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Information on Surgical Procedures -
BODY
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Liposuction
In liposuction, the surgeon removes the fat below the
skin by means of a long thin tube, called a cannula.
These tubes are passed through small incisions on the
skin, targetting collections of fat. Depending on the
amount of fat to be removed and the number of areas to
be treated, the procedure may be done under local
anesthesia or general anesthesia. Commonly treated areas
are the hips, thighs, knees, upper and lower abdomen,
arms, and the area below the chin.
The best candidates to a good result for liposuction are
those who are not grossly overweight, but desire to
remove specific fat bulges. It is not a substitute for a
weight loss regimen, and does not improve the appearance
of the overlying skin, but results in a better body
contour.
Immediately after surgery, there may be some fluid
draining from the incisions and some bruising, but these
go away after a few days. There may be some changes in
the sensation of the skin over the area that was
treated, but these recover after a few weeks. For the
first few weeks, a compression garment is worn to enable
the skin to conform to the new contour that was created.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
In some patients, there is a loss of elasticity of the
muscle and skin in the abdomen. This condition is
usually worsened by previous pregnancy. This results in
a bulging of the lower part of the abdomen (Tagalog:
pusunin). There may also be excess skin hanging like an
apron over the area.
The aim of abdominoplasty is to create a straight
vertical contour of the anterior abdomen, along with
putting some curves on the waist. This is done by
removing the excess skin and fat, and by tightening the
muscle layer underneath. This is performed through a
curved incision on the lower abdominal area. Because of
the extent of surgery, this is often performed under
spinal anesthesia. This procedure may be combined with
liposuction, hysterectomy, or other plastic surgery
procedures.
Postoperatively, the patient may have to remain in the
hospital for a few more days, wearing a support garment
around the abdomen. Strenuous activities are prohibited
for the first 2 weeks to allow the wounds to heal.
A related procedure is performed for obese patients who
had undergone bariatric surgery. Patients like these
would have loose hanging folds of skin without the fat.
Called post-bariatric surgery body contouring, it uses
the principles of abdominoplasty to remove the excess
skin from the trunk, arms, and legs. |
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