In
today’s world, looking and feeling good
mean having a fit, well-proportioned body.
However, for many people, this may seem like
an unreachable goal. Sometimes even a strict
diet or a disciplined exercise program can’t
conquer stubborn areas of excess fat. For
those who seek a smoother or better-proportioned
body contour, liposuction may be the answer.
Liposuction,
also called lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure
that removes deposits of excess fat from specific
areas of the body, face or neck. Liposuction
can be to slim the hips and thighs, flatten
the abdomen, shape the calves and ankles or
eliminate a double chin.
You’ll
find basic information about liposuction in
this brochure. However, the best way to get
complete answers to specific questions that
relate to your individual needs is to have
a personal consultation with Dr. Surapaneni.
Is
liposuction right for me?
Liposuction
is most commonly recommended for men and women
of normal weight who simply want to improve
their body contour. The procedure can produce
excellent results for people who have deposits
of excess fat that make certain body areas
appear disproportionately large. Although
liposuction is not a treatment for obesity,
it can permanently alter body proportion and
is sometimes the only way to eliminate fat
deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise.
People
of almost any age may undergo liposuction;
however, patients with good skin elasticity
will achieve the smoothest contour after fat
is removed. You may be a good candidate for
liposuction if you desire fat removal or contouring
in any of the following areas:
• cheeks, chin and neck
• upper arms
• breast or chest area
• back
• abdomen and waist
• hips and buttocks
• thighs
• inner knee
• calves and ankles
It’s
important to be clear about a few “cans
and can’ts” related to liposuction.
Liposuction
can ...
• be performed on several areas of the
body at the same time or be done in conjunction
with other cosmetic surgery procedures, as
long as you understand that there is increased
risk and your surgeon feels that having multiple
procedures is a safe option for you.
• be used to treat some cases of gynecomastia,
or male breast enlargement, which occurs in
both teenagers and adult men.
Liposuction
can’t ...
• serve as a substitute for dieting
and exercise
• effectively treat cellulite (condition
that gives the skin a dimpled appearance).
Also, certain medical conditions may complicate
liposuction. They include: diabetes, high
blood pressure or heart disease and previous
surgery near the area to be contoured. It’s
important to let your plastic surgeon know
if you have any of these medical conditions
or if you have had surgery in the past.
What
should I expect from the consultation?
A
personal consultation is the first step for
every patient considering liposuction. During
this meeting, your surgeon will assess your
physical and emotional health and discuss
your specific cosmetic goals for the procedure.
You
should arrive at the consultation ready to
provide complete information about:
• previous surgical procedures
• past and present medical conditions
• medications you are taking, including
herbal remedies or nutritional supplements
Depending
on the parts of your body that you would like
to be treated with liposuction, you may be
asked to undress. Your surgeon will fully
assess the extent of correction needed. You’ll
also be asked to point out the exact areas
where you would like to see improvement. Your
surgeon will check the elasticity of your
skin and may feel certain areas to assess
the thickness of the underlying layer of fat.
Your surgeon will also check your blood pressure
and weight, and ask you if you are planning
to lose or gain weight in the future.
How
is liposuction performed?
To
perform liposuction, one or more small incisions
are made near the area to be suctioned. Whenever
possible, incisions are placed within the
nature folds or contour lines of the skin
so that they are inconspicuous. The surgeon
then places a slim, hollow tube called a cannula
through the incision so that its tip penetrates
the underlying fat. After the cannula is connected
by flexible tubing to a suction pump, the
surgeon moves the cannula back and forth the
fat, which is vacuumed into the tube. Several
variations to the basic liposuction technique
have been introduced. The fat-removal technique
that best meets your needs depends on a number
of individual factors that your surgeon will
discuss with you.
•
Your surgeon may use the tumescent technique,
in which the fat is pre-injected with a salt-water
solution containing small amounts of adrenaline
and sometimes local anesthetic.
• Your surgeon may also use ultrasound-assisted
lipoplasty or UAL, a two-step technique that
uses the energy from sound waves to liquefy
the fat before it is suctioned.
• The type of instrumentation used may
also vary. For some area, a hand-held syringe
may be used to provide the vacuum instead
of a suction pump.
How
will I learn about the safety of liposuction?
Each year thousands of people undergo liposuction
and experience no major complications. However,
you must fully understand the risks as well
as the benefits of the procedure.
One
of the most important parts of your consultation
is the discussion that you and your surgeon
will have about the possible complications
of liposuction. In addition to listening carefully
to what your surgeon tells you, be sure to
raise any questions or concerns that you may
have about the safety of the procedure.
By
carefully following your surgeon’s advice
and instructions - both before an after surgery
- you can do your part to minimize some of
the risks.
What
can I do to prepare for my surgery?
When
the date for your surgery has been set, your
plastic surgeon will provide you with specific
instructions for the days immediately before
and after your surgery. A number of points
may be covered, including:
• avoiding certain medications that
may complicate surgery or recovery
• stopping smoking for a period of time
before and after surgery
• arranging for help or special care
following surgery
How
will I be cared for on the day of my surgery?
Liposuction
may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient
surgery center or an office-based surgical
suite.
Various
types of anesthesia can be used for liposuction.
Your surgeon will select the type of anesthesia
that provides the safest and most effective
level of comfort for your procedure. For some
patients, local anesthesia is used (usually
with sedation) which numbs only the affected
areas. For others, regional anesthesia, such
as an epidural block (the kind of anesthesia
commonly used in childbirth) or general anesthesia
may be the best choice.
How
will I look and feel after surgery?
When
the procedure is complete, you will be taken
to a recovery area. For some patients, small
drainage tubes will have been placed beneath
the skin. Any discomfort you may feel can
be controlled with medication prescribed by
your plastic surgeon. An elastic bandage or
specially designed compression garment may
have been applied over the treated areas to
control swelling and assist healing. Your
plastic surgeon will tell you how long you
must wear the garment and how you can remove
it to bathe.
If
only a small amount of liposuction has been
done, you will be encouraged to get out of
bed very shortly after the surgery. If multiple
areas have been treated, you will probably
remain in bed for a day or two, getting up
to go to the bathroom and for meals.
Keep
in mind that the speed of your recovery depends
largely on the extent of your surgery. Although
everyone heals at a different rate, you can
expect that your recovery will follow this
general time line:
Within
the first week
• The swelling will reach its peak and
then begin to subside.
• Your stitches will be removed.
• You may return to nonstrenuous work.
After
several weeks
• Bruises will fade and eventually disappear.
• Areas that felt numb will regain normal
sensation.
• You may resume most of your normal
exercise and activities.
• Swelling will continue to subside.
What
should I know about my results?
Quite
soon after surgery you will see a noticeable
difference in the shape of your body. However,
improvement will become even more apparent
after a couple of months, when fluid retention
and swelling have subsided. For most patients,
the final result is evident after about three
months.
After
your liposuction surgery, you may notice that
clothes fit more comfortably and you feel
more confident about your appearance, As long
as you maintain your postoperative weight,
your new, slimmer contour will be permanent.
Many patients who gain a few pounds after
surgery find that the weight distributes itself
more evenly and does not settle in the same
“problem areas”.
How
long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?
After
the initial healing period, you will return
to your plastic surgeon’s office for
a postoperative follow-up visit so that your
progress can be evaluated. In the following
months, your surgeon may ask you to return
for periodic checkups. It’s important
to keep these appointments so that your surgeon
can assess your long-term results and address
any questions or concerns you may have.
Choosing
a correct surgeon
No
matter what type of plastic surgery you're
considering, one of the most important factors
is the surgeon you choose. Although it may
seem hard to believe, some of the physicians
who are performing cosmetic surgery have had
no formal or with very inadequate surgical
training.
Information
about your Doctors
Dr.
Surapaneni is the First Indian who had under
gone the complete residency training program
in this specialized field under Prof. Ivo
Pitanguy. A legendary that trained more than
400 surgeons from 40 different countries in
the 43 years of history of his training institute.
Prof. Pitanguy also set several mile stones
in the field of Aesthetic Plastic surgery
by becoming one of the world’s best
situate for the Hollywood and world celebrities
for metamorphosing their body lines by him.
The warm climate, wonderful beaches and the
western culture made the Brazilian’s
to be more conscious of their shapely bodies
and in turn they set the goals for the rest
in undergoing these cosmetic surgeries. Dr.
Surapaneni also gained experience in Liposuction
from Rome, Italy with Dr. Georgio Fischer;
Endoscopic Facial Procedures with Dr. Nicanor
Isse of California, USA and attended to various
internationally acclaimed surgeons in Paris,
France and some of the conferences.
Dr.
Sailaja Kaza attained M.D. in Dermatology
from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Prof. R.
D. Azulay. A senior professor and a popular
figure of Dermatology in Latin America and
been considered as father of Dermatology with
an out standing academic contribution. Dr.
Sailaja got selected for the American Academy
of Dermatology visiting resident’s scholarship
program and had an opportunity to work under
Dr. William James (Editor & Author of
several internationally acclaimed Dermatology
text books) at University of Pennsylvania,
USA. She is also a qualified in M.D. Aesthetic
Medicine and quite knowledgeable in the field
of Cosmetic Dermatology and well trained with
Lasers, Acid Peels, Botox, Microdermabrasion
(Skin Polishing), management of Acne, Hair
and skin care.