Liposuction

Liposuction of stubborn fat deposits on the chin, stomach and legs

What is liposuction (liposuction)?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure in which stubborn fat deposits are removed from unwanted areas. Liposuction is suitable for permanently reducing fat deposits that do not respond to consistent dietary adjustments and exercise. However, liposuction is not a treatment option for obesity.

How permanent is liposuction?
Liposuction is effective and long-lasting if you are not overweight and generally lead a healthy lifestyle. As fat cells do not “grow back” once they have been suctioned out, but the number of fat cells remains reduced forever, the method is generally successful in the long term. This means that problem areas, such as saddlebags, do not simply return.

How does liposuction work?
Depending on the location of the liposuction, the size of the fat deposits and your individual wishes, liposuction can be performed under local anaesthetic, analgosedation (twilight sleep) or general anaesthetic. Your surgeon will suggest the optimal anesthetic method during your consultation. As a rule, the procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis. It is important that someone you trust picks you up and initially supports you at home.
During the operation, fine cannulas are inserted through tiny incisions, through which a special liquid (tumescent solution) is introduced into the area to be liposuctioned. This prepares the fat for suction. The liquefied fat is suctioned out through the same incisions using special liposuction cannulas.

Indications for liposuction:
Liposuction can always be performed if there is a sufficient amount of body fat and the fat cannot be reduced by other means. In the case of severe overweight and obesity, liposuction should first be preceded by an attempt to reduce fat through a change in lifestyle with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise.
After successful weight loss, stubborn remnants of unwanted fat can be removed by targeted liposuction.
Another prerequisite for liposuction alone is good skin quality. If this is not the case, unsightly excess, sagging skin will appear after the fat deposits have been removed. In addition, a skin tightening procedure must then be performed, which results in scars. Radiofrequency treatments (Morpheus8) can improve the firmness of the skin after liposuction, but are not effective in cases of very pronounced loss of tissue elasticity.

Applications for liposuction (liposuction)
Liposuction for double chin treatment
If there is a stubborn fat deposit under the chin despite a normal weight, this can be treated using liposuction. This usually involves contouring along the jawline to achieve an optimal result. A prerequisite for successful treatment of the double chin with liposuction is good skin quality. If the skin is too saggy, whether due to ageing or weight fluctuations, the depot will be emptied, but the result will not be appealing without additional tightening (so-called turkey neck). Additional radiofrequency treatments (Morpheus8) can optimize the result in selected patients. Often, chin augmentation with hyaluronic acid is also considered to further improve the balance of the profile.

A slimmer waist – liposuction on the abdomen and flanks in women
Liposuction on the abdomen and flanks, known as love handles, is one of the most common liposuction procedures performed on women. The aim is to shape the body silhouette, depending on the individual anatomical conditions. If there is also excess skin and/or the abdominal muscles are stretched, liposuction alone is not the optimal treatment. In such cases, a surgical tummy tuck may be advisable.

Liposuction of the abdomen in men
Liposuction of the abdomen is one of the most common concerns for men. In men, however, it is often the case that excess fat not only accumulates in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, but above all in the abdominal area around the internal organs. The result is a so-called drum belly, which is very bulky and firm. Liposuction is not possible in such cases. The fat in the abdominal area can only be reduced through dietary adjustments and exercise.
In the case of superficial fat deposits on the abdomen and flanks, good body shaping is also possible for men of normal weight using liposuction.

Liposuction of the so-called saddlebags
The term “saddlebags” refers to fat deposits on the legs, which mainly accumulate on the outer thighs and thus visually widen the entire hip. These fat deposits are particularly difficult to control by losing weight, making liposuction an ideal treatment option. Combined liposuction of the saddlebags and flanks can also significantly slim the silhouette.

Liposuction on the legs – inner thighs, knees and calves
In addition to the formation of saddlebags, annoying fat deposits often also occur on the inner thighs and knees. The fat deposits on the inner thighs in particular can be very uncomfortable due to rubbing against each other. Here too, good skin quality is a prerequisite for achieving a pleasing result with liposuction.
Prominent calves can hardly be tackled by dietary adjustments and exercise. The latter tends to have the opposite effect due to the increase in muscle volume caused by training. If a venous or lymphatic problem has already been ruled out by a specialist, the calves can be sculpted using targeted liposuction.

Liposuction on the upper arms
If the upper arms are too large and voluminous in relation to the rest of the body, liposuction can help. If the tissue is not elastic enough, which is often the case after severe weight loss, congenital tissue weakness or due to the ageing process, a surgical upper arm lift is the perfect complement. Liposuction alone should be urgently avoided in this situation, as the result can be aesthetically unsatisfactory.

Follow-up treatment after liposuction
Although the scars after liposuction are very small and inconspicuous, a certain recovery time must be taken into account. This is because the wound area under the skin has to stick together again and heal. In the first few days and weeks, there will therefore be swelling and occasionally bruising. Compression garments must be worn consistently for at least 4-6 weeks. Among other things, this helps the skin to adapt to the newly reduced volume of the treated body region.
Normal physical activity is quickly possible and desirable again. Sport must be avoided during the initial healing phase.

Body contouring through liposuction is a very personal matter and therefore a matter of trust. The possible aesthetic result also depends heavily on the individual starting point. Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Tatjana Lanaras, will be happy to provide you with comprehensive and, above all, honest advice to ensure that any surgical procedure is to your complete satisfaction.