you an antibiotic along with a pain killer to prevent infection and alleviate the pain. You will notice some swelling and bruising these will subside gradually within the first 10 days to two weeks. You will notice that you have bandage on the treated areas. The bandage will be removed after 5 days at which time you can shower. You will be asked to wear a compression garment for 4 weeks. As the swelling and bruising start subsiding you may feel some numbness in the treated  areas this is normal and goes away as you heal. Most people are ready to go back to work 3 to 5 days after their surgery. Stitches are removed after 7 to 10 days. Strenuous activities and exercise should be avoided for at least 4 weeks.
 


Seeing Your Result

Depending on the amount of fat removed and the areas being treated, you may notice a slight difference in your body contour after 7 to 10 days. However since you are significantly swollen, you may not notice a difference that soon. Realistically speaking most patients start seeing their result 4 to 6 weeks after surgery and the final result is usually achieved after 2 to 3 months. In some cases after the final shape is achieved people continue to notice slight differences up to 6 months from their surgery. The result of a good liposuction is everlasting.