LIPOSCUTION & LIPOSCULPTING
– POST-BARIATRIC SURGERY –
In general, the majority of weight loss patients are not suitable candidates for liposuction by itself only. They already have loose saggy skin after significant weight loss and additional liposuction will only make their skin even more loose and saggy. However this does not mean that they can not benefit from liposuction to contour and shape their body. However, this lipocontouring and liposhaping should only be done when the excess skin is to be removed- immediately or at a later stage.
While many surgeons can perform body lift surgeries, few combine a body lift with liposculpting. Body lift surgeries are designed to remove excess skin and provide a more taut appearance. They do not normally involve much liposuctioning or liposculpting. However, Dr. Agha believes that the best time to sculpt a new body is while a patient is having a body lift at the same time. Any skin laxity that is created by liposuction, is immediately corrected during the concomitant body lift.
Dr. Agha typically performs liposuction of multiple areas during his hi-def lower body lift as needed. Areas that can be safely liposuctioned to enhance the ultimate result include: waistlines, flanks, thighs, saddlebags, inner knees, and upper body – where liposuction can help to create a more hourglass figure.
During an upper body lift, Dr. Agha also uses liposuction to remove excess upper body bulges, elbow fat, axillary puff fat, or any area that may benefit from having a smoother contour before the loose skin is excised.
Liposuction is also used to obtain donor fat from one area of the body for transfer into another region during a fat transfer companion procedure. If the body lift patient has elected to have concurrent buttock fat transfer or breast fat transfer, liposuction is used to obtain fat for these purposes. The donor site may be an area that will be excised with the surgery. For example, the lower abdomen carries a good amount of fat that can be liposuctioned before a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck then removes the area that was just liposuctioned. In this manner, additional fat is harvested before the tissue is removed and thrown away. The fat can then be used for fat transfer during the same surgery to enhance buttocks or breasts.
Finally, Dr. Agha employs liposuction for many to improve symmetry. Many individuals have uneven shape from one side of the body to the other. Liposuction can improve symmetry and bring more balance to the final shape of the body.
To learn more about liposuction and how it is done, visit our liposuction pages here.