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When you look in the mirror, do
you have “If only…” thoughts?
If only your thighs were proportionate to the rest
of your body. If only your tummy didn't protrude quite
so much. If only your chin didn't sag so much. You've
tried dieting and exercise but just can't seem to get
rid of that excess fat that keeps you from feeling
good about your appearance.
Liposuction or liposculpture surgery can remove excess
fat deposits from specific spots on your body as well
as your face and neck. Liposuction is commonly used
to treat areas such as the abdomen, hips, back, chest,
thighs, knees, calves, and ankles, as well as the chin
and upper arm. This surgery can remove inches, improve
contour, and help you attain a more balanced appearance.
Liposuction. Liposuction is most
commonly recommended for men and women to help them
lose excess fat deposits and contour their bodies.
Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, but it
can permanently change the body's proportions and is
sometimes the only way to eliminate fat deposits that
aren't affected by diet and exercise.
People considering liposuction must be realistic about
what it can and cannot achieve. Liposuction is not
a substitute for diet and exercise and it cannot effectively
treat cellulite. People of almost any age can have
liposuction, but those with good skin elasticity will
achieve the smoothest contour.
Over the last few years, major advances have been
made in liposuction techniques that make it more effective
and allow for greater precision. For example, new cannulas—the
hollow tubes through which liposuction is performed—have
been designed to allow for smaller incisions and to
treat more fibrous areas.
There are variations to the basic liposuction technique
that Dr. Norman Markus will consider depending upon
the areas to be treated and individual factors.
Regardless of which procedure Dr. Norman Markus uses,
the first step involves injecting the fat deposits
with large volumes of a salt-water solution containing
small amounts of a local anesthetic and adrenaline.
The solution provides an anesthesia, controls bleeding,
and makes the fat deposits easier to extract.
Traditional Liposuction (Tumescent
Liposuction). Liposuction
is performed by making one or more small incisions
in the area to be treated. If possible, Dr. Norman
Markus will place the incisions inconspicuously within
existing skin folds or contour lines. Dr. Norman Markus
inserts a slender, hollow tube (cannula) through the
incision into the layer of fat. The tube is then connected
to a suction pump using flexible tubing, and Dr. Norman
Markus gently moves it back and forth removing fat
through the tube. The tube passes between blood vessels
and nerves, muscle and skin, leaving them intact. Dr.
Norman Markus will leave enough fat and tissue to
minimize the chance of indentations and depressions.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). UAL
is a newer, two-step technique that employs sound wave
energy to liquefy the fat before it is suctioned. UAL
can be performed either externally or internally depending
on how much fat is being removed and the area involved.
UAL distributes the fluid and breaks apart the fat
connections making the liposuction easier or more effective.
This method minimizes trauma and causes less bruising
and bleeding. Dr. Norman Markus uses UAL in fibrous
areas of the body (such as the male breast, upper abdomen
and upper back) that are harder to treat with traditional
techniques. After the tissues are treated with UAL,
traditional liposuction may be performed.
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