What is spot liposuction?

A: That term identifies having liposuction on one little area the person doesn’t like. This can be a very small focus that requires only a little anesthetic. It is also done after people have had liposuction and find one tiny area of fat remaining that they want removed.

Q: What types of sedation are employed for liposuction?

A: Shots could be given in the muscle to deliver narcotics and anti-anxiety medication. They can be given by mouth or injected intravenously – the choice is up to the physician and the anesthesiologist

Q: Are there a variety of sizes of cannulas?

A: In the beginning, cannulas were 10 millimeters, that is 1 centimeter, more than a third of an inch in diameter.

Today, surgeons are using a cannula that’s much smaller, about a sixteenth of an inch. A 10 millimeter cannula is approximately the size of a pretzel rod. Small ones used today are concerning the size of the smaller pretzel sticks. How big is the insertion hole relates to how big is the cannula found in that area.

The openings of the cannulas may also be different. There are simplyrenting to focus on deeper planes when surgeons need to get more fat out. And there are less aggressive cannulas for focusing on superficial planes, where they don’t really want to create indentations. The size used also depends upon the pattern, size, and number of the openings in the patient’s skin.

Q: Are sutures required after liposuction?

A: True tumescent liposuction is purposely done without suturing the insertion sites. This enables an exit for the fluid, permitting it to drain out. But some doctors prefer to sew the incisions closed with sutures.

Q: Are there scars when suturing is not used?

A: You can find scars whether stitches are used or not, but they can often be treated in the future should they bother the patients. In many cases, they are hidden, so nobody sees them to begin with.

Points To Remember

The dry technique, with general anesthetic no injected fluids, had negative effects and is no longer performed.
The wet technique uses injected fluids and is very safe.
Tumescent liposuction uses injected fluids that cause tissues to swell and invite patients to remain awake through the procedure.
Tumescent anesthetic combines lidocaine to numb and epinephrine (adrenaline) to constrict blood vessels and minimize bleeding.
Ultrasonic liposuction heats and liquefies fat. The inner form requires special surgical skills; the external form can be used to liquefy fat ahead of treatment with tumescent liposuction.
Surgeons can remove fat with syringes or with machine-powered cannulas.
Powered liposuction uses a high-powered cannula that moves back and forth to create fat removal faster and easier.
High-volume liposuction, with removal greater than four or five 5 liters of fat at one session, isn’t recommended.
Different forms of sedation are available, administered by mouth or by injection.
Cannulas come in different sizes and leave different size insertion openings.
Some surgeons allow insertions sites to drain, while others sew them up with sutures.