Many people suffer from local fat deposits that resist the best slimming procedures. In women, this so-called cumulative fat is especially located around the hips, thighs, abdomen and upper arms. In men, it generally concentrates around the loins (hips), abdomen, stomach and neck area. These problematic fat deposits might also occur on knees, face, ankles, back and buttocks. Liposuction, literally meaning: sucking away fat is the most effective option. This is one of the most frequent treatments in plastic surgery. A treatment that has become even more easy and safe since the introduction of tumescent liposculpture.
Tumescent liposculpture is a relatively new method to remove unwanted fat, by using large amounts of fluid injected subcutaneously. The subcutaneous fat becomes easier to remove. Fat is sucked out using thinner suction tubes than in the past. This method gives significantly less problems after surgery because less tissue is damaged.
One step further is the recent revolutionary development of the NUTATIONAL INFRASONIC LIPOSCULPTURE used in SAFARM CLINIC and its technical reference since 1998. The system is called LIPOMATIC (have a look at the picture down in the page to see an image of this device). A pneumatically driven handpiece using compressed air in order to drive the tip of the infiltration cannula and sucking cannula into a three-dimensional vibrating motion called nutation. Thanks to this motion (minuscule vibrations), the fat that has been completely injected until tumescence with large amounts of moisture is liquefied before being sucked and therefore easily released with less trauma, less pain and a minimum of blood loss.
The progress of the operation
The first consultation
At your first consultation, the aesthetic doctor will review with you the potential improvement that you can expect to obtain. He examines your problem areas and the elasticity of the skin. He asks for your medical history and decides where fat should be removed. The size and type of your compression garment are determined.
A reflection period of 15 days is always suggested.
The second consultation
Once your decision taken after the reflection period, a second preoperative interview is necessary to clearly explain the tips to follow before and after the intervention, the conduct and the potential risks and complications.
The practitioner is required to inform you of the same exceptional risk. This detailed information is included in the informed consent, we will ask you to read carefully before signing.
The preparation
You will receive extensive instructions in order to prepare properly for the operation. When using medications, you will be advised whether to stop your medication before surgery or not. You are also advised not to smoke in the days before and after surgery. If you have a cold, the treatment has to be delayed. Since you can feel a little weak after surgery, it is necessary to arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home safely. When having an extensive liposuction of several areas, it is also recommended to organize some household help for a few days.
Anaesthesia
The treatment takes place under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the extent of the treatment areas. The Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture is preferably carried out under local anaesthesia because the patient is free to move and some places are therefore easily accessible, which obviously benefit the result. This technique is comfortable for both doctor and patient. Some patients still prefer general anaesthesia, which is also possible.
The operation
Prior to surgery, the surgeon marks the fat deposits that have to be removed. Then small, invisible incisions are made in the skin. The subcutaneous fat is injected with a liquid. Next, thin suction tubes suck away the subcutaneous fat. These tubes are attached to a device. High vacuum pressure is created and the fat is suctioned off. The duration of the operation depends on the amount of fat and the places where it has to be removed.
After the operation
After the operation you will be immediately helped to wear a special lipo-garment to support the skin and to restrict possible swelling. You must wear this for four to six weeks. You will experience some stiffness and a mushy feeling in the treated areas during the first two weeks after surgery. The skin may feel numb and somewhat painful. This will disappear spontaneously. The incisions through which the liposculpture was performed are not stitched, so the remaining liquid that was injected can drain away. The fluid is pink and bloody. Because the fluid can drain away, there is obviously less swelling. This discharge of moisture can extend to 24 hours after surgery, but is totally harmless. The scars will be very small and are located on the least visible areas of the body. In the beginning they will still be red, but on the long term they will become almost inconspicuous. After two weeks you can resume your daily activities. You can also pick up your exercises very carefully.
Extensive swelling may occur after liposuction. The lipo-panty supports and offers comfort. The total duration of the swelling is highly variable but it may last up to six months. The new contours of your figure will be visible from several days to weeks after surgery but you must understand that the final result takes at least a few months.
There are three check-ups scheduled after surgery. The first check-up takes place one day after surgery (the adhesive bandages are changed). The second is one week after (adhesive bandages are finally removed). The wounds are inspected and if there are any problems, you may state them at this time. An evaluation of the result is done at the third check-up, four to six weeks after surgery.
Liposculpture may create a new contour line, but it does not mean that you should never watch your weight again. A healthy, balanced diet and regular exercises are the best way to ensure a lasting result.
More information about the technique
THE TECHNIQUE
NUTATIONAL INFRASONIC LIPOSCULPTURE
EVA sp®6
The Lipomatic®: handpiece machine
The Lipomatic® is a handpiece providing the Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture, designed for the infiltration and for the aspiration. It must be connected to a system of the EVA sp® range.
Characteristics:
- Active security system (stopping when non fatty tissues are met)
- No thermal release (no skin burning)
- Micro-pumping system allowing an acceleration of the fat removal without increasing the depression
- Nutation
- Infrasonic frequency (lower than 20 Hz)
Advantages for the patient:
- Less traumatic (major reduction of bruises and oedemas)
- Less painful
- A better aspect of the skin (excellent skin retraction)
- A shorter post-operative recovery
The Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture, is a variant of the vibro lipo aspiration, also called N.I.L.®, a patented technique using compressed air in order to drive the tip of the cannula into a 3-dimensional precession movement, called the nutation.
Nutation
This specific movement will be used to infiltrate as well as to aspirate the fat. As the infiltration is the key point in lipoaspiration, the best the fat is infiltrated, the best the fat is prepared for the aspiration without complications. The nutation will create an emulsion of the fat, which will break up the fatty cells while respecting the tissues (no wrenching). After this step, the emulsified fat can be gently aspirated, while considerably reducing the bleeding, the risks of oedemas and bruises. The aspiration is very selective, much less traumatizing.
Skin retraction
The nutational movement will also stimulate the collagen synthesis, which will tighten the skin in post operatory.
Infrasonic
The infrasonic vibration (low frequency: lower than 20hz) is generated by the nutation beatings and will act as a body anaesthesia on the treated area during the infiltration and the suction of the emulsified fat, known as « The Gate Control Theory », which will make the surgery and the recovery more comfortable for the patient.
The “Gate Control Theory” was developed by Melzack and Wall. They demonstrated that the spinal cord contains a type of neurons that plays the role of “door” that opens or closes to allow or block pain signals to the brain. This “door” allows the passage of pain signals to the brain when impulses travel on nerve fibers of small diameter and does not allow pain signals to pass when impulses travel on large diameter nerve fibers.
The vibration of the NIL stimulate large diameter nerve fibers that do not transmit pain stimuli and thus interfere with the conduction of the pain by inhibiting the small diameter nerve fibers. This mechanism allows the practitioner to perform this liposculpture comfortably under local anesthesia.
Fat cells do not return once removed
However, the remaining fat cells can expand due to an increase in weight. Therefore it is vital that you maintain healthy eating habits and way of living after the liposculpture as well.
Who comes under consideration for liposculpture?
Liposuction is not a substitute for dieting. It is meant for people who have local fat deposits that do not respond to traditional weight-loss methods.
The success of liposculpture is dependent on the elasticity of the skin. The elasticity decreases by ageing. However, excellent results can be reached in older patients. People with flabby skin could have endermology treatment before and/or after (3months) surgery in order to make the skin more elastic and tight.
Cellulitis (orange skin) is a bad indication. But the bumpy aspect of the skin could be improved by liposuction…
Indications
The Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture allows:
- Classical lipoplasties: tummy, epigastrium, flank, thigh (internal/external), knees, calves, ankles, back, love handles, buttock, flabby thighs, arms, chin, neck…
- Special lipoplasties: abdominoplasty, gynaecomasty, fibrous zones, superficial lipo, micro liposuction, sweat gland…
- The Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture can be performed on men and women, from 18 years old, with any skin type/fat (Caucasian, Asian, African), and also for 2nd liposuction surgery.
The different liposuction zones.
1. Upper abdomen
2. Lower abdomen
3. Flanks
4. Back and lateral skin fold
5. “Buffalo” hump
6. Lower back
7. Buttocks
8. Gluteal fold
9. Upper inner thighs
10. Saddlebags
11. Front of upper leg
12. Knee
13. Inner lower leg
14. Lateral lower leg
15. Back side upper leg
16. Banana
17. Back side upper arm
18. Inner upper arm
19. Chin
20. Neck
Complications
Complications from liposuction are extremely rare. Complications are usually restricted to bruising and swelling, which is quite normal.
The main complications are not of medical nature, but of aesthetic interest. This concerns overcorrections or undercorrections (local excess fat is still present). Overcorrections are harder to correct than undercorrections.
In cases of overcorrection, the solution is called LIPOFILLING (Fat Transfer Procedure): fat is sucked away on one place and injected into another to volumize or contour another part of the body. Nutational Infrasonic Liposculpture treated fat is typically higher quality for these types of procedures.
In cases of undercorrection, some extra fat can be sucked away to improve the result.
There is also a minimal risk of small pigment changes.
The result
The final result of liposuction can keep you waiting for a while. A clear change is noticeable only after a few days to weeks, but you should know that the result only gets better in time. The final result is visible after a few months.