Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific body areas, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck. Liposuction also shapes (contours) these areas. Other names for liposuction include lipoplasty and body contouring.
Liposuction isn’t typically considered an overall weight-loss method or a weight-loss alternative. If you’re overweight, you’re likely to lose more weight through diet, exercise, or bariatric procedures — such as gastric bypass surgery — than liposuction.
You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have too much body fat in specific spots but otherwise have stable body weight.
During tumescent liposuction, the most common liposuction, the surgeon uses a thin tube (Cannula) attached to a vacuum to remove fat from under the skin. The Cannula for liposuction is a thin tube inserted into a vein or body cavity to administer medication, drain off fluid, or insert a surgical instrument.
There are two main types of Cannula:
- IV cannulas consist of short. Flexible tubing doctors place into a vein.
- Nasal cannulas: Nasal cannulas consist of flexible tubing that sits inside the nostrils and delivers oxygen.
The different cannula for liposuction sizes in a clinical setting. have different colors, sizes, and significantly different uses. It is good to note that the bigger the cannula size, the smaller the number.
For instance, a cannula size of 16G is larger in diameter than a cannula of the size of 22G and will have faster flow. The “G” in cannula size stands for “Birmingham gauge” This gauge is used to show the thickness or diameter of different hypodermic needles.
Cannulas are generally safe. There are minimal risks associated with cannulas, including a slight chance of infections and a risk of the formation of blood clots in IV cannulas.
Risks Of Liposuction
As with any major surgery, liposuction carries risks, such as bleeding and a reaction to anesthesia. Possible complications specific to liposuction include:
- Contour irregularities. Your skin may appear bumpy, wavy, or withered due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity, and unusual healing. These changes may be permanent. Damage beneath the skin from the thin tube (Cannula) used during liposuction may give the skin a permanent spotted appearance.
- Fluid accumulation. Temporary pockets of fluid (seromas) can form under the skin. This fluid may need to be drained with a needle.
- Numbness. You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the affected area. Temporary nerve irritation also is possible.
- Infection. Skin infections are rare but possible. A severe skin infection may be life-threatening.
- Internal puncture. Rarely, a cannula that penetrates too deeply may puncture an internal organ. This may require emergency surgical repair.
- Fat embolism. Pieces of loosened fat may break away and become trapped in a blood vessel, gather in the lungs, or travel to the brain. A fat embolism is a medical emergency.
- Kidney and heart problems. Shifts in fluid levels as fluids are injected and suctioned out can cause life-threatening kidney, heart, and lung problems.
- Lidocaine toxicity. Lidocaine is an anesthetic often administered with fluids injected during liposuction to help manage pain. Although generally safe, lidocaine toxicity can occur in rare circumstances, causing severe heart and central nervous system problems.
The risk of complications increases if the surgeon works on larger surfaces of your body or does multiple procedures during the same operation. Talk to your surgeon about how these risks apply to you.
How you prepare
Food and medications
Before the procedure, discuss with your surgeon what to expect from the surgery. Your surgeon will review your medical history and ask about any medical conditions, medications, supplements, or herbs you may be taking.
Your surgeon will recommend you stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners or NSAIDs, at least three weeks before surgery. You may also need to get specific lab tests before your procedure.
Other precautions
If your procedure requires removing only a tiny amount of fat, the surgery may be done in an office setting. If a large amount of fat will be deducted — or if you plan to have other procedures done at the same time — the surgery may take place in a hospital, followed by an overnight stay. In either case, arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night after the procedure.
