What to do before your procedure?

At your initial consultation with Dr. Marciales, you will discuss your medical history and receive a physical exam. He must be healthy and have realistic goals for his procedure. Dr. Marciales will make recommendations based on his expectations and general health. In some cases, a smaller procedure may be enough to satisfy the goals of it.

Explanation of the procedure:

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck. Liposuction also shapes (molds) these areas. Liposuction is also called “liposculpture” and “body contouring.”

Liposuction is not typically considered a general approach or alternative to weight loss. If you’re overweight, you’re likely to lose more weight with diet and exercise or through bariatric procedures (such as gastric bypass surgery) than with liposuction.

You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have too much body fat in specific places but have a stable body weight.

What can I expect from a liposuction procedure?

Before the procedure

Before the liposuction procedure, the surgeon may mark circles and lines on the areas of your body to be treated. Pictures may also be taken so that before and after images can be compared.

The manner in which the liposuction procedure is performed depends on the specific technique that is used. Your surgeon will select the appropriate technique based on your treatment goals, the area of ​​the body to be treated, and whether you have had other liposuction procedures in the past.

• Tumescent liposuction.  This is the most common type of liposuction. The surgeon injects a sterile solution (a mixture of salt water that helps remove fat, an anesthetic [lidocaine] to relieve pain, and a medication [epinephrine] that causes blood vessels to constrict) into the area to be treated. The liquid mixture causes the affected area to swell and harden. The surgeon then makes small cuts in the skin and inserts a thin tube called a cannula under the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that sucks out fat and fluids from the body. Your body fluid can be replaced through an intravenous (IV) line.
• Ultrasound assisted liposuction.  This type of liposuction is sometimes used in conjunction with traditional liposuction. During this, the surgeon inserts a metal rod that emits ultrasonic energy under the skin. This breaks down the walls of the fat cells and breaks down the fat for easier removal. A new generation of ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), called VASER-assisted liposuction, uses a device that can improve skin contouring and reduce the chance of skin injury.
• Laser assisted liposuction.  This technique uses high-intensity laser light to break down fat and thus extract it. During laser-assisted liposuction (LAL), the surgeon inserts a laser fiber through a small incision in the skin and emulsifies the fat deposits. The fat is then removed through a cannula.
• Mechanically assisted liposuction.  This type of liposuction uses a cannula that moves rapidly back and forth. This vibration allows the surgeon to remove hard fat more easily and quickly. Sometimes mechanically assisted liposuction (PAL) can cause less pain and swelling and may allow the surgeon to remove the fat more precisely. Your surgeon may select this technique if large volumes of fat need to be removed or if you have had a previous liposuction procedure.

during the procedure

Some liposuction procedures may require only local or regional anesthesia (anesthesia that is limited to a specific area of ​​the body). Other procedures may require general anesthesia, which induces a temporary state of unconsciousness. You may be given a sedative, usually by IV injection, to help you stay calm and relaxed.

The surgical team will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level throughout the procedure. If you are given a local anesthetic and feel pain during the procedure, let your surgeon know. Medication or movement adjustments may need to be made.

The procedure can take up to several hours, depending on the amount of fat that is extracted.

If you’ve been given general anesthesia, you’ll wake up in a recovery room. You will usually spend at least a few hours in the hospital or clinic so that the medical staff can monitor your recovery. If you’re in a hospital, you can spend the night there to make sure you’re not dehydrated or in shock from fluid loss.

Post operation:

• You may have pain, swelling, and bruising after the procedure. Your surgeon may prescribe medications to help control pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.After the procedure, the surgeon may leave the incisions open and place temporary drains to promote fluid drainage. You’ll usually need to wear tight-fitting compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for a few weeks.You may have to wait a few days to return to work and a few weeks to resume normal activities, including exercise.During this time, you can expect some abnormalities in your silhouette, as the remaining fat must accommodate itself.

What are the risks?

As with any major surgery, liposuction carries risks such as bleeding and reaction to anesthesia. Possible complications specific to liposuction include:

• abnormalities in the silhouette.  Your skin may look uneven, wavy, or shriveled due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity, and unusual healing. These changes may be permanent. Damage under the skin from the thin tube (cannula) used during liposuction can give the skin a permanently blotchy appearance.
• Fluid accumulation.  Temporary collections of fluid (seromas) can form under the skin. This fluid may need to be drained with a needle.
• Numbness.  You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the affected area. Temporary nerve irritation may also occur.
• Infection.  Skin infections are rare but likely. A serious skin infection can be life-threatening.
• Internal puncture.  On rare occasions, a cannula that penetrates too deeply can puncture an internal organ. This may require emergency surgical repair.
• Fat embolism.  Loose pieces of fat can break off, get caught in a blood vessel, and collect in the lungs or travel to the brain. A fat embolism is a medical emergency.
• Kidney and heart problems.  Changes in fluid levels as fluids are injected and suctioned out can cause life-threatening kidney, heart, and lung problems.
• Lidocaine toxicity.  Lidocaine is an anesthetic that is often given with fluids injected during liposuction to help control pain. Although generally safe, in rare circumstances, lidocaine toxicity can occur, causing serious heart and central nervous system problems.

The risk of complications increases if the surgeon is working on larger surfaces of the body or doing multiple procedures during the same operation. Talk to your surgeon about how these risks apply to you.

Call +66 43 880 147 for more information or to make an appointment.