Liposuction

Liposuction Overview

Liposuction is now regarded as  an ‘acceptable treatment for reshaping your body ‘than ever before, and is no longer considered ‘just for the rich and famous’.  At the enRich clinic our patients can come from all over Australia to seek  Dr Rich’s expertise in liposuction. He and only a handful of other doctors are regarded as the pioneers in liposuction in Australia and he has a long respected history in this medical field.  His safe, reliable and good results track record has given Dr Rich a reputation he is proud of, and his practice as one of the most professional and well regarded practices in Melbourne.

Liposuction is usually appropriate for most people who have found it difficult to ‘trim down ‘ even though they have been eating healthy and exercising. Dr Rich has been performing liposuction for over 20 years and has a wealth of expertise to offer his patients who are considering liposuction.

  • Areas that can be treated – chin / jowls / neck, Breast / Chest, arms, full body torso (tummy, waist, hips etc), thighs, knees and ankles.
  • With ageing, both men and women accumulate fat in areas of the body that simply cannot be removed by sensible dieting or exercising. Liposuction for men and women in these circumstances is an effective method for the removal of localised fatty deposits and is never a substitute for weight loss, but rather is a contouring procedure when healthy eating and exercise has not been enough.
  • Excessive sweating / hyperhidrosis – liposuction can also be used successfully to reduce the problem of ‘sweaty armpits’ or hyperhidrosis. Instead of removing fat cells, liposuction in this case removes sweat glands to reduce excessive sweating.
  • Dr Michael Rich prefers liposuction and liposculpture to be performed by the ‘tumescent’ technique, as in his opinion it is offers reduced risks and predictable results.
  • Liposuction, a term generally used when a large amount of fat is removed from many areas of the body.
  • Liposculpture, a term usually used when patients have only small areas of fat to be removed from the body, such as the outer thighs or chin.
  • Mega liposuction is a term often used to outline a procedure that removes very large amounts of fat usually from several areas. Sometimes this needs to be performed over a one or two treatment period.
  • Liposuction involves the infiltration of ‘tumescent fluid’ into areas of ‘fatty pockets’ within the body. Tumescent fluid is an anaesthetic solution that consists of a dilute local anaesthetic lignocaine which numbs the area, a small amount of adrenaline which causes the temporary shrinkage of blood vessels to reduce bleeding, and sodium bicarbonate which causes the softening of the fat all of which help to reduce trauma to the body and fasten the recovery time post liposuction.

When Dr Rich performs liposuction he always sculpts the area he is treating, this ensures that patients get the very best possible results.

Liposuction Procedures

The following is a brief outline of the tumescent liposuction procedure.

  • Dr Rich in conjunction with the patient maps the areas to be suctioned
  • If the patient requires ‘sedation’ they are seen by their anaesthetist when they are admitted to the Day Surgery clinic
  • If patients are suitable and do not require sedation, small liposuctions can be performed in our theatre at the Armadale rooms.
  • Local anaesthetic is injected into the treatment sites
  • Tumescent fluid is infused into the treatment areas (a fine infiltrating instrument tunnels into the fatty areas)
  • Once the area is numbed, an aspiration instrument is attached to the aspirator machine to suck the fat globules into a canister.
  • Dr Rich will suction until the appropriate results are reached, taking care to adequately shape the areas to achieve the best aesthetic results.

Liposuction Consultations

Liposuction begins with a pre-procedure consultation. During this consultation a specialist nurse will discuss the liposuction procedure and show photos of past results. Liposuction is a medical procedure and as such patients must be informed of all the benefits, risks and expected results that can be accomplished in their specific case.

Dr Rich will also examine the areas to be treated and then discuss with you what the procedure can achieve. A nurse will then give you a variety of information sheets and a quotation on the procedure that we suggest you take home and read carefully before making any decision

All patients who then decide to have a liposuction procedure at Dr Rich’s – enRich Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Centre usually attend another appointment prior to their procedure either to discuss their procedure further and  to have pre procedure photographs and a full medical history, including blood tests discussed. Patients will also be advised of any medications he/she may need to stop taking prior to the procedure being performed to avoid complications.

Before Your Liposuction Procedure

Before surgery, a complete medical history is taken and a careful examination is conducted in order to evaluate your condition. During the consultation, Dr Rich and his nurse will describe the procedure and what results you might realistically expect. They will also explain any alternative treatment options and explain the possible risks and complications that may occur.

Photographs are taken before and after the liposuction procedure to help evaluate the improvement.

The recovery process for liposuction

The local anaesthetic injected into the tissue can remain there for approximately 12 to 24 hours following liposuction surgery. This greatly minimizes postoperative discomfort.

After tumescent liposuction, patients are usually drowsy due to any sedation given. With the tumescent technique, there is usually minimal bruising and many patients do not require postoperative pain relief medication.

Immediately after the procedure, dressings and a special compression garment is applied to firmly support the areas and help remove the tumescent fluid. Patients should be aware there is usually leakage of pink-tinged fluid through the instrument holes from anywhere from 24 to 72 hours post the treatment depending on the areas treated. This is normal and helps to minimize bruising.

Recovery is usually fast. Some patients return to a desk-type job within 48 hours. Generally patients return to work after a few days rest, however this does vary according to the individual.

Physical exercise can normally be resumed when the patient feels comfortable doing so. Light exercise immediately following the procedure, such as a walk is beneficial and encouraged to gain quick mobility.

Results from liposuction can be seen as soon as a few days to some weeks depending on the areas treated and further improvement can still occur for up to six months after the procedure.

Considerations

Liposuction does not replace a healthy lifestyle. Sensible eating and exercise is necessary to maintain your weight, which is the foundation of good liposuction results.

For some patients who have been overweight for a long time or who have had several children, the risk of poor skin elasticity may be an issue for body liposuction. This is discussed prior to the procedure if a concern.

Risks and Complications of Liposuction

Although tumescent liposuction is a safe procedure, it like any other surgical procedure, it carries risks that must be considered. Infection, either at the incision sites or a rare risk of Seroma (fluid that remains in the tissue and becomes infected) may require either antibiotics or draining, are all possible. These risks are reduced by the anti-bacterial action of the tumescence liquid and antibiotics, which are given prior to and after the procedure.

Liposuction FAQs

Is liposuction safe?

Liposuction by the ‘tumescence technique’ was founded as a direct result of the high risks in liposuction prior to 1987. American dermatologist Dr Jeffery Klein, designed the tumescence technique in 1987 and it is now renowned as changing the way liposuction is performed worldwide and improving liposuctions safety rates.

What areas can liposuction be used for?

  • chin / neck / jowls
  • arms
  • breasts / chest
  • bra bulge (axillary folds)
  • back flanks
  • abdomen
  • waist
  • love handles
  • hips
  • thighs
  • knees
  • calves & ankles

What are the limitations of liposuction?

Liposuction is not intended as a method for weight loss. It is used as a shaping procedure for areas where hereditary fat deposits have been resistant to healthy diet and exercise. The best results from liposuction occur in body areas where there is reasonable muscle tone and where skin has good elastic quality. In cases where there is a significant loss of tone or elasticity other cosmetic procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) may be necessary.

‘Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.’

If you would like to find out more about liposuction in Melbourne contact us for a FREE liposuction consultation with one of our specialist cosmetic nurses on 03 9500 9500