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If
you have troublesome localized
fat tissue that is unresponsive
to diet or exercise, suction
assisted
removal may be an extremely
valuable procedure
and deserves your consideration.
A method of fat tissue
removal is available for
selected use for a variety
of conditions. For the
most part, the size and
shape of our bodies are
characteristics inherited
from our parents. The
degree to which these
characteristics are manifest
depends
to a certain extent on
our calorie intake and
our
energy expenditure, but
the basic body shape is
an inherited trait. |
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gain and loss is dependent
more on how much fat is
present in the individual
cells than the number
of cells and removal of
cells and removal of or
deconstruction of cells
will largely prevent the
fat from re-accumulating
in those areas treated. |
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| History |
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Surgical
removal of excess fat
tissue has been performed
for almost 100 years.
However, until recently,
the methods used required
surface incisions and
incision closures that
did not usually leave
minor scars. There was
always a serious question
as to whether the final
results, in terms of permanent
scarring, justified the
procedures.
In the 1970's a French
surgeon, working in Paris,
developed a technique
using a blunt tipped,
hollow metal tube along
with a high vaccuum suction
to remove fat tissue in
a number of different
body locations. This method
became widely used and
found wide acceptance
by both surgeons and patients.
Recent refinements have
made the surgery safer,
less painful, and produce
even better results. |
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Some
of the recent innovations
include
Syringe
Method - Initially,
suction was done by connecting
to a powerful vacuum machine
via non-collapsing tubing.
Simply using a large syringe
which is locked open results
in less trauma to small
blood vessels and better
control of the amount
removed.
Tumescent Technique
- By injecting large quantities
of a solution containing
very dilute local anaesthetic,
adrenaline and salt water,
bleeding is reduced, less
bruising results, and
it may even be possible
to do the surgery under
local anaesthesia with
sedation.
Small Diameter
Cannulae - By
using smaller suction
tubes, more precision
has been obtained, and
there is less trauma,
less bleeding with less
bruising.
Ultrasonic Assisted
Lipoplasty (UAL)
- This newer technique
was developed in Italy
and Israel; it uses ultrasonic
energy to liquefy the
fat first, then gentle
suction to remove the
fat. This was experimental
in the 1990s and is now
a well-established technology.
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Power
Assisted Lipoplasty (PAL)
This, most recent,
innovation in liposuction
treatment, involves attaching
the liposuction cannula
to a small hand piece
which moves the cannula
back and forth in tiny
movements at speeds up
to 2000 movements per
minute. |
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This
is different from UAL
and works on the principle
familiar to anyone who
has used both hand tools
and power tools in hobbies
and crafts: it is often
possible to be more gentle
and precise using a power
tool. In certain areas,
such as the neck, the
inner thigh and the knees,
ultrasonic liposuction
can sometimes remove fat
too rapidly and in a less
controlled fashion due
to the energy of the ultrasound
waves extending out from
the area intended to be
treated. PAL does not
have this disadvantage.
The object is not to remove
all the fat tissue. A
layer must be preserved
to avoid undesirable effects.
This layer can be thinner
in some areas of the body
than others.
An important factor
in determining any final
result is the degree of
normal skin elasticity.
The skin of younger individuals
is more favourable than
that of older individuals
and results in even shrinkage
and a smoother final surface.
In older skin this
elastic quality is diminished
and it is possible that
some wrinkling or irregularity
will remain following
surgery, even under the
best of circumstances.
If elasticity is felt
to be inadequate to give
a good esthetic result,
you may be advised to
have a skin tightening
operation (see Body
Contour) of the treated
areas, alone, or in combination
with suction. This is
most common in the abdomen
(see Abdominoplasty)
but is also useful in
the neck (see Rejuvenative
Facial Surgery), the
buttocks and thighs (see
Buttock
& Thigh Lift).
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Post
operatively, you will
be wearing a compression
garment (girdle) which
has been made expressly
for this purpose, with
zippers, hooks and eyes,
or velcro® closures,
and an opening in the
crotch so that for the
first few days it does
not need to be removed.
Compression is worn almost
continuously for two to
six weeks, depending on
your circumstances. After
the first few days, swimming
may be advisable…water
pressure from sitting
in a pool has a very similar
effect as a girdle and
feels wonderful.
Occasionally, in a patient
who wants a more limited
procedure, we do liposuction
on patients who might
be best treated by abdominoplasty
with or without a buttock
lift, and give a satisfying
albeit more limited result. |
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Conclusion
Although lipoplasty has
limitations, it is a wonderful
method of achieving improvement
in body shape when localized
fatty deposits limit what
you can achieve through
diet and exercise alone.
Continuing improvements
in techniques have made
it safer and more reliable
over the years since its
inception. |
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Deciding whether Suction Lipoplasty is right for you starts with a personal consultation with Dr. Gelfant.
You are invited to contact us at our Vancouver offices to arrange a meeting.
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