Athens clinic: Vas. Sofias 48, 115 28
210 722 2070
Liposuction
Improve your appearance and psychology by correcting your body with the method of liposuction.
The new era of liposuction in Plastic Surgery began in 1980, by French and Swiss doctors. Upon observing these techniques, though revolutionary for their time, they seem quite simple to us, compared to current situations. The fat contained in the fat cells of the human body, in addition to its other normal functions, also participates in the appearance of the shape and lines of the human body.
The appearance of our body is due in part to genetic factors, but also to factors which we can influence with a healthy diet and exercise. Many people, though they try to improve the appearance of their body with a healthy diet and exercise, still present localized fat collections that resist both diet and exercise and ruin their appearance. Such fat collections are often associated with heredity and gender factors.
Therefore, there is a tendency in women for fat to accumulate in the lower half of the abdomen, buttocks, outer thighs and on the inside of the knees. In some men, there is a concentration of fat under the breast and around the waist, as well as in the abdomen.
Liposuction is the surgical technique of removing fat cells from the human body, through very small surgical incisions, a few millimeters long, and with the help of very thin metal tubes and negative pressure created by the suction machine.
Liposculpture is the removal of fat cells with smaller canulas which allows the surgeon to remove unwanted fat from more superficial parts of the body, with greater emphasis on detail and more visible results on the body contour.
Liposuction
Improve your appearance and psychology by correcting your body with the method of liposuction.
Many women and men, having heard so much about liposuction and wanting to improve their appearance, wonder if liposuction is the right treatment for their case. Of course, it is necessary to visit the special plastic surgeon to examine them and inform them if liposuction is appropriate in their case.
During the first visit to the plastic surgeon, a detailed medical history will be drawn and a complete physical examination will be performed. You will be asked to stop or to stop smoking if you smoke and to avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal analgesics, e.g. Voltaren, as these increase the chance of haemorrhage after the surgery.
The quality and elasticity of the skin in the specific areas where the liposuction will be administered, largely determines the result of the operation. Good quality and elastic skin, without many stretch marks, shrinks to a very good degree after the removal of fat that is located subcutaneously and deep, creating a very good liposuction result.
Skin that is loose, with many stretch marks, or has lost a large percentage of its elasticity, limits the amount of fat that the plastic surgeon can remove without the skin loosening more, resulting in a reduction of the desired result. In these cases, the patient should be informed that, to maximize the effect, liposuction should be combined with removal of excess skin in the area (e.g. abdomen). This way, women or men who are healthy, with a normal body weight or slightly overweight and localized fat that resists diet and exercise, with good quality and elasticity of the skin and aged 18 to 60 years, can undergo liposuction to improve their body’s appearance.
The procedure
Liposuction / liposculpture is one of the most common plastic surgeries, both in Greece and in the USA. It helps women and men improve their body lines and increase their confidence. The effect is permanent, as long as the patient pays attention to their weight, eats healthily and exercises. The method of liposculpture especially, enables the correction of minor imperfections, which are usually of great importance for how the woman or man feels about the appearance of their body.
Liposuction is a technique that requires a lot of experience and a sense of harmony and proportions of the body from the surgeon. The fat is removed from the areas where surpluses exist, such as thighs, glutes, inner side of the knee, abdomen, with special, thin canulas, without mechanical vacuum assistance, and after rinsing, the fat cells are isolated and with special, very thin, atraumatic canulas are placed in areas of the body where there is a lack of fat cells. Such are areas of the face that we want to emphasize, such as the cheekbones, lips, wrinkles, areas that we want to improve, such as the nasolabial folds.
These fat cells can also be moved to other areas, such as the back of the hand or the upper part of the glute, in order to give a more youthful and firmer appearance to the body. In areas with typical deformity and surface irregularities, it may be necessary to remove fat from one part and add it to the adjacent part, with the method of liposculpture.
Liposuction techniques
Super-wet technique: This technique was developed in the USA by Dr. Klein. Before the fat is removed and while the patient is under local or general anesthesia, the area to be improved is filtered with a quantity of saline solution, with a local anesthetic. This helps in the breakdown of fat and its easier removal, and reduces after surgery bruising, as well as pain in this area.
Ultrasound-assisted technique: A technique in which a double canula is used, one part of which transfers the energy of ultrasounds to liquefy localized fat, and the other part acting as a simple suction to remove the fat liquefied by the ultrasounds. This technique has specific applications in very special cases, due to its complexity and the very good results we achieve with the super-wet method.
Power-assisted technique: In this technique, the canula vibrates back and forth with the help of electric energy, for about two millimeters, ninety times per second. This helps liquefy the localized fat and the surgeon may be more concerned with sculpting the area and less with trying to liquefy the fat. The use of this technique is frequent in liposuction, in cases of gynecomastia in men.
Radiofrequency Bodytite technique: This is a new method of radiofrequency liposuction that can be performed under local anesthesia as well, while at the same time it offers skin tightening. BodyTite is an innovative body sculpture system, designed specifically to reduce persistent fat, while achieving sculpting and tightening. It has the most advanced technology in the field of liposculpture in the world, called RFAL (Radio Frequency Assisted LipoTightening), in order to offer you a safe, fast, almost bloodless and painless solution for the ideal shaping of your silhouette.
Before the operation
- Avoid sunbathing for one week before the operation.
- If you are taking any medication, inform Dr. Gaitanis, so that he can advise you on its continuation.
- ALCOHOL is prohibited 48 hours before the operation.
- ASPIRIN is prohibited for at least one week before the operation. You may take paracetamol.
- If you are a smoker, it is important to significantly reduce smoking or even better to QUIT it.
- The morning before the operation, take a shower or bath and wash your hair, but do not use hair spray or other products. Do not apply any lotions.
- Arrange your transfer to and from the hospital in advance.
- Get a special corset, as Dr. Gaitanis will inform you.
Operation Day
- Eating or drinking is prohibited for at least 6 hours before the operation.
- Remove nail polish, contact lenses, jewelry and makeup before leaving home for the hospital.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothes.
- After the operation you may return home in the afternoon of the same day.
After the operation
The patient wears an elastic lycra corset or pants for 2-3 weeks after surgery. Bruising and swelling may occur, but with the modern techniques applied, they are quite limited. The patient can return to work, depending on the extend of the liposculpture, 2-4 days after the operation. Return to the gym after 2-3 weeks.
- ASPIRIN is prohibited for 7 days after the operation.
- ALCOHOL is prohibited for 48 hours after the operation.
- Follow the medication recommended by Dr. Gaitanis.
- Avoid sunbathing for two weeks after the operation.
- You can take a shower the day after surgery.
- Rest for 1 day with light walking at home.
Possible complications
The risks are greatly reduced when the operation is performed by a special plastic surgeon with proven experience in liposuction. The most common complications are minor abnormalities on the surface of the skin, small asymmetries and prolongation of the bruising and swelling period. Sometimes, in particularly difficult cases, a second operation may be needed after a year, to correct minor imperfections. It is necessary for the patient to pay close attention to the pre and postoperative instructions.
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