Liposuction

The wish for a trim figure and an attractive body outline is quite natural. It is true that sport and healthy nutrition help to bring us a bit closer to our ideal figure, but some subcutaneous fat often remains stubborn, even when the figure as a whole is slim. The surgical procedure known as liposuction, body-forming or liposculpture is particularly well suited to the treatment of these problem zones. In liposuction, by aspirating local subcutaneous fat, we aim to achieve a harmonisation of your body silhouette. After this microsurgical operation, your body will be more evenly proportioned, and it will look slimmer. On the one hand, liposuction is not the same thing as natural weight loss, but it can certainly provide an incentive for patients who are only slightly overweight and whose physical proportions are somewhat unbecoming to continue losing weight afterwards. And liposuction – whatever the various advertisements may say – is currently the only tried and tested method of removing fat from problem areas in the long term.

Procedure in liposuction

During the first consultation, we conduct a detailed anamnesis interview in order to uncover possible risks and respond individually to your wishes and ideas. To plan the liposuction, we examine the areas to be treated, particularly with regard to what is actually feasible. Because the amount of fatty tissue that can be suctioned depends on the areas to be treated and their condition. The quality of the surrounding connective tissue also plays a role in the amount of fat to be removed and depends on individual factors. The better the connective tissue is in the corresponding zones, the better the skin’s recovery capacity and the more fat we can suction off. The skin surface also turns out better and smoother after liposuction in areas with good connective tissue. In patients with poor connective tissue, in which the tissue is unlikely to contract again strongly enough, a skin lift take place. We will advise you individually on this.

To insert the cannulas in the treatment area, only small puncture incisions of around half a centimeter are made. As a rule, we suck off the fatty tissue with a vibration-assisted system – VAL for vibration-assisted liposuction. Before the actual liposuction, a so-called tumescence solution is infiltrated into the treatment area. A local anesthetic is added to this aqueous solution to numb the area to be treated. After a sufficient exposure time, the loosened fatty tissue is released and suctioned off. The operating time for liposuction depends on the findings and the number of zones to be treated. For example, the suction of a small zone takes about an hour. In the outpatient area, up to four liters can usually be suctioned out, everything above that is linked to an inpatient overnight stay. Of course, the troublesome areas can also be treated in several steps, so that the liposuction can be carried out on an outpatient basis, with local anesthesia and, if necessary, in twilight anesthesia (analgosedation).

After liposuction

After the operation, we will put on your compression garments and you will come to our recovery room, where you will be cared for and monitored by a qualified member of staff.

Since the procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis under twilight anesthesia, we can you go back home the same day. For the next 24 hours, however, you should have a trusted adult at your side who will look after you and act in an emergency.

The first follow-up check with a change of plaster takes place on the day after the liposuction. It is quite normal for tissue fluid to leak out in the first two days after the operation. We therefore recommend that you prepare yourself accordingly for your home with documents for your bed or couch. You will be able to work again after just a few days. Experience has shown that it is more pleasant for you if you take it easy at home for a little longer. Painkillers are rarely used for longer than three days.

The superficial wound healing from liposuction is usually complete after just one week. Normally, the small skin wounds are closed with tissue glue and not stitched. In areas where there is a lot of tension on the skin, however, we close the skin with a very fine, thin suture that can be removed after about seven days, at the second follow-up visit. Until then, you may only wash yourself carefully at the liposuction sites. Otherwise, irritation can be caused by cleaning products or bacteria could be introduced into the fresh wounds.

You must wear compression underwear day and night for six weeks in the liposuction area, which we will be happy to choose with you and adjust individually. For smaller zones, we also work with a special tape bandage, depending on the findings, which replaces the compression underwear. In general, the compression prevents the wound cavities from filling with liquid and also serves to accelerate the regression of the skin after liposuction and to stabilize the shape. You should therefore refrain from massaging the treated areas or strong vibrations during this time in order not to disturb the correct healing of the tissue. Strong sunlight or visits to the solarium should also be avoided, otherwise the fresh scars can discolour.

Further follow-up checks take place after six weeks and half a year. During the follow-up examinations, depending on the findings, we also give recommendations for the correct training of the areas and the correct Scar care, e.g. creams or dietary supplements, which you can also purchase on site or for which we will issue you a prescription. You may be able to start longer walks or similar again after two to three weeks. But we always decide that individually.
You can expect the final result after about six to twelve months after liposuction.

For whom is liposuction a suitable option?
Liposuction is suitable for figure configuration in men and women who have not been able to achieve sufficient success in reducing the fat in certain very stubborn areas of their body simply by means of sport or dieting. Liposuction is also suitable for the general aesthetic configuration of individual areas and thus also for the harmonisation of your outward appearance.
Having said that, liposuction is not suitable for wholesale weight reduction in patients who are generally overweight.

Which areas are suitable for liposuction?
Liposuction can be performed anywhere where excessive accumulations of fat are perceived as troublesome: chin, neck, upper or lower arms, chest, abdomen, back, hips, buttocks, thighs or calves, knees or ankles.

How long does a liposuction take?
Depending on the individual findings, the operation usually takes 1 to 3 hours.

What kind of anaesthetic is necessary for a liposuction?
A liposuction can normally be performed with a local anaesthetic or in semi-conscious sedation (analgosedation). Depending on the findings and the planned duration of the operation, a general anaesthetic may be indicated.

What complications can occur with a liposuction?
There are risks involved in any operation, from the anaesthetic or from the operation itself. But these are minimised by our many years of experience and the intensive care we take of you.
Complications can also occur after the operation. Bruising and swelling often occur after liposuction, sometimes over large areas depending on the quality of the tissue. However, these usually disappear within 3 weeks, depending on the region.
After a liposuction there may be reconstruction processes that take place in the tissue, and these may cause it to harden in some places. Changes of this kind do not have any impact on your health, and they disappear completely after a few weeks, or in some cases a few months.
As regards the risks of the dreaded dents, waves and contour irregularities after a liposuction, these are avoided thanks to the many years of experience we have in the field of liposuction and thanks to the careful and thorough planning of the operation. We put aside enough time for you ahead of the operation and make sure we examine the planned areas of treatment in detail. For example, we take account of the quality of the connective tissue and other factors that can vary from patient to patient, so that we can assess the capacity of your skin to recover and thus achieve an aesthetically appealing result for you.
You will a detailed description of the possible complications here.

How long will the effects of a liposuction last?
The result of a liposuction is permanent if you live healthily after it. If you put on a modest amount of weight the ‘problem areas’ will not return so quickly, because the majority of the fat cells which were responsible for them will have been removed. Having said that, if you put on a lot of weight, the depots of subcutaneous fat may fill up again more quickly and new fat cells may even be formed.

When can I get back to doing sport?
You should avoid activities which cause vibrations, crushing or jarring of the tissue or put a heavy strain on the scars, such as jogging. Usually after 3 weeks, depending on the findings, you can start back in with some walks and then gradually build up. Until then, you should take it easy physically.

What does a liposuction cost?
For a liposuction in one zone, you should expect costs from about €3,000. The final amount will depend on the number of zones and the amount of time and medication required, and comprises the costs of the operation itself, the anaesthetic and the post-operative care.

Will my health insurance provider meet the costs of a liposuction?
Liposuction is not a benefit provided by the health insurers, because it is an operation performed for purely aesthetic reasons.
The costs of liposuction in cases of lipedema, however, are covered by statutory health insurance providers in certain cases as from Stage 3.

Is liposuction also suitable for the removal of a lipoma?
Liposuction is a suitable method for the removal of a lipoma if the lipoma is sited in subcutaneous fatty tissue, and if there has not been any major encapsulation or any intralesional septation. This much gentler method has the advantage of not leading to post-operative complications so often, and the advantage that the patient is back in action much sooner.
Be that as it may, the costs of lipoma removal by means of liposuction are not covered by the statutory health insurance providers, though the private schemes are usually prepared to meet them. The costs start at €900, or from €1,800 for regional, manual liposuctions.

FAQ

DURATION OF OPERATION: depending on findings, 1 – 4 hours

ANAESTHETIC: tumescence anaesthetic / semi-conscious sedation / general anaesthetic

HOSPITALISATION: out-patient, or in -patient for 1 – 2 days

PAIN LEVEL: very low

AFTER-TREATMENT: wearing of compression undergarment(s) for 6 weeks

PRESENTABILITY, RETURN TO WORK: 3 – 7 days

SPORT: depending on operation, after approx. 3 weeks

COST: from €3,000

Ask our advice.

We’ll be glad to provide you with detailed information about this treatment. Simply get in touch with us now and obtain advice at an individual and absolutely personal level.

+49 30 - 94 041 144

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