It is extremely frustrating when fat in certain areas of the body simply won't go away despite countless number of hours spent on exercising and dieting. These stubborn and resistant fatty deposits are perfect targets for Toronto liposuction at the Canadian Plastic Surgery Centre.
Liposuction at a glance
Summary: Liposuction is a procedure that utilizes mechanically assisted aspiration to remove fat that is stubborn and hard to get rid of with diet and exercise. Liposuction cannot rid the body of excess skin and large areas of subcutaneous fat but can help to shape and accentuate the curvature of the body, and is used to complement other cosmetic surgical procedures.
Length of surgery: 1 hour
Anesthesia: Local or general
Recovery period: 2-3 days off from work and 1-2 weeks before resuming physical activity
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is the surgical removal of fat from specific areas of the body. Fat tissue can be removed from the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs, buttocks, the back of the arms, and other areas of the body. Liposuction is a contouring procedure and is not a substitute for weight loss or the removal of excess skin and large fat deposits. Liposuction is typically used as a complementary procedure for other cosmetic body procedures.
Am I a candidate for liposuction?
Candidates for liposuction have to be in good health and non-smokers or be willing to quit smoking for a designated period of time before and after the procedure. It is important to understand that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. Although liposuction does remove fat deposits and patients do experience some weight loss, the overall weight reduction from liposuction is usually negligible and never more than 5 lbs for safety reasons.
Also, liposuction candidates should not have the following:
- Be excessively overweight
- Have sagging or droopy skin
- Have large quantities of cellulite
- Have mostly internal fat which cannot be removed
What happens during my liposuction procedure?
Liposuction is a very straightforward procedure that is performed under local or general anesthesia. Fat deposits in different areas of the body that have accumulated either congenitally or due to excessive weight gain are removed with a suction assisted mechanical catheter.
The catheters are inserted through small incisions, thereby flattening the targeted area and reducing the protrusion. After the excess fatty tissue has been removed, the small incisions are closed with sutures and tight tensors are placed around the body for compression to prevent excessive swelling and to facilitate the healing process.
What is the recovery process like?
The recovery time for liposuction is quite short compared to other cosmetic surgeries, but also tends to result in more significant bruising and slightly higher pain level than other procedures. You should expect bruising after the procedure and will likely need pain medication for the first few days.
In majority of the patients, the post-operative pain subsides in less than a week and you should be able to return to all normal activities, including work and exercise. Mild residual discomfort may last up to a month, during which a contouring garment is typically worn to help with healing.
