Liposuction: the 6 types and their differences –

Brazil has become the champion country in performing cosmetic surgeries, according to data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), released at the end of 2019. Mammoplasty is the most sought after surgery in the country, followed by liposuction.

WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION

Lipo, as it is popularly known, is a surgery in which the plastic surgeon removes the fat cells that remain in the subcutaneous region through a vacuum cannula (coming through a syringe or device). To be safe, the procedure should not remove more than 7% of body fat.

the plastic surgeon Dr. Tatiana Mourafrom the SBCP, says that there are many commercial names involving liposuction and that may bring doubts to the patient who wants to undergo this aesthetic procedure.

Below, she tells a little about some types of liposuction:

1

CLASSIC LIPOSUCTION

It is done in the hospital, with the patient sedated. “In the past, the surgeon only aspired where there was localized fat — flank, arm, jowls, breeches. The technique has evolved, like all plastic surgery, and today it is common to perform the procedure on the body as a whole”.

two

HD OR HIGH DEFINITION LIPO

Also performed in a hospital and under sedation, it is indicated for people with less fat. “In the case of abdominal liposuction, for example, we are not going to look for fat that has just accumulated under the navel. We are going to take it from the entire abdomen, trying to make the subcutaneous tissue as thin and homogeneous as possible”, says Dr. Tatiana. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks of the skin necrosing or the tissue becoming heterogeneous.

3

LIPO 3D

In this procedure, performed in a hospital and under sedation, the plastic surgeon imitates, in the patient’s fat, the buds of the abdominal muscles. “In my opinion, if the patient has a significant weight fluctuation, this design will leave his abdomen deformed and totally irregular. Therefore, it is a type of liposuction that requires professional attention if the patient really has an indication for it”, says Dr. Tatiana.

4

LIPOSCULPTURE

It is the procedure that sculpts the curves of the body, modeling it. In addition to removing fat from where it is unwanted, it is redirected to another part of the body where the patient wants more volume, such as breasts or hips.

5

LIPO LIGHT

Also called minilipo, it is performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia, with the patient awake. “The surgeon segments the patient and performs only one location per procedure: arm, thigh, back”, exemplifies the plastic surgeon.

6

HYDROLIPO

It is also performed in an outpatient setting and under local anesthesia. “The difference with Lipo Light is that in Hidrolipo, more anesthetic diluted in saline is inserted during the process, to remove fat in a more liquid way”, says the doctor.

RESULT DURATION

The doctor explains that, in none of the types, the result is definitive. That is, although the fat is, yes, eliminated, it takes a healthy lifestyle to maintain. If there is uncontrolled weight fluctuation, the fat will return.

“There are people who say that the acquaintance had lipo, gained weight and the fat went to another part of the body. That does not exist. The fat we take out won’t come back. What happens is that the liposuctioned region has fewer fat cells. If the person gains weight, that area will have less fat than other parts that did not go through the procedure, giving the impression that they are much bigger”, teaches Dr. Tatiana.

RECOVERY FROM LIPOSUCTION

The recovery from any liposuction can have swelling, bruising and pain. It is essential that the patient talks to the plastic surgeon he trusts to resolve all doubts and understand how the post-surgery will be.

The doctor also warns that it is important to choose a surgeon member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery and follow the professional’s guidelines. Dr. Tatiana recalls that in cases of two or more lipos, the procedure can become more dangerous, so it is important to respect the guidelines and negatives of a responsible professional!