What is liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture)? As a public service, we have reprinted information from the web site of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide you with the most neutral information available on liposuction and what is liposuction.
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What is liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture)?
liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove fat deposits and shape the body. Fat is removed
from under the skin with the use of a vacuum-suction canula (a hollow pen-like instrument) or using an ultrasonic probe that emulfsies (breaks up into small pieces) the fat and then removes it with suction.
Persons with localized fat may decide to have liposuction to remove fat from that area. liposuction is a procedure for shaping the body and is not recommended for weight loss.
liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) may be performed on the abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. A liposuction procedure may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back, and thighs all on the same day.
liposuction is also used to reduce breast size in men with large breasts (gynecomastia) or to remove fat tumors (lipomas) but it is most commonly used for cosmetic body shaping.
Who Performs liposuction & Where is liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) Performed?
Many liposuction surgeries are performed by plastic surgeons or by dermatologists. Any licensed physician may perform liposuction . While some physicians' professional societies may recommend training before performing liposuction surgery, no standardized training is required. As a result, there will be differences in experience and training in physicians performing liposuction . You can ask your physician to tell you whether he or she has had specialized training to do liposuction and whether they have successfully done liposuction before. But remember, even the best screened patients under the care of the best trained and experienced physicians may experience complications as a result of liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
liposuction may be performed in a
- doctor's office.
- surgical center.
- hospital.
Because liposuction is a surgical procedure, it is important that it be performed in a clean environment. Emergencies may arise during any surgery and access to emergency medical equipment and/or a nearby hospital emergency room is important. These are things that you should ask your physician before the liposuction .
How can I find the right doctor for me?
The FDA cannot recommend physicians to you. However, there are some things that you may consider:
- Ask questions. If you decide to take the step to talk to a doctor about liposuction , be sure that you ask questions and understand what happens during the liposuction procedure and what you can expect. Your physician should also answer any and all questions you have about potential problems with liposuction. Remember that you are purchasing a service when you pay a physician to do a liposuction procedure and you shouldn't feel embarrassed to ask hard questions about the procedure or about the physician's experience in performing liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
- Advertising. Be wary of advertisements that say or imply that you will have a perfect appearance after liposuction . Remember that advertisements are meant to sell you a product or service, not to inform you of all the potential problems with that service.
- Don't base your decision simply on cost and remember that you don't have to settle for the first doctor or procedure you investigate. The decision you make about liposuction surgery is an important one but not one that you must make right away.
- Read. You should learn as much as you can about liposuction . It is important for you to read the patient information that your doctor provides.
- Don't be pressured. Do not feel that because you speak to a physician about this procedure that you must go through with it. Take your time to decide whether liposuction is right for you and whether you are willing to take the risks of undergoing liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) for its benefits.
What Does the FDA Regulate?
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the sale of medical devices, such as the equipment (canulas, pumps, collecting containers, ultrasound probes, etc) and drugs (anesthesia) used for liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
Before a medical device can be legally sold in the U.S., the person or company that wants to sell the device must seek approval from the FDA. To gain approval, they must present evidence that the device is reasonably safe and effective for a particular use, the "indication." Once a device is approved, other similar devices may be cleared by the FDA for use. This requires less information since an equivalent device has already been shown to be safe and effective. In some cases, devices that were on the market before FDA started regulating medical devices may be cleared. Once the FDA has approved or cleared a medical device, a doctor may decide to use that device for other indications if the doctor feels it is in the best interest of a patient. The use of an approved or cleared device for other than its FDA-approved indication is called "off-label use."
The FDA does not have the authority to:
- Regulate a doctor's practice. In other words, FDA does not tell doctors what to do when running their business or what they can or cannot tell their patients.
- Set the amount a doctor can charge for liposuction surgery.
- "Insist" that patient information be provided to the potential patient.
- Make recommendations for individual doctors, clinics, or liposuction centers. FDA does not maintain nor have access to lists of doctors performing liposuction .
- Recommend a physician to you.
- Conduct or provide a rating system on medical devices it regulates.
What can I Expect Before, During, and After liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture)?
Before...
Before you undergo liposuction , you should undergo a complete physical exam so that your doctor can determine if you are an acceptable candidate for liposuction . It is important for you to discuss any medical conditions that you have and to tell your doctor about any medications that you are taking including any herbal or other non-prescription ones. If your doctor decides that you can have liposuction , discuss the procedure thoroughly with him or her before deciding if you want to go through with the procedure. Just because a physician says that you may have liposuction does not mean that you must decide to have liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture). You may still change your mind even after discussing the procedure with a physician.
Your physician should be able to answer any questions that you have about liposuction including questions about what to expect during and after liposuction and the complications or problems that sometimes occur with liposuction . Some physicians will provide written information about liposuction . You may also take information from this website to your appointment to discuss with your physician.
You may want to have someone drive you to your appointment for liposuction . You may be tired or uncomfortable after liposuction and unable to drive yourself home. Discuss this with your physician before the day of your procedure.
Your physician may prescribe an antibiotic drug for you to take before and after the surgery. This is to prevent infections.
During…On the day of the liposuction surgery, the physician will mark your body with a pen to indicate where the fat is to be removed. Then you will receive anesthesia, that is medicine that prevents you from feeling pain. Some physicians use only local anesthesia, that is, anesthesia that they inject with a syringe or pump into the area where they will do the liposuction . The anesthesia medicine is injected along with a lot of fluid, usually buffered salt water and epinephrine, a drug to reduce bleeding. Large volumes of liquid may be injected, until the skin is very firm. If your physician uses only this kind of local anesthesia, also sometimes called tumescent anesthesia, then you will be awake during the procedure. Other physicians use local anesthesia and a sedative that can be taken by mouth or injected from a syringe. Still others prefer to use general anesthesia, that is to use anesthesia that will put you to sleep during the procedure. This is usually done in a hospital.
Once the anesthesia is working, the physician will make an incision (cut) in the area where the liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) will be performed. A canula, a hollow tube that is about the size and shape of a skinny pen, will be inserted into the incision. The physician moves this canula back and forth to suction out the fat. The fat, and liquid that has been injected, are collected in a flask. The physician will monitor the amount of fluid and fat that are removed. Because you will be losing liquid and fat from your body, it may be necessary to replace some of that fluid. This is done with an intravenous (i.v.) line for the replacement of fluid.
After…
Depending upon the amount of fat removed and the location of the surgery (doctor's office, surgical center, hospital), you may leave the doctor's office soon after the surgery or you may spend the night in the surgical center or hospital. Ask your doctor how long it will be before you should be able to return to your normal level of activity or if you will need to miss work after liposuction.
The cuts where the doctor inserted the canula may be leaky or drain fluids for several days. In some cases, the doctor may insert a drainage tube to drain fluid away from the wound.
You will wear special tight garments to keep your skin compressed after the liposuction procedure. Your doctor will tell you how long to wear these, usually for weeks. Some doctors provide these garments but others will tell you where to purchase them before your surgery.
Your doctor will also probably give you some after-surgery instructions. This will include information about wearing compression garments, taking an antibiotic if that has been prescribed, and the level of activity that is safe for you after your liposuction procedure. You should also have information about signs of problems that you should be aware of, for instance the signs of infections or other problems that you need to know about.
When the anesthesia wears off, you may have some pain. If the pain is extreme or of a long duration, you should contact your physician. You will also have some swelling after the surgery. In some cases, this swelling will remain for weeks or even months. If you have pain and swelling, this may be the sign of infection and you should contact your physician.
You will have scars, usually small, where the physician cuts your skin and inserts the canula to remove fat tissue.
Will I look the way I want after liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture)?
While medical complications are important, the reason that people have liposuction surgery is for cosmetic reasons. The cosmetic effect after liposuction may be very good and many patients report being satisfied. However, it is possible that the cosmetic effect will not be what you expected. In other words, your appearance after liposuction may not be what you expected or wanted. Some physicians counsel their patients that reasonable expectations are important. It may be difficult to have reasonable expectations after reading advertisements and looking at pictures of women and men who have had liposuction . Remember that advertising is made to make you want to purchase a product or service. Advertisements do not usually tell you about problems or shortcomings of the product or service. If you want to know more about advertising ethics, or want to report on false advertising, explore the following websites:
Some cosmetic shortcomings after liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) include:
- There may be scars at the site where the doctor made the cut to insert the liposuction canula. These scars are usually small and fade with time but in some people, scars may be larger or more prominent.
- The liposuction site may have a wavy or bumpy appearance after liposuction .
- liposuction results may not be permanent. If you gain weight after liposuction surgery, the fat may return to sites where you had liposuction or to other sites.
- Results may be less dramatic than what you were expecting and this can be disappointing.
Liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) Surgery Checklist
Know what makes you a poor candidate for liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture)
Medical conditions - Do you have any medical conditions that could interfere with healing after liposuction ?
Medications - Are you taking any medications, including herbal remedies or non-prescription medications, that can increase your risk for complications or that may interfere with healing?
Cost - Can you really afford this procedure?
Weight loss - Are you considering liposuction as a way to lose weight? Consider changing your diet and exercise regimen if you are trying to lose weight. liposuction is not a good way to lose weight.
Know all the risks and procedure limitations
Risks - Do you understand that complications could happen to you and that some of the complications from liposuction can be serious and even occasionally fatal?
liposuction outcomes - Do you understand that although many people will be satisfied with the outcome after liposuction , that some people will not have the outcome that they wished for?
Understand all the answers to your questions about liposuction
Questions answered - Have you read about and do you understand what liposuction is? Has your doctor answered all of your questions to your satisfaction?
Read and understand the informed consent - Has your doctor given you an informed consent form to take home and read?
Know what to before during and after the liposuction operation
Have a thorough medical exam -Have you had a thorough medical examination and are fit for liposuction?
Arrange for transportation to and from appointment - Can someone drive you home after surgery?
Plan to take a few days to recover - Can you take time off if necessary to recover?
Expect some pain/discomfort - Do you know how much pain to expect?
Know when to seek help - Do you know what the signs are for different complications after liposuction? Do you know when to seek medical help? Did you receive after care instructions from your doctor telling you what to do if you experience problems after liposuction?
Liposuction Glossary
Anesthetic - drugs that cause the loss of feeling or sensation.
Canula (or cannula) - a hollow pen-like instrument or tube used to draw off fluid.
Edema - swelling caused by large amount of fluid in cells or tissues.
Emboli - something that blocks a blood vessel. See embolism.
Embolism - the blocking of a blood vessel or organ by pieces of matter such as fat.
Emulsify - to break up into small pieces.
Epinephrine - a drug injected before liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) to reduce bleeding during the procedure.
Infection - invasion by and multiplication of bacteria or microorganisms that can produce tissue injury.
Lidocaine - an anesthetic that may be injected in large amounts of liquid during liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
Lipoplasty - another name for liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) - a usually cosmetic surgical procedure in which fat is removed from a specific area of the body, by means of suction.
Necrotizing Faciitis - a bacterial infection in which bacteria infect and kill the skin and underlying tissues.
Paresthesia - a change in feelings or sensation. May be an increase in feeling (pain) or a decrease in feeling (numbness).Pulmonary embolism - pieces of fat may find their way into the blood stream and get stuck in the lungs during liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture). This causes shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
Probe - see canula.
Sedative - a drug which helps a person to relax and may make them feel sleepy.
Seroma - a collection of fluid from the blood that has pooled at the liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) site.
Skin necrosis - skin or underlying tissue dies and falls off.
Suction assisted liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) - see liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
Thrombophlebitis - inflammation of a vein caused by a blood clot.
Toxic Shock Syndrome - an infection caused by bacteria that release toxins into the body. This type of infection can occur after surgery if bacteria are accidentally introduced during the surgery.
Ultrasound assisted liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) - a type of liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) in which fat is first loosened by using an ultrasonic probe and then removed by means of suction.
Visceral perforations - organs may be punctured accidentally with the liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture) probe or canula during liposuction (often referred to as liposculpture or lipo sculpture).
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