beauty
May 1, 2024
Minutes To Read: 6

Liposuction: The Differences Between The Major Types Of Surgery

Localized fat, dissatisfaction with breast size, increased expression lines? These are just some of the aesthetic issues that have led many women to plastic surgery clinics.

A latest survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) pointed out Brazil as the world leader in plastic surgery, with liposuction being the most performed procedure in the country.

André Colaneri, plastic surgeon, comments that plastic surgery has been in growing demand for virtually all types of patients: women, men, youth, middle age, etc. "I think this is due to the increased safety of surgery, better purchasing power of the population, greater number of medical specialists and the consequent drop in costs, and frequent media disclosure," he says.

The plastic surgeon adds that Brazil and the US are the largest and most capable plastic surgery centers in the world.

? And liposuction is in fact the most performed plastic surgery in Brazil. Because it is a tropical country with frequent body exposure, there is a growing concern about excess fat. In Brazil, there is also a worldwide trend of increasing population weight, due to sedentary life and hard work and with little time for leisure and exercise. With this, liposuction appears as an alternative way to lose unwanted fat ?, highlights Colaneri.

Read also: 10 interesting curiosities about silicone

Although most people have heard about liposuction, the procedure is still subject to doubts, fears and even misleading advertisements. Many people do not know, for example, what is the difference between liposuction and liposculpture. Others have heard about laser liposuction, minilipo, among other names, and did not understand which was the most appropriate for each case.

André Colaneri explains that, like medicine in general, plastic surgery has also evolved a lot. Thus, today there are actually different types of liposuction, each one to better meet the needs of patients. In this sense, it is essential to understand what are the similarities and differences between the main ones.

1. Liposuction

According to Colaneri, liposuction is always a surgery that removes fat through cannula aspiration. "You put a cannula and sucked in fat, it's liposuction, no matter what name you give it," he says.

What may change, as the surgeon explains, is the type of cannula and the anesthetic size. The liposuction technique changes according to the type of cannula used (laser liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, vibroliposuction, traditional liposuction). The anesthetic size does not change the technique, although the media want to give different names for liposuction with local anesthesia (minilipo, hydrolipo, lipo-light etc.? This is all the same liposuction with local anesthesia) ?, highlights.

Surgical time and anesthetic size (local anesthesia, local sedation, epidual or general), according to Colaneri, vary according to the amount of fat and areas to be aspirated. • A half liter lipo can probably be done under local anesthesia, around 40 minutes. A 4 liter lipo in the abdomen, flanks, back and arms will probably take 4 hours under general anesthesia?

Read also: 7 Essential Tips for Choosing a Good Doctor or Hospital

Pre and postoperative

Colaneri explains that the preoperative is like any surgery:

The person should do the exams to assess the surgical risk;
Avoid taking anticoagulant medications 14 days before;
Shave the hair from the area to be operated (if any).
For surgery with epidural or general anesthesia, smoking and hormonal contraceptives should be stopped to reduce the risk of thrombosis.

For the postoperative period, the plastic surgeon guides:

Lymphatic drainage and ultrasound are required to reduce swelling and fibrosis formation;
Wear compressive mesh for about 45 days;
Do not exercise during this period of about 45 days;
Avoid heat and hot and long baths.

Of course, the postoperative period varies according to the size of the surgery (this is for medium and large surgeries). Liposuction with local anesthesia and small have faster recovery ?, adds the doctor.

2. Liposculpture

Colaneri explains that liposculpture is a liposuction in which, after removing and treating the fat, it is grafted to give volume in another area (such as the glutes, depressions, creases of the face, cellulite filling etc.). "Some of the grafted fat is absorbed (around 50%), but what remains is generally well accepted by the body, since it is the patient's own fat," he says.

Liposculpture usually lasts about half an hour longer than liposuction, according to Colaneri, due to the need for graft application.

Pre and postoperative

Colaneri explains that preoperative liposculpture is the same as liposuction:

The person should do the exams to assess the surgical risk;
Avoid taking anticoagulant medications 14 days before;
Shave the hair from the area to be operated (if any).
For surgery with epidural or general anesthesia, smoking and hormonal contraceptives should be stopped to reduce the risk of thrombosis.

For the postoperative period, the plastic surgeon guides:

Lymphatic drainage and ultrasound are required to reduce swelling and fibrosis formation;
Wear compressive mesh for about 45 days;
Do not exercise during this period of about 45 days;
Avoid heat and hot and long baths.

3. Vibroliposuction

Colaneri explains that vibroliposuction is a type of liposuction in which a cannula with vibrating mechanism is used, which facilitates the penetration of fat and its removal. • The movements tend to be softer, since they do not have so much resistance to move the cannula. With that, the fat comes out easier, with less effort and the bleeding is usually smaller ?, he says.

The surgeon adds that the indications are the same as traditional liposuction: localized fat accumulation.

As it is a liposuction, explains Colaneri, the surgical time is basically the same as the traditional liposuction (depending on the amount of fat and areas to be aspirated).

Pre and postoperative

Colaneri adds that, being a liposuction, pre and postoperative are the same as in the case of traditional liposuction.

4. Laser Liposuction

Laser liposuction, according to Colaneri, is a liposuction in which, before aspirating fat through any type of cannula, a cannula is used that emits laser at its tip. The laser burns fat, liquefying it and releasing heat. Heat burns small vessels, reducing bleeding. The heat, in contact with the skin, causes a greater collagen retraction, enhancing skin retraction and reduction of light sagging ?, says.

"It does not treat moderate or severe sagging, nor does it prevent skin removal if abdominoplasty is indicated (which occurs in cases of moderate or severe sagging)," the surgeon adds.

The indication, according to Colaneri, is for patients who, in addition to having localized fat, have slight sagging or need to enhance skin retraction.

The surgeon adds that ultrasonic liposuction is basically the same thing. But a cannula is used in which the tip releases ultrasound rather than laser. The mode of action is also to release heat and the indication, the same as laser lipo ?, he says.

The surgery time is little longer than liposuction without laser. This is because there is a longer surgical time, the laser, before starting liposuction. The time is usually around 15 minutes more per liposuction area ?, says Colaneri.

Pre and postoperative

Pre and postoperative are the same as in the case of traditional liposuction and will be guided by the surgeon.

5. Hydrolipoclasia

Colaneri points out that hydrolipoclasia is not surgery. It is a treatment in which a solution of saline and distilled water is injected to distort (swell) the fat, followed by the application of ultrasound. Fat with the greatest amount of fluid is more likely to have its cells ruptured by ultrasound. Fat is absorbed by the body later ?, says.

This type of treatment, according to the plastic surgeon, is only indicated for low fat in small areas and is less effective than liposuction (in which case fat is removed).

"In cases where liposuction is performed after ultrasound use, it is called aspiration hydrolipoclasia (HLPA)," the doctor adds.

Pre and postoperative

Preoperatively, Colaneri explains, one just should not take anticoagulants. "For the postoperative are indicated sessions of lymphatic drainage and ultrasound," he says.

6. Minilipo (hydrolipo, lipo-light and tumescent lipo)

Minilipo, hydrolipo, lipo-light, tumescent lipo, according to Colaneri, are all marketing names, not technical, for local anesthetic liposuction."They are often performed by non-specialist doctors by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery and in a non-hospital environment," he says.

But, as Colaneri explains, they are liposuction. However, to do with local anesthesia only, with awake patient, it needs to be low fat and in small areas; Do several sessions to cover many areas and get more fat. Is it more dangerous than just having surgery, with larger anesthetic size and in hospital ?, highlights.

Pre and postoperative

Because it is a minor surgery, where a small area is operated and low fat is removed, recovery is faster. • The compressive brace should be worn around 21 days to 1 month. Drains and ultrasound are also indicated. Can exercises be performed after 30 days ?, highlights Colaneri.

What to consider before making a lipo

Every patient should take into consideration that liposuction is surgery and must be performed by specialist. • You do not deliver with an orthopedist, nor do you treat a pediatrician fracture. So do liposuction with a plastic surgeon !?

According to the surgeon, according to Resolution No. 1711 of the Federal Council of Medicine, liposuction is a technique in the arsenal of plastic surgery, and should be the surgeon to perform it. "Aspirated volumes should not exceed 7% of body weight," he adds.

To make sure your doctor is a specialist, check if you are a surgeon from the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. And remember: every surgery performed in a hospital setting is safer.