The term “liposculpture” refers to the procedure where excess fat is surgically removed from certain areas of the human body. It is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is often used to moderately enhance or “sculpt” the appearance of the thighs, belly, arms, hips, back and any other area where excess fat has collected. In a sense, liposculpture is just another form of liposuction. The main difference between the two procedures is that less fat is typically removed during liposculpture compared to liposuction. Another difference is the fact that liposculpture is often performed using local anesthesia. The surgery requires less of a recovery time compared to liposuction which almost always requires general anesthesia and longer healing periods.  Liposculpture recovery time varies from person to person, so keep that in mind before getting your surgery.

Remove a Double Chin with Liposculpture Surgery

The chin is the most frequently targeted area for liposculpture procedures. It is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure undertaken by celebrities. That’s because chin liposculptures are considered relatively easy to perform. The procedure also is thought to offer the most noticeable benefit from a cosmetic standpoint. In a chin liposculpture procedure, fat is typically removed from the jaw line to reduce the appearance of a double chin and jowls. The procedure is also used to accentuate the jaw line.

The results of the surgery can vary by individual, but in most cases patients can expect to see a noticeable improvement in skin flabbiness and laxity in the chin area once post-operative swelling subsides. If performed well, chin liposculpture can result in a more youthful appearance especially when it is combined with liposculptures of other areas such as the thighs, abdomen and back. Chin liposculptures are usually performed on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic. Individuals who undergo the surgery typically can resume work and other normal activities almost immediately and it takes them less than a week to heal completely.

How Chin Liposculpture Works

The actual surgical procedure itself is relatively painless and takes about an hour or so to accomplish at most. Patients are given a mild local anesthetic to numb the area. The cosmetic surgeon then uses a special marker pen to outline the areas under the chin that need to be targeted for the treatment. Tiny incisions or puncture holes are made along the marked lines. The fat that is to be extracted is broken up or melted using either a special solution, laser light, mild heating or via ultra-sound techniques.

With laser-assisted liposculpture, or lipolysis as it is called, a low-intensity laser beam is passed through the fat to break it up and make it ready for extraction. With ultra-sonic liposculpture meanwhile, sound-waves are passed through the fat to break it up. The fat is then suctioned away from the target areas using an ultra-thin tube called a Cannula which is inserted into the puncture wounds. In some cases, patients with excessive jowls or extremely lax skin may need to undergo an additional laser-assisted skin-tightening procedure as part of their liposculpture.

Will My Chin Be Permanently Fixed?

Generally the fat that is extracted from the chin area will not return except in cases of excessive weight gain. Those who succeed in maintaining a relatively stable weight can expect to see long-lasting results from a chin liposculpture procedure. Chin liposculpture procedures are sometimes referred to as tumescent liposuction, which basically is a term used to describe liposuction involving only the use of a local anesthetic. The procedure is considered to be substantially safer compared to other forms of liposuction involving the use of a general anesthetic.

Though recovery from a chin liposculpture is relatively painless, patients will need to follow some basic instructions to ensure faster healing. Patients, for instance, will often be required to wear compression bandages under their chin to absorb any fluids that may leak from the puncture wounds. Though the chin-strap bandage is relatively unsightly, doctors recommend that patients keep them on for at least 48-hours after their procedure to minimize post-surgical infections and bruising.

Following Chin Liposculpture Surgery

It is also not uncommon for patients to experience swelling following surgery. The swelling may sometimes last for up to one week, though in most instances it goes away in about 24-hours. It’s hard to tell how effective the procedure is, until after all the swelling subsides. Doctors also ask patients not to take any showers or to wet the area for 24 to 48-hours and to avoid too much exertion for at least one week after surgery. In very rare instances, complications, such as scarring and bruising can result from liposculpture.

There really are very few restrictions on who exactly can undergo a chin liposculpture. Because any liposculpture is a surgical procedure, doctors generally recommend that patients be in relatively good health before they undergo the procedure. Patients who smoke may also be advised to curtail the habit in the days leading to and following a liposculpture, because smoking can slow down post-surgical recovery times.

Who Can Get Chin Liposculpture?

Apart from this, there really are no other caveats associated with liposculpture, which means the procedure is available to almost anyone regardless of age, gender, or weight. Chin liposculptures are relatively inexpensive and most generally cost between $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the amount of fat that is to be removed. Many insurance carriers do not cover the procedure; patients are well advised to verify coverage before proceeding with the surgery.

As with any surgery, chin liposculptures yield varying benefits, so it is important to set the right expectations when choosing to undertake the procedure. Most procedures will result in an improved appearance, but the improvements may not always be as dramatic or as significant as one might have expected. At best, lipsoculpture can remove about 80% of the excess fat under the chin, but not all of it. Depending on their age and skin condition, some patients may experience an acceptable amount of hanging skin after the procedure.

Talk To A Licensed Plastic Surgeon for More Information

In other cases, the best results may only be obtained after two or more procedures. It really all depends on personal factors; you should talk to a licensed plastic surgeon or specialist for more information. Those considering chin liposculpture also need to keep in mind the fact that cosmetic appearance is affected by a variety of factors. An individual’s profile is affected not just by the shape of the chin but also by factors such as the neck, nose, jawbone, and skin tone. Sometimes, to obtain the maximum benefits from liposculpture, a patient might have to address some of these other areas of the face as well.

Most men and women would like to have a firmer, more toned abdomen or stomach. But despite diet and exercise, many people still cannot seem to lose the fat deposits in this area. For this reason, abdominal liposculpture has become a popular cosmetic treatment for getting rid of unwanted fat around the stomach and waistline.

In liposuction, fat cells are permanently removed from the abdomen, creating a slimmer profile that could not be achieved by diet and exercise alone. The newer methods are often distinguished by the term “liposculpture” because the doctor is able to get a smoother, more sculpted result. Tumescent liposculpture is one of the latest techniques that results in less swelling, bruising and results in a quicker recovery than traditional liposuction. Most importantly, a local anesthetic is used eliminating many of the complications of general anesthesia.

Who Should Get Abdominal Liposculpture?

Abdominal liposculpture is not for everyone. It is not a treatment for obesity. The ideal candidate for this procedure is a person who is in good health, exercises regularly, maintains good eating habits and is at or near his or her ideal body weight. Some factors that affect the success of abdominal liposculpture include age, prior pregnancies and location and amount of abdominal fat deposits. Abdominal liposculpture can be done at any age as long as the skin has enough elasticity to achieve a sculptured appearance after the fat is removed. Where the skin is less elastic as in some older patients, liposculpture can be combined with another corrective cosmetic procedure like skin tightening.

A previous pregnancy may stretch the abdominal muscles and cause an unattractive bulge. The remedy in the past was to resort to a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. However, with new techniques in liposculpture, most women get satisfactory results without resorting to surgery. A cesarean or C-section may also cause a bulge above the scar which cannot be eliminated through exercise. Abdominal liposculpture can successfully remedy this condition with excellent results.

Multiple Levels of Fat in the Abdomen

There are two levels of fat in the abdomen: subcutaneous fat (beneath the skin) and deep fat located in the abdomen around the intestines and other organs. Liposuction is effective in removing subcutaneous fat. Because of the depth and proximity to organs, internal body fat cannot be removed by liposuction. Fortunately, in most cases the majority of fat from overweight is subcutaneous fat which can be safely removed through liposuction.

Traditional abdominal liposuction requires general anesthesia. The patient is administered anesthesia and the doctor uses thin straw-like instruments called cannulas which are inserted into the fat deposits which are then suctioned out through a tube. The doctor uses sutures or stitches to close the incisions therefore some bleeding will occur. Some patients may even require blood transfusions. There is also usually swelling and bruising in the treated area.

Ab Liposculpture Risks

Risks associated with traditional liposuction are possible infection at the incision or entry point, excessive bleeding, bruising and risks associated with general anesthesia. A newer technique called “tumescent liposculpture” gives more attractive results with fewer risks than traditional liposuction. Tumescent liposculpture gives the doctor more freedom to remove fat cells while sculpting the area to get a more attractive outcome.

The term tumescent means “swelling” because the doctor injects the area to be treated with a solution which swells the fat cells to be removed. Because the fat cells are more visible, removal is easier. The instruments used in this procedure are smaller (“microcannulas“) than those in traditional liposuction. This method takes longer because the instruments are smaller but the results are usually smoother. Also because the incision is smaller, no sutures are needed. The open incisions allow the injected fluid to drain. When sutures are closed, the fluid is trapped causing prolonged swelling of the area.

Patients Are Usually Awake During the Liposculpture Procedure

One of the biggest differences is that liposculpture does not require general anesthesia. The surgeon injects a large volume of a special solution prior to the procedure. This swells the area allowing easier access to the fat cells. The solution contains a local anesthetic to numb the area, and medication to control inflammation. Adrenaline is also injected to constrict the blood vessels so bleeding is minimized. The injected fluid is absorbed into the body or excreted in the urine. A small amount is sucked out with the fat or drained through the incisions.

The patient is awake during the entire procedure. The doctor can communicate with the patient and the patient is able to change positions if necessary. The problems associated with anesthesia are eliminated. Recovery time is quicker because the procedure is less invasive and the instruments smaller so bruising is also reduced. Result are visible much sooner because there is less swelling therefore the patient is better able to see the final results.

Recovering from Abs Liposculpture

For 6 to 18 hours after the surgery most patients who undergo the tumescent method experience little pain or discomfort This is because traces of the anesthetic are still present in the system therefore reducing pain. After this period, some patients experience muscle soreness or slight aching. This can be relieved with over the counter pain medication.

The incisions in this method are left open so there will be drainage of the anesthetic fluid for 2-3 days after the procedure. This drainage accelerates healing while reducing post-operative swelling. The doctor covers the area with absorbent pads and secures the area with a pressure garment. Over the next several days there will be some swelling which should decrease gradually over the next 4 to 12 weeks. A certain degree of firmness and lumpiness of the skin is normal during the healing process. This gradually decreases over a period of 2 to 6 months after the surgery.

How Long for Abdominal Area to Recover?

Most patients report seeing improvement as soon as one week after surgery. However, for most people the final result will not be apparent for 3 to 6 months. Abdominal liposculpture, whether traditional or tumescent, can be the answer to stubborn or resistant fat deposits in the stomach area. Once you have completed your research on the best doctor and facility for your finances, you may be on your way to a sleeker, more attractive profile.