Liposculpture

Liposculpture – Safe Liposuction

Even with careful dieting and sweating it out in the gym, the fact is that few people genetically have a perfect shape.

Most of us have a tendency to accumulate pockets of fat in undesirable places. In women, this is usually on the inner and outer thighs (the so-called dreaded saddle bags), or on the upper and lower abdomen. Men, on the other hand, often have spare flesh in the form of ‘love handles’ or on the chest.

Unlike cooling, heating and needling techniques to get rid of fatty deposits, Tumescent Liposculture gives you instant results that you can see for yourself right in the operating room! You don’t need to convince yourself and your friends that there is an improvement. The results are profound and easily appreciated.

And unlike Liposuction under general anaesthesia, Tumescent Liposculpture under oral sedation has an outstanding safety record. Dr Salmon has been performing this surgery for over 20 years without a single significant safety complication.

The most successful way to alter our shape is to selectively remove unwanted fat from selected spots such as on the thighs or tummy. Tumescent Liposculpture, which is the world’s safest form of liposuction, is the only method of achieving this without producing obvious scars.

Tumescent Liposculpture gets rid of excess fat from localised fat deposits in body areas that do not respond to dieting or exercising. It’s a technique that safely and permanently takes away excess fat cells from specific areas by contouring and resculpting targeted parts of the body.

This revolutionary procedure will safely, effectively and permanently achieve your desired body shape, by removing unwanted body fat and bulges. However, liposculpture is not intended as a method for weight loss. It is used as a shaping procedure for areas where hereditary fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise have accumulated. If your weight is not stable, this is not a good procedure for you. Dr Salmon can give you the shape you want , its up to you to look after your investment.. If you put on weight, you may put weight back on in the areas you have had treated.

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What is Liposculpture?

Body Contouring Liposculpture

If diet and exercise have no impact on your unsightly bulges, liposculpture can offer a permanent solution. Dr Paul Salmon at The Skin Centre practices only tumescent liposculpture under local anaesthetic, as opposed to liposculpture under general anaesthetic. This is a safe, effective, potentially permanent treatment.

Exciting new developments in liposculpture technology, pioneered by dermatologists, have heralded a new era in liposculpture. These advances have made the procedure easier for you, and less expensive. You can expect some temporary bruising and just 1-2 days off work.

Dr Salmon introduced this procedure to New Zealand, and after almost 20 years years practicing this technique and performing hundreds of procedures, he is the country’s most experienced practitioner, with a safety record second to none.

About the surgery

Liposculpture is most effective for removing localised fat deposits in areas that do not respond to diet or exercise. Liposculpture is not intended as a substitute for weight loss, but rather is a contouring procedure. It is therefore best utilised in a programme of exercise and optimal weight maintenance.

Dr Paul Salmon

How does Liposculpture work?

Liposculpture is the removal of excess fat with a thin, straw-like instrument called a micro cannula, which is attached to an aspirator machine. Thin micro cannulas are used to dislodge the fat from its web-like gristle supports under the skin. The aspirator then suctions the fat away. An elastic garment is then worn to compress the skin on the underlying tissues. The result is a re-sculpting of bulging areas into more attractive contours.

The thin micro cannulas (2-3mm diameter) allow for a more comfortable procedure and a more even result, with less bruising and smaller incision holes.

What happens prior to liposculpture surgery?

Before liposculpture surgery, you’ll have a consultation with Dr Salmon in which a full medical history is taken and a careful examination conducted to evaluate your condition. During the consultation, Dr Salmon will describe the procedure and what results might be realistically expected, and answer any concerns you may have.

Your doctor will also review alternative treatment options and explain the possible risks and complications that may occur. Photographs are often taken before and after surgery to evaluate the amount of improvement. A prescription for antibiotics is given to commence the day of your procedure. You will be fitted for the garment 2-4 weeks prior to surgery.

Do not take any aspirin or aspirin-related products for six weeks prior to surgery. The only safe medication for pain is paracetamol. Do not take vitamin E by mouth, fish oil or Ginko Biloba for six weeks before surgery. Many prescription medications can interact with the local anaesthesia used in this surgery. Make sure you disclose all your medications, herbal/natural supplements and vitamins during your consult with Dr Salmon.

Contact the Skin Centre to see how we can help you, and for your confidential consultation.

Tumecent Liyposculpture

How is the tumescent technique of liposculpture performed?

Tumescent liposculpture can be performed in Dr Salmon’s dermatologic clinic at The Skin Centre, in a safe and beautiful environment.

We use local anaesthesia via the tumescent technique. This breakthrough technique refers to the swelling of the skin with local anaesthetic in order to remove unwanted fat more efficiently and safely.

With tumescent surgery, large volumes of a solution containing dilute lignocaine (a local anaesthetic) and dilute Epinephrine (a drug to shrink capillaries and prevent blood loss), are injected with minimal discomfort directly into areas of excessive fatty deposits.

Once the liquid is injected, a small incision is made in the skin and a tube connected to a vacuum is inserted into the fatty layer. Using to and fro movements, the fat is drawn through the tube into a collection system.

The tumescent method of liposuction enables Dr Salmon to remove large amounts of fat more uniformly, with fewer skin irregularities and less bleeding and bruising.

After Liposculpture Surgery

Micro cannulas

Dr Salmon has been among those pioneering the use of very thin cannulas in tumescent liposculpture. For a slight disadvantage of longer surgical time these instruments allow tiny insertion sites, less discomfort, less bruising and a more even result. Perfection is our ideal, good microcannulas allow us to even more closely approach that.

What happens after liposculpture surgery?

The local anaesthesia injected into the tissue remains for 18-24 hours following liposculpture surgery, greatly minimizing postoperative pain. After tumescent liposculpture, patients are usually alert and able to function without nausea, grogginess and the “washed out” feeling associated with general anaesthesia. With the tumescent technique there is minimal bruising and many patients do not require postoperative medication for pain. You can usually return to a desk type job within 48 hours. Physical exercise generally can be resumed three to seven days after liposculpture.

Are there any possible complications?

The tumescent technique of liposculpture is a remarkably safe procedure with few significant side effects. A recent study in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery & Oncology reported that 15,000 patients underwent tumescent procedure with no major complications. Clinical studies by other specialists have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of tumescent liposculpture.

What are the limitations of liposculpture?

Liposculpture is not intended as a method for weight loss. It is used as a shaping procedure for areas where hereditary fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise have accumulated. The best results from liposculpture occur in body areas where there is reasonable muscle tone, where skin has good elastic quality, and where fat is not excessive. In cases where there is a significant loss of tone and elasticity, superior cosmetic results may require a combination of both liposculpture and surgical skin tightening to remove the excessive loose tissue.

Dr Salmon can advise you of the likelihood of the need for additional treatments, depending on the specific condition of your skin.

Post-operative instructions

Congratulations – you’ve made the decision, had the procedure and are now you’re almost ready to reveal your new sculpted body. The following information and instructions will help you know what to expect in the days following your procedure.

If possible have someone stay with you on the day of surgery. It is normal for patients to become light-headed when rising from a sitting or lying position. You may also become very light-headed when you remove your garments. Please have someone help you the first time, or lie on the floor when doing so.

You should expect a large volume of blood-tinged anaesthetic solution to drain from the incision sites during the first 24-48 hours. This will vary from patient to patient. In general the more drainage there is, the less bruising and swelling there will be. You may have a few incisions drain for up to a week. Even though the fluid is red, it is only about 1% blood, with the remainder being local anaesthetic and tissue fluid. Maxi-pads are recommended for bandages over your incision sites. These should be changed twice daily to prevent infection.

The day following your surgery you may remove your garment to launder it. Have a very brief shower, change your bandages and put your garment back on wet. Dry the garment with the hair dryer. Do not put your garment in the tumble dryer or it will shrink. You must not have a bath or hot tub for three weeks after your procedure.

The surgical garment must be worn 24 hours a day, with the exception of it being removed for showering, for the first week, and 12 hours a day for the second week. If your surgical garment was placed on you inside out, please continue to wear it inside out. This will assure no irritation from the seams. Dr Salmon may require some patients to wear the garment longer.

If you have several areas done you may require help changing your maxi-pads. You could have several incisions per area treated. If the neck area was treated you must wear the compression garment 24 hours a day for the first 2 days, without removing it for any reason, and 12 hours a day for the following 2 days.

Post-operative medication will be given to you before your surgery. This will consist of Panadeine, which you can take for pain relief after your surgery, every four hours if required, and an antibiotic, either Flucloxacillin, Doxycycline or Ciproxin, which you will start the morning of your surgery. You must complete your course of antibiotics. If you cannot tolerate your antibiotics you must advise the surgeon or nurse so that we may change it for you.

Do not gamble with your health following cosmetic surgery by not taking your antibiotics. If you experience nausea or vomiting, it is probably due to the medication. Try to take your medication with food, rather than on an empty stomach. If it persists, please contact the clinic.

Meals are not restricted. Drink plenty of clear fluids. We recommend 8 glasses of water a day, starting the day after your surgery.

When your incisions stop draining, apply a little Vaseline to the incisions. Cover with a plaster only if your garment is rubbing on an incision.

Common liposculpture side effects

Menstrual irregularities with premature or delayed onset of monthly menstruation are a common side effect of any significant surgery, and are due to the release of oestrogen from the fat. Flushing of the face, neck and upper chest may occur after liposculpture and may last for a day or two. Slight temperature elevation during the first 48 hours after surgery is a natural consequence of the body’s reaction to the surgery.

Any fevers or severe pain signifies infection, so you must contact the clinic immediately. You will be supplied with Dr Salmon’s after-hours numbers- please contact him immediately if you have any concerns.

When to rest and resume normal activity

After liposculpture we advise resting for the first 12 hours, and taking it easy for the first week. You may resume your normal activities as you feel comfortable doing so. If you experience more than mild swelling or discomfort, you may be overdoing it. You can expect to experience swelling in the pubic area, such as the scrotum in males and the labia in females, especially after lower abdominal liposculpture.

Post-operative discomfort usually takes the form of deep muscle tenderness, and in most cases starts on the day following the procedure and improves steadily over the following week. You may experience swelling in your calves and ankles for several months following liposculpture. Remember that the healing process takes 6 months.

At around 4-6 weeks following surgery, it is quite common to experience a lumpy sensation in the fat layer. This is just due to healing of the skin, and it resolves again in another 2-3 weeks as the skin goes soft. You may experience “pins and needles” or numb areas on the skin following liposculpture. This is due to bruising of the little nerves due to the procedure, and will resolve, although it can take as long as 6-9 months.

Although you will see 70% of the results straight away in the theatre, you will get some swelling, which starts immediately after the procedure and is part of the healing process. You will see anywhere between 80-90% of the final result 6 weeks following the surgery, but to see the final result, you will need to wait for up to 6 months for the imperceptible contraction of the skin, which slowly occurs.

Please remember that for the majority of patients the goal is significant improvement, not perfection.

Before and after photos