Liposuction

Fat elimination with liposuction can be applied to almost every part of the body. It is very important to keep your weight as stable as possible after liposuction to achieve long-lasting results.

How the Procedure Works

On the day of surgery, the areas to be fat absorbed are marked by your surgeon and you are prepared for general anesthesia.
Small incisions are made near the area where fat is planned to be absorbed. These incisions are usually less than half an inch and strategically positioned so that they are not visible.

Before suctioning, a tumescent solution is injected into the planned area to facilitate fat removal. A thin, hollow tube called a cannula is inserted through tiny incisions made by your surgeon. The excess fat to be eliminated reaches the vacuum device via a cannula.

After your surgeon has eliminated the excess fat in the area and provided the necessary body contour, they may close the incisions with sutures or leave them to heal on their own. Sometimes they may also place drains in these open incisions to prevent fluid accumulation. Your surgeon will discuss all these steps with you before surgery.
 

Types of Liposuction

Liposuction has a long history and many approaches have emerged from the past to the present with the developing modern medicine. The fact that liposuction has more than one approach has brought the procedure closer to achieving the desired results and created a special treatment area for each case.
 

• Traditional Liposuction, also known as Suction Assisted Lipoctemy (SAL), is the oldest and well-established liposuction technique. In principle, it aims to reduce excess fat stores in selected areas of the body. The traditional liposuction technique is typically preferred for the removal of fat from larger areas.
   
• Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) is the preferred technique for the reduction of larger volumes of fat deposits resulting from the traditional fat removal technique. In this technique, mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the planned areas of the body to increase the precision and efficiency of fat removal. The main feature that distinguishes power-assisted liposuction from traditional liposuction is the use of fast moving and vibrating cannula during fat removal. With this technique, it is possible to achieve inherently smoother contours and smoother results.
   
• Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) is an approach that can eliminate dense fat deposits or work more precisely in areas with fibrous tissues. The main feature of ultrasound-assisted liposuction is to liquefy and absorb unwanted fat while protecting vascular and nerve tissues with the help of a cannula emitting ultrasonic waves. The UAL technique is generally preferred to target stubborn fat deposits that are difficult to remove with traditional liposuction.
• Vaser Liposuction, short for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance, sends vibrations to the fat cells for fat absorption, just like the UAL technique, ensuring that the surrounding tissues are not damaged.
  The main difference between these two techniques is their purpose. While Vaser Liposuction is specifically designed to target and break down fat cells, UAL can be particularly effective for treating fibrous or denser fat deposits. In both techniques, the heat generated by ultrasound energy stimulates collagen production, resulting in skin lifting.
• Water Assisted Liposuction, also known as Body-Jet Liposuction, aims to get rid of excess fat deposits with the help of a cannula that provides a controlled flow of water to eliminate fat. With the help of this special cannula, a vibrating water jet is sent directly to the targeted fat cells. While the fat cells are removed from the surrounding tissues, the excess fat is simultaneously vacuumed. In this process, trauma is minimized as the surrounding tissues are not damaged.
• Radiofrequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL) is a highly advanced and specialized technique.
  The working principle of the radiofrequency assisted liposuction technique is to prevent the problem of loose skin after fat removal by increasing collagen production in the skin while fat is removed with the traditional liposuction method.
  In this technique, fat cells are heated and broken down with a special cannula that emits radiofrequency energy.
  Simultaneously, collagen production is stimulated in the skin and subcutaneous tissues and the skin is tightened with fat removal.
• Tumescent Liposuction is performed by injecting a solution, usually a combination of epinephrine and a large amount of diluted local anesthetic, into the target area before the fat is removed. After the solution is injected, the area to be treated swells and hardens. Thus, a space is created between the surrounding tissues and fat cells in the injected area. This space plays an important role in removing fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissues. Since tumescent liposuction takes longer than other advanced liposuction techniques, it is generally used on small volumes of fat deposits.

Incisions and Scars

Liposuction methods are generally procedures that involve smaller incisions than many surgical procedures and have inconspicuous scars over time.  Although the size of the incisions varies according to the cannula used in each approach, they are usually between 0.5-1 cm.
Your surgeon usually strategically places these incisions in areas that can be camouflaged in your natural body contours.
These tiny incisions, which are sutured closed or left to heal on their own, fade over time and are inconspicuous.
 

Lipedema and Liposuction Relationship

Lipedema is a fluctuation caused by abnormal fat cell deposits that appear on the buttocks, legs and thighs. Although lipedema looks like severe cellulite, it is actually a different health problem that causes pain and bruising unlike cellulite. Lipedema significantly reduces a person's quality of life.
 

Although there is no specific treatment for lipedema, liposuction may be preferred in cases of lipedema to relieve pain, reduce swelling and improve body contours. In such cases, a specialized technique is used that removes abnormal fat deposits while preserving lymphatic vessels and other important structures. Lipedema is a complex medical condition and liposuction is not suitable for every case of lipedema. It is very important to share all your medical information transparently with your surgeon before planning the liposuction procedure in order to improve your physical or psychological discomfort caused by lipedema.