Abdominal Liposuction

Fat on the abdomen is one of the woes of most women seeking to get into better shape. Many a time, abdominal liposuction is resorted to - a process whereby subcutaneous fatty deposit is removed from the abdominal area. The neck is one area where we tend to accumulate fat as we age. You can streamline the neck contour and improve your profile too. Neck liposuction can help in sculpting a turkey neck that has excess fat and thereby improve your appearance. We take a look at various alternatives to liposuction.

Abdominal Liposuction

The abdomen is one of the most frequently treated body parts for liposuction. This surgical procedure is used for removal of fat deposits from the abdomen. Abdominal fat can be either subcutaneous (lying under the skin) or intra-abdominal (located internally near the intestinal loops). Abdominal liposuction works to remove abdominal subcutaneous fat. Abdominal fat deposits can be extremely resistant to diet and exercise.

Consequently this area is subjected to surgical intervention to get rid of the fat around the waistline. A typical abdominal liposuction procedure may take one to two hours of surgery. An incision is made in the skin below the navel and thin tubes (cannulas) are inserted into the fatty deposits. They are used to break up the deposits of fats and achieve a sculpted look. The fat is sucked out with a powerful vacuum, without affecting the skin, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Tumescent liposuction is used more often for this type of liposuction surgery. Abdominal liposuction is sometimes accompanied by a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), wherein a large excision of skin is also performed. Lax abdominal muscles are tightened with this procedure.

Neck liposuction

Liposuction of the neck is performed to significantly improve the contour of the neck and the procedure is useful for patients with good skin tone who have excess fat beneath the skin. Neck liposuction alone takes about 30 minutes to perform. In this process, tiny skin entrance wounds are made with a scalpel just under the chin and just in front of the ears. Then the excess fat is removed in a spoke wheel pattern and the vacuum is turned on to suck out whatever fat will come.

This type of liposuction needs to be carefully performed so as to prevent damage to the undersurface of the skin and the basic structure that includes the laryngeal cartilage (Adam's apple), the hyoid bone, the tongue muscle and the platysma muscle (sheet-like muscle) and the fat which lies between the platysma and the skin. Small instruments are connected to the suction to remove the fat, carefully and aesthetically. This liposuction procedure is often combined with other plastic surgery procedures. The recovery process is fast and stitches are removed within 3 days.

Liposuction recovery

Earlier, recovery after a liposuction surgery would take weeks or even months, of painful healing and limited mobility. But with the advent of new techniques, liposuction recovery is much quicker and less painful. Often patients return to work within hours or few days. Liposuction recovery process is as important as the procedure itself and it is imperative that the patient follows the advice of the liposuction surgeons.

Recovery after a liposuction process depends on the surgical technique that has been used. Recovery from tumescent liposuction involves a compression garment that is worn in addition to the pads placed over the incision areas. The compression garment plays an important role in the recovery process as it allows use of absorptive pads beneath and can be easily taken off. During liposuction recovery, patients must monitor their incision points and watch closely for infection. If infection occurs during liposuction recovery, it can be fatal.

Tips for a speedier recovery after a liposuction surgery: