Liposuction is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. Excess fat cells are removed using a cannula that is inserted into the fatty tissue. Liposuction can be performed on almost any part of the body. Here you will find further information as well as selected doctors and centers for liposuction.
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Article overview
- Reasons for liposuction
- Where can liposuction be used?
- How much does liposuction cost and how long does the hospital stay last?
- Preparations and preliminary examinations
- Liposuction procedures and methods
- Procedure for liposuction
- Possible complications and risks of liposuction
- After liposuction
- Aftercare following liposuction
- Conclusion: Results of liposuction
- What characterizes a specialist and a specialist clinic for liposuction?
Liposuction - Further information
It usually begins after the age of 30: small pockets of fat grow on the hips, legs and especially the stomach. Dieting and exercise are difficult ways of dealing with these unloved shapes in the long term. Many women therefore have liposuction performed by a specialist in a clinic or practice. More and more men are also opting for liposuction.
Reasons for liposuction
Liposuction is always performed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. Disruptive fat deposits impair the overall aesthetic impression of body proportions, especially
- on the hips,
- the buttocks
- on the stomach
- on the thighs
- on the calf or
- under the chin.
This not only affects the body image, but also the self-confidence of those affected. Liposuction gives those affected the desire to permanently correct and improve their own body image.
Liposuction is generally not a question of age, but should be performed when the skin is still firm and elastic.
Fat deposits can be removed by liposuction © TATIANA | AdobeStock
Where can liposuction be used?
Liposuction is actually possible almost anywhere on the body. However, the operation is particularly frequently performed to correct the following aesthetic problems:
- Belly fat,
- hip rings,
- riding breeches,
- double chin and
- cellulite.
How much does liposuction cost and how long does the hospital stay last?
Naturally, liposuction raises the question of the costs and the length of the hospital stay. Both depend on which part of the body is involved and whether the procedure is performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis:
- Abdomen: from 2,500 euros, 1 to 2 days as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
- Upper arm: from 1,500 euros to 2,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
- Buttocks: from 1,500 euros, 1 day outpatient or 2 to 6 days inpatient
- "Riding breeches": from 2,500 euros, 1 day outpatient or 2 to 6 days inpatient
- Thighs: from 2,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 4 days as an inpatient
- Calf: from 1,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 4 days as an inpatient
Liposuction is generally a self-pay service, as it falls into the area of aesthetic surgery and is therefore considered a lifestyle procedure.
Talk to your doctor to check whether you have any medical indications. It may then be worth submitting an application to your health insurance provider.
Preparations and preliminary examinations
The patient may need to obtain a panty girdle or support stockings before the operation. This should be clarified with the attending physician.
As painkillers such as aspirin delay blood clotting, you should refrain from taking them for 14 days before the operation. It is also not advisable to consume alcohol or take sleeping pills.
Necessary preliminary examinations are carried out at the clinic on the day before the operation.
Liposuction procedures and methods
Liposuction is an individual procedure. The method used can differ from patient to patient.
For example, the type of anesthesia (general or local anesthesia) depends on the location and extent of the procedure. It may also be necessary to tighten excess skin over the former fat deposits during liposuction.
Any plastic surgery of this kind must be planned very carefully in advance. This reduces complications and speeds up the subsequent healing process.
Procedure for liposuction
Liposuction, which only involves minor corrections , is usually performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. The patient is given an infusion of painkillers.
Larger procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia. If the liposuction involves the hip and leg region, spinal anesthesia can also be used.
Depending on the extent of the liposuction, the patient may have to stay in hospital for 1 to 8 days after the procedure.
From Paravis - Michael S. Schwartz, M.D., CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Before the actual liposuction, the surgeon marks the fat deposits on the body in the form of contour lines. The aim of liposuction is not to remove all fat cells, but to create a new, even contour on the affected area of the body. To do this, the surgeon feels the fat deposits through the skin with great sensitivity. He decides which fatty tissue should be removed and which should be preserved.
During the liposuction itself, the surgeon makes a small incision 0.5 to 1 cm long in as inconspicuous an area as possible. This may be in the folds of the buttocks or in the navel. A cannula is inserted through the incision into the fat pad in question.
The excess fat cells are then suctioned out. The procedure can take between 20 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the area of the body and the size of the fat pad.
The suctioned fat cells are collected and measured during the operation. This allows the surgeon to ensure that the same amount of fat is removed from both sides.
After liposuction, the incision is sutured. The patient is fitted with a girdle and support stockings or bandages on the operating table.
Illustration of the skin layers and the cannula through which fat is suctioned out © designua | AdobeStock
Possible complications and risks of liposuction
Like any surgical procedure, liposuction is also associated with certain risks. For example, changes in sensitivity to touch with feelings of numbness in the affected areas of the body are possible after the operation. These can last for several weeks.
Other possible complications are
- Bruising,
- scar plates and
- increased loss of tissue fluid.
In very rare cases, embolisms have also been described as a complication of liposuction, which required intensive medical treatment.
Bruising and scar plates
Under certain circumstances, bruising or scar plates can occur after liposuction. These are recognizable as superficial bumps. This is caused by
- Inconsistent bandaging of the body areas after liposuction or
- a corresponding predisposition of the patient.
If these bruises and scar plates do not disappear, or only very slowly, even after several weeks, a further minor procedure may be necessary.
Loss of tissue fluid
If large amounts of fatty tissue have been removed during liposuction, this may result in an increased loss of tissue fluid or blood.
This may need to be compensated for by infusions or blood reserves.
Prevention of complications
During the preparation phase, the doctor must find out whether the patient is
- is allergic to certain medications or care products,
- suffers from previous illnesses, or
- is prone to bruising or persistent bleeding after minor injuries.
In the latter case, tests should be carried out before liposuction to rule out a blood clotting disorder.
Doctors perform liposuction © ilyaska | AdobeStock
After liposuction
Immediately after liposuction, there is usually slight pain and bruising . However, these will disappear within a few days to several weeks.
You can also expect swelling in the affected area after liposuction. This can last for up to 3 months.
The small scars from the incisions fade over time and are soon barely visible. In most cases, a final assessment of the result is only possible after 6 to 9 months.
Liposuction in which large amounts of fat have been removed can lead to a short-term inability to work. However, there is usually only a slight impairment of mobility and well-being.
Aftercare following liposuction
In the first few weeks after the operation, you should refrain from
- Sport,
- massages and
- other excessive strain on the affected areas of the body.
on the affected areas.
Cold showers are recommended to stimulate blood circulation and support the healing process.
For a period of around 6 weeks after liposuction, the patient must wear
- panty girdles,
- support stockings or
- bandages
around the clock.
This will prevent blood, blood clots and blood clots from forming in the cavities created by the liposuction.
- blood,
- dissolved fat or
- tissue fluid
from forming unwanted scars.
About a week after liposuction, the stitches should be removed and a check-up performed.
Conclusion: Results of liposuction
After the removal of unwanted fat deposits and the sculpting of the corresponding body parts, the body appears slimmer and better proportioned.
However, liposuction is not an alternative to losing weight. Liposuction can only be used to slim individual areas of the body with large fat deposits, but not the whole person.
What characterizes a specialist and a specialist clinic for liposuction?
There are now numerous specialists and clinics for liposuction. A comparison of services, costs and patient opinions can therefore be worthwhile. When choosing a suitable specialist clinic for liposuction or a qualified surgeon, you should pay attention to the following quality features:
- Does the doctor specialize in plastic and cosmetic surgery?
- How many liposuction procedures has he already successfully completed?
- Does he take enough time to give you comprehensive advice?
- Does he explain the risks of the operation in as much detail as possible?
- Do you receive a transparent and complete cost estimate including all preliminary treatments and the necessary follow-up treatments?
- Does the doctor have suitable facilities for the operation or even access to a specialist clinic?
- In addition to aftercare and emergency care, cosmetic surgery also requires trust in the surgeon. Liposuction is always one of the most personal surgical procedures for patients.