Liposculpture is a liposuction technique that is used to achieve more tone and definition on different areas of the body. It is used to treat little pockets of fat that are resistant to diet or exercise. Unlike liposuction, liposculpture doesn’t just remove the surplus stubborn fatty cells but also reshapes the remaining fat into the desired shape.
Target Areas for Liposculpture
Liposculpture improves the appearance of body contour by removing excess fatty deposits from body areas that can’t be treated with exercise and diet.
The most common target areas on the body that liposculpture can be used on include:
- Under the chin
- Upper arms
- Abdomen or abs
- Back
- Flanks or love handles
- Thighs
When liposculpture is performed on the stomach area, it is referred to as abdominal etching.
Types of Liposculpture Techniques
Three liposculpture techniques are most commonly used and they include:
- Power-assisted liposculpture (PAL): This involves employing a vibrating tool that helps in breaking down the fat cells faster, and enabling them to be removed more easily.
- Laser-assisted liposculpture: This liposculpture technique uses low energy waves to melt the fatty deposits and tighten the skin at the same time.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposculpture (UAL): This involves melting the stubborn fat cells with ultrasonic energy through a handpiece. This technique makes it easier to get rid of larger amounts of fat but it may take longer.
The best type of liposculpture technique for you will depend on the amount of fat to be removed and the area being treated. Your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon can help in determining this.
Good Candidate for Liposculpture
The ideal candidate for liposculpture is someone who is close to their ideal weight and has a BMI of under 30. He/she should have good skin elasticity, be a non-smoker, and not have sun damage.
Liposculpture is however not recommended for individuals with unstable weight and those who have weakened muscles.
Procedure
Before the liposculpture treatment you will be required to stop taking blood-thinning medication for about 2 weeks, stop smoking 4 weeks before and after, no caffeine a few hours to the treatment, and stop all diet medicines, asthma, ephedrines, or thyroid medicines 2 days prior.
The liposculpture procedure is done under local anesthesia or if the treatment area is larger, general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. It can take between two to four hours depending on how large the area is.
During the procedure, your Plastic Surgeon will use the liposculpture technique that is most suitable to remove the stubborn fatty deposits and also move some of the fat to other areas of the body to achieve the desired body contours.
Most Plastic Surgeons prefer using the tumescent technique which minimizes both bleeding and scarring. It involves injecting a sterile solution containing numbing medicine into the target area, making a tiny incision, and placing a cannula or a small tube under the skin into the fat.
The cannula is used to dislodge the fat and then remove it via suction creating more defined contours.
Immediately after the procedure, a compression garment is applied to the treatment area.
Recovery After Liposculpture
Following the liposculpture treatment, you may experience swelling, bruising, discomfort, and muscle soreness in the treatment area but these go away after a few weeks.
You will wear a compression garment to help with the swelling, prevent excessive build-up of fluid and improve blood circulation. You should do some light walking as soon as possible to avoid the formation of blood clots. Avoid strenuous activities for about 2-3 weeks.
Results of Liposculpture
The initial results are immediately following the procedure and they improve as the swelling goes down. The optimal results are expected 6-12 months postoperatively.
Risks of Liposculpture
The most common side effects of liposculpture are lumpiness and rippled skin. Aside from that, complications from liposculpture are rare.
Next Step
At Aesthetics by Kings College Hospital Dubai, we have the leading plastic surgeons in the region who are UK and European-trained and board-certified and focus on the safety and care of every patient in a compassionate environment with state-of-the-art facilities. To book a consultation, get in touch using the contact details given, and one of our patient-care staff will book an appointment for you.
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