Liposuction
Liposuction and Liposculpture
 Board Certified General and Cosmetic Surgeon. He performs the liposuction procedures at our Gold Coast Office’s private surgical suite. Dr. Summers uses the Tumescent Liposuction. This technology has been around over a decade and produces less down time, minimal risks (due to local anesthesia versus general) and more consistent results.
To find out of you are a candidate for Liposculture, please schedule a complimentary consultation at either our Lakeview or Gold Coast office.
What is liposuction and liposculpture?
Liposuction is the removal of excess fat tissue using small instruments (about the size of a straw). These instruments (cannulas) are inserted under the skin to the underlying fat tissue. The fat is then removed through the cannula. The Tumescent technique of performing liposuction uses a diluted local anesthetic to numb the skin and to soften the fat. By sculpting away unwanted bulges, a more attractive body shape is obtained.
When is liposuction indicated?
Liposuction is most effective for removing localized fat deposits in areas that do not respond to diet or exercise. Liposuction is not a weight reduction treatment. It is ideally used as a sculpting procedure in people that are within 15-30 pounds of their ideal body weight and that are engaged in an exercise program.
Slightly overweight patients with focal areas that are out of proportion to the rest of their body may also be candidates. In these people, liposuction is used to remove pockets of fat that are otherwise resistant.
How is the tumescent technique performed?
Tumescent liposuction (liposculpture) is a technique that removes unwanted fat from many different parts of the body. Women and men commonly treat the neck, chin, abdomen, hips, flanks (love handles), buttocks, knees and breasts. The development of the Tumescent technique of performing liposuction in the 1980\'s allows for the safe removal of fat under local anesthesia. Because Tumescent liposuction only uses local anesthetic, the patient remains totally awake during the procedure. Because of this, Tumescent liposuction eliminates the attendant risks involved with sedation and general anesthesia.
What is the recovery period?
The recovery period depends on the location and extent of the areas treated. Most patients can be back at work in two-three days. Compression garments are worn for several days after the procedure to maintain an even contour during the healing process. Dr. Summers recommends that strenuous exercise be avoided for 7-10 days following the procedure.
What happens to the skin following liposuction?
Skin is an elastic organ with the ability to expand and contract (for example, the abdomen of a pregnant woman). Following liposuction, the skin usually contracts to conform to the new body contour. In rare instances, the skin may have lost the ability to contract and surgery is required to remove the excess skin.
Will the fat re-grow?
No, new fat cells are created once adulthood is reached. This means that once the fat cells are removed they are permanently gone. If weight is gained following the procedure, the remaining cells in the body will grow in size but not in number.
Can the procedure be repeated?
Yes. There is a maximum amount of fat that can safely be removed in one treatment session. Also, in certain instances, Dr. Summers may perform the procedure in a series of treatments to obtain a desired result. It is recommended that a four month period elapse before an area is treated again.
When will I notice the results?
The results of liposuction are noticeable between ten and thirty days following the procedure. Further tightening and remodeling will occur for the next several months.
Will I lose weight?
Since this is a sculpting procedure and not a weight reduction procedure, the amount of weight that will be lost will be minimal. However, you may look slimmer and notice a change in you clothing size and the way you clothing fit following the procedure. To help understand how it can be possible to look different without losing a significant amount of weight, it is worth noting that most people are about 20% fat. This means that a loss of a few pounds may represent a significant percentage of body fat.
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Liposuction Male Breast Reduction (Gynacomastia Surgery)
The normal male breast contains both adipose (fat) tissue and fibrous glandular tissue. True breast tissue in males is typically a small localized lump located immediately under the nipple that is more firm than the surrounding fatty tissue. Gynacomastia is defined as an enlargement of male breast(s) caused by an excessive amount of fat tissue and/or glandular breast tissue. Most male breasts that appear unusually large are the result of excessive fat.
Treatment Options
Liposuction is the most effective treatment for Gynacomastia. Among normal healthy men there is a wide range of the relative amount of fatty tissue and glandular tissue found in the breasts. Most healthy men have a small amount of glandular tissue and a larger proportion of fatty tissue in their breasts. Microcannulas as used in Liposuction procedures (please refer the description on liposuction page for details) are effective in removing both breast tissue and fatty tissue from the normal male breast. Exceptionally dense glandular breast tissue may require surgical removal using a scalpel followed by a closure using stitchesLiposuction is the most effective treatment for Gynacomastia. Among normal healthy men there is a wide range of the relative amount of fatty tissue and glandular tissue found in the breasts. Most healthy men have a small amount of glandular tissue and a larger proportion of fatty tissue in their breasts. Microcannulas as used in Liposuction procedures (please refer the description on liposuction page for details) are effective in removing both breast tissue and fatty tissue from the normal male breast. Exceptionally dense glandular breast tissue may require surgical removal using a scalpel followed by a closure using stitches
Liposuction Surgical Technique
Liposuction of the male breast is a well recognized procedure. The small size cannulas facilitate liposuction of male breast glandular tissue, and permit consistently outstanding results. Some surgeons advocate excision male breast tissue with a scalpel despite the relatively high incidence of scaring retraction and disfigurement.
Tumescent liposuction of the male breast can be accomplished totally by local anesthesia with or without sedation. After gently injecting local anesthesia into selected areas of the skin overlying the breasts, the breast tissue is penetrated by a microcannulas attached to suction machine. The negative vacuum suction removes excess fat and glandular tissue as well.
At Thrive, every case is individualized according to the needs of the patient, who is an active participant with regard to what is wanted, and how that goal is achieved.
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Axillary Hyperhidrosis/Liposuction
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is a condition where your body produces more perspiration than is needed to cool the body and maintain appropriate body temperature. This means excessive sweating even in cool temperatures and without physical exertion. Stress can aggravate the condition, but the sweating can occur with or without stress.
Axillary Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating under the arms, is a problem that can lead to extreme anxiety and self-consciousness. Many people avoid social situations when they have this condition.
Superficial liposuction is a relatively new procedure for treating axillary hyperhidrosis, using a one-time process performed under local anesthesia. It is a safe, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis and it has a very high success rate. The procedure actually removes the sweat glands in the armpits using a liposuction cannula.
This process is similar to traditional liposuction which is used for the removal of excess fat in areas such as the abdomen or hips. The difference is that with Superficial Liposuction, the cannula opening is directed toward the surface of the skin where the apocrine and eccrine glands are located.
For the procedure itself, the area under each arm is numbed with a solution containing local anesthesia. This is only mildly uncomfortable. The effect of the anesthetic is immediate, so that once the area to be treated is anesthetized, there is no further discomfort. The process takes approximately five minutes per arm.
Next, small openings are made at the edge of the areas to be treated. Usually two incisions, each measuring less than a quarter of an inch are made under each arm. A small cannula (metal tube) is then inserted through the incision. This cannula has an opening at its tip and is attached to a special tubing coming from the liposuction machine.
Once the machine is turned on, the sweat glands are scraped and suctioned via a back and forth motion. The liposuction process takes approximately fifteen minutes per arm.
This procedure generally results in a permanent 80% to 100% reduction in the amount of sweating under the arms with temporary numbness being the most common side effect. Patients report they no longer sweat through their shirts, they can now wear anything they want without fear of sweat stains showing through the garment, and they also report increased confidence and less anxiety about being around other people.
Here at Thrive we have had great success with this treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. If you suffer from this uncomfortable and embarrassing condition, please come visit us for a consultation.
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