Here at the Vein and Skin Clinic, we offer some of New Zealand’s most effective and safe Liposuction treatments. Although Liposuction itself has been around for almost 50 years, there are still a lot of misconceptions about this remarkable treatment. In this article we aim to explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have.
What exactly is liposuction?
Developed in the 1970’s, Liposuction (also known as lipoplasty or suction lipectomy), is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess body fat. The idea is to reach the fatty deposits between the skin and muscle, which is known as subcutaneous fat. This excess fat would literally be sucked out of the body, leaving behind tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After the procedure, these tunnels collapse, resulting in an improved body contour.
After the age of 30, an individual tends to add fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. Men and women tend to store fat in different areas. For men, fat tends to form “love handles” on the abdomen, give men breasts, and gather around the neck/chin area. In women, it generally gathers in the breasts, hips, waist and buttocks, although the most commonly treated areas also include thighs, knees, calves, ankles and beneath the chin.
After the age of 30, an individual tends to add fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. Men and women tend to store fat in different areas. For men, fat tends to form “love handles” on the abdomen, give men breasts, and gather around the neck/chin area. In women, it generally gathers in the breasts, hips, waist and buttocks, although the most commonly treated areas also include thighs, knees, calves, ankles and beneath the chin.
Unfortunately, this fat distribution is often resistant to exercising and dieting. An example of this “genetic fat” is the fat that appears on the abdomen and hips of a woman after pregnancy. For people who have inherited an excessive accumulation of fat, Liposuction may be the only realistic means of significantly changing the body's silhouette. In effect, Liposuction is equivalent to being able to focus the effects of dieting to specific areas of the body.
Does Liposuction involve surgery?
Liposuction is a form of appearance surgery, and originally a patient needed to be put under for the procedure. However, with the introduction of the tumescent technique in the 1980’s, Liposuction can now be a simple day procedure via local anaesthetic instead of general anaesthesia. Tumescent Liposuction is now considered the safest form of Liposuction for removing large amounts of fat. Not only is there is virtually no blood loss, but it is proven to be less painful with a faster post-op recovery time.
Tumescent Liposuction was developed by Dr Jeffrey A Klein, M.D. in 1985. This form of Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula. Very small cannula for delicate Liposuction (liposculpture) are called micro cannulae. The cannula is connected to either a special suction syringe or a very powerful suction pump. The cannula is inserted through small skin incisions, or tiny punch holes called adits. The removal of fat is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. Once the cannulae are removed, these tunnels collapse in on themselves, pulling the remaining fat in tighter.
Will Liposuction make me thin?
It is important to note that Liposuction is not a “one-stop solution” to losing weight. Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity; only regular exercise and a healthy diet can do that. However, an overweight person whose weight has been stable for many years and has certain problem areas of fat may be an excellent candidate for Liposuction.
Anyone considering Liposuction needs to have realistic expectations of what the end result will be. You’re not going to walk out of the clinic as a stick-figure, but you can reasonably hope for a 50% improvement; anything greater would be a bonus. The good news is that fat cells that are removed by Liposuction do not grow back. As long as the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette can be permanent.
Even if a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after Liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. A woman who always tends to put weight on her thighs and knees will find that, after liposuction, these areas are less likely than other areas to accumulate fat, even if she regains weight.
Even if a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after Liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. A woman who always tends to put weight on her thighs and knees will find that, after liposuction, these areas are less likely than other areas to accumulate fat, even if she regains weight.
What are the risks with Liposuction?
While there are always risks with any kind of medical procedure, especially surgery, there is minimal risk involved with Tumescent Liposuction. This is due to the use of very small cannulas used during the procedure. This use of microcannulas allow a more delicate and gentle approach to Liposuction by the surgeon. They require a minimal amount of force in order to advance them into fatty tissue, and only tiny incisions are required.
The result is a greatly reduced risk of inadvertently approaching too close to the under-surface of the skin and unintentionally causing irregularities. This procedure also requires no stitches, so wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear over time.
The result is a greatly reduced risk of inadvertently approaching too close to the under-surface of the skin and unintentionally causing irregularities. This procedure also requires no stitches, so wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear over time.
How the Vein and Skin Clinic can help
If you’re interested in Liposuction here in New Zealand, then contact the Vein and Skin Clinic today. We offer the latest techniques and advice, and with a long list of satisfied customers, you know you’re in good hands.
Call us today on 0800 639 968 and book a free consultation, or if you simply have any questions you’d like to ask, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help in any way they can.
Call us today on 0800 639 968 and book a free consultation, or if you simply have any questions you’d like to ask, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help in any way they can.
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