Tumescent Liposuction & Liposculpture

Liposuction is currently the most frequently requested Cosmetic Surgery procedure. It is a proven technique that recontours bulging fat deposits in both men and women. Accumulations of fat are often inherited and can be resistant to even the most dedicated diet and exercise regime. Neck and facial treatment can now remove localized deposits of fat cells effectively sculpturing those persistent fatty areas.

Liposuction was first developed in 1974s by Dr Fischer of Italy. Since then the technique has now been refined from a crude extraction of fat by heavy diameter rods attached to a mechanical suction pump to a gentle local anaesthetic surgical procedure using slender blunt suction tips to gently remove fat with the skill of a sculptor.

The liposuction clinic provides liposculpture for men and women at our clinic in Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Liposuction surgery is a conceptually elegant and simple method of body sculpturing. A special fat extractor (a thin hollow stainless steel tube between 1.4 mm to 2.1 mm in diameter) or cannula is inserted into the fatty areas between the skin and muscle, through small skin incisions. The extractor creates tiny tunnels, breaks up the fat cells, loosening them so that they can be removed by a high-pressure vacuum attached to the end of the cannula. Liposculpture can also be used to replace many other Cosmetic Surgery procedures including Neck-lift, Breast Reduction and Breast Enlargement (when combined with fat transfer).

Tumescent Liposuction treatment requires minimal anaesthesia. The 'tumescent solution' which is injected to firm up the tissues is made up of a weak solution of Lidocaine anaesthetic and a weak Adrenaline solution. This combination will totally numb the area of treatment, as well as virtually prevent bleeding, and will result in almost painless fat removal. The technique sounds simple enough, but requires artistic skill, patience, and experience to perform. For patients who require relief from fear or anxiety, mild sedation can be given.

Pure Tumescent Liposuction techniques uses only local anaesthetic and therefore it can safely be performed in our Office Surgical Suite, which has been approved by the local health authority. Surgery performed in the office setting can avoid the very high cost of the local hospitals (even with cosmetic fee discounts!).

Although not suitable for all patients, it is an excellent technique to correct normal, but cosmetically objectionable, depot fat storage sites that are resistant to all means of dieting and exercise. Patients should generally be within 10-15% of ideal body weight to achieve maximum benefits, but occasionally patients who are beyond this guideline can benefit as well. However, Liposuction Treatment should never be considered as a weight loss technique. If your problem is mainly overweight, we can prescribe for you the Xenical weight loss programme first. This will help you to achieve your ideal weight. Then if there are still resistant fat deposits you can consider having the liposuction to sculpture your body further.

Patients are prepared for Tumescent Liposuction treatment with a thorough consultation, physical examination, and digital photo examination. During the consultation, the patient can ask as many questions as he/she likes. Full explanation of the treatment procedures with its possible complications will also be explained. As mentioned above the Tumescent Liposuction procedures are done under Local Anaesthesia alone. Therefore during the surgery the patient will be awake and will be ask to get up a few times to see if enough fat has been removed. This way the optimal fat reduction can be achieved and thus eliminating the need for further corrective surgery in the future.

Recovery time is brief, with many patients returning to work in a few days after surgery, and most back to full exercise in 12-14 days. Because there is almost no blood loss during Tumescent Liposuction, bruising, swelling, and pain are minimal post-operatively, and significant contour improvement is often apparent inside of two weeks. However maximum benefit is usually seen only by 12 weeks post-operation. Most patients require a compression girdle for only 2-3 weeks post-operation.