Body Contour & Reshaping

What is Liposuction

The concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. Liposuction is a semi-surgical technique that improves the body's contour by removing excess fat deposits located between the skin and muscle. Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula (from the Latin word for reed, tube, cane). The liposuction cannula, typically connected to a powerful suction pump, is inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin, and fat is removed by suction as the moving cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fat.

During the healing process after liposuction, these tiny tunnels shrink and disappear, resulting in an improved body contour; and the incisions virtually disappear after a few months.

The Procedure

Liposuction can be performed in a number of ways.  Originally  it was performed in a hospital using general anaesthetic and  large cannulas, without a ‘wetting’ agent. It was a dangerous procedure and required blood transfusions.

The introduction of a wetting agent  and finer cannulas  by Dermatologist Jeffrey Klein made the procedure much safer because it virtually stopped blood loss, reduced infection and allowed liposuction to be performed in the Doctors rooms  under local Anaesthetic alone.

The introduction of large volumes of dilute local anaesthetic  (tumescent technique) before suctioning allowed the techniques of bodysculpting by liposculpture.

The introduction of power cannulas, laser lipo, and ultrasound assisted liposuction have added very little if at all to the safety and effectiveness of liposuction under local anaesthetic. Dr Goldbaum believes that there should be only 3 components in liposuction and liposculpture; they are

• the Patient
• the Doctor
• the Cannula.

The injection of dilute local anesthetic into the targeted fat allows for easier extraction and limits blood loss. It also allows the procedure to be performed as a day procedure with only minimal time off work required ( 1-3 days). Best of all  as Dr Goldbaum states,” the procedure is extremely safe  and allows me the ability to remove more fat as the patient can move into several positions including sitting and standing. This  3-D sculpting ensures the best possible results. And YES the skin does shrink; and the fat is gone permanently.”

At Liposuction Australia, we use the 'tumescent technique' which  offers a long list of advantages over traditional liposuction techniques. With smoother results, fewer complications, and faster recovery, tumescent liposuction may be the reason liposuction has become one of the most popular procedures of choice.

Benefits of Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction provides several advantages over the original liposuction:

• Using local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia eliminates nausea and other general-anesthesia-related side effects.
• The recovery time is shorter.
• There is less blood and fluid loss.
• Use of antibacterial lidocaine may reduce the chance of infection.
• Intravenous fluid replacement is not necessary.
• The swelling or tumescence of the fatty deposits amplifies the targeted areas for liposuction, thus reducing the risk of a secondary procedure.
• The new cannula design with tumescent liposuction reduces bruising and swelling after surgery.
• Smaller incisions result in less scarring.