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Updated 03/31/06
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Abdominal
Liposuction
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One
of the most common of all
cosmetic surgery procedures, abdominal
liposuction is a technique for
recontouring the body by
permanently removing fat
deposits from the abdomen. The
tendency to accumulate fat in
the abdomen may be inherited,
and this fat is often
especially resistant to diet
and exercise.
Many patients become
discouraged at having lost
unwanted pounds without seeing
a flatter abdomen. |
The overall
proportions of the body may be
unbalanced, or the abdomen may
simply have retained areas of
fatty tissue that cause it to
protrude. In these cases,
liposuction can successfully
trim excess fat in the abdomen
for a flatter abdomen and more
slender, balanced shape. A
detailed history of your weight, diet
and exercise will be requested by Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl.
Keep
in mind that the higher your goals,
the more you will have to actively
participate in this process in order
to achieve those goals. If you are
just concerned about removing fat,
liposuction alone will achieve that
goal. But if you want an athletic,
sculpted look, and you want to look
great in a bikini, you may need to
incorporate extensive exercise into
your plan.
If you're considering abdominal
liposuction, the following
information will provide you with a
good introduction to the procedure.
For more detailed information about
how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you schedule a consultation with
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl.
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What
are some of the most common benefits
of this procedure?
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A newly trim abdomen can provide a
psychological lift and an extra
incentive to exercise regularly and
maintain fitness. Many patients even
find physical activity more
pleasurable after shedding extra
fat, and they also find that clothes
tend to fit better.
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What
will happen at the initial
consultation?
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During the consultation,
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl will talk with you about the changes
you would like to make in your
appearance. He
will explain the different options
available to you, the procedure
itself, and its risks and
limitations as well as the kind of
anesthesia required.
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will begin with a physical
examination to evaluate your overall
weight, your skin and muscle tone,
and the pattern of distribution of
fat deposits. He will also record
your diet, exercise, and weight
history. You will need to let him know about any medications that
you are currently taking.
Be
sure to ask all the questions you
have about the procedure. Learning
everything you can about your
options, risks and benefits is the
key to making an informed decision.
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How
is the procedure performed?
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Before surgery,
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl will
mark the precise areas of the body
where the fat is to be removed. An
intravenous (IV) line will be
inserted in a vein in your arm to
make sure the fluid level in your
body stays within healthy limits
throughout the procedure.
During the procedure, Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
makes a tiny incision in the skin,
typically in the navel or just below
the bikini line, and inserts thin
tubes called cannulas into the fatty
area. The cannulas are used to break
up the fat deposits and sculpt the
area to the desired proportions. There
are a number of different cannulas
available today that differ in
length, diameter and the shape of
their tips. The
unwanted fat is removed with a
powerful vacuum, leaving the skin,
muscles, nerves, and blood vessels
intact.
In the tumescent technique
("wet technique"), a
saline solution containing a local
anesthetic and adrenaline is
injected into the area to be
treated, which makes the fat
deposits easier to break up and
extract. This extra fluid also
minimizes trauma to the surrounding
tissue, reducing swelling and
post-operative pain. The
administration of adrenaline also
decreases bleeding during surgery,
further reducing risks.
An earlier method of liposuction,
called dry liposuction
because no liquefying agent was
used, required general anesthesia.
This technique is not in frequent
use today and is not used by Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl.
The technique Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will choose for your
operation will be determined by a
combination of factors, including
the precise area to be treated, the
amount of fat to be removed, or the
quality of your skin.
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How
long does the procedure take?
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On average, the procedure takes 1-2
hours per area treated.
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Will
I need to stay in a hospital?
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If the amount of fat to be removed
is fairly small, your surgery can
usually be performed on an
outpatient basis, either in Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl’s
office or in an outpatient surgery
clinic. If you are having large
amounts of fat removed, or are
undergoing several procedures at
once, you may need to spend the
night in the hospital so that
medical staff can monitor your
initial recovery.
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What
is the recovery period like?
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Most of the bruising and swelling
should subside within three weeks.
To speed the healing process Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will probably tell you to begin
light activity as soon as possible.
You should be able to return to work
within a few days if your work is
fairly sedentary. You should avoid
strenuous activities for several
weeks as your body heals, but within
4 to 6 weeks you should be able to
resume all normal activities. It’s
important to continue wearing the
compression garment, which should be
easily hidden under your clothing,
until Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl tells you that it
is no longer necessary.
Read
our Postoperative
Care Form from the comfort of
your home NOW!
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What
is the long-term outcome like for
most people?
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You should see visible results of
your surgery within two or three
weeks, but the full effects may not
be evident for six months to a year.
The more fat that you had removed,
the longer it will take to achieve
optimal results, because the skin
has to adapt to a more radical
change in shape.
Most people are pleased with the new
contour of their abdomen and often
feel a boost in energy and
self-confidence.
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How
long do the results last?
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Because a portion of the fat cells
are permanently removed by
liposuction, so you will not tend to
regain weight in that area. It is
important to note, however, that
abdominal liposuction does not
guarantee that you won’t gain
weight or fat deposits in other
areas of your body. Moreover, since
fat cells have been removed from the
treatment site but not from surround
areas, this weight gain can appear
uneven. It is important to maintain
your weight and contour with
exercise and proper diet.
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Ideal
candidate:
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In
general, the best candidates for
abdominal liposuction:
- Have
specific fat pockets that are
resistant to diet and exercise.
- Have
had no previous surgery in the
area where liposuction is
desired.
- Have
firm, elastic skin.
- Do
not have frequent fluctuations
in weight.
- Desire
reshaping and not weight loss.
- Do
not have significant medical
problems such as diabetes, heart
or lung disease, or poor
circulation.
- Are
psychologically stable.
- Do
not smoke.
- Are
well informed about the
procedure.
- Are
accepting of any limitations of
the procedure.
- Have
realistic expectations about the
outcome.
The
above is only a partial list of the
criteria that Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will
consider in determining whether or
not this procedure is appropriate
for you.
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Other
important information:
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Since the normal aging process
affects the firmness and elasticity
of the skin, older patients may not
achieve quite the same results as
younger patients.
Abdominal liposuction is often
performed in conjunction with a tummy
tuck, or with liposuction to
other parts of the body.
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Risks
and limitations:
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Although
liposuction is the most commonly
performed cosmetic plastic surgery
procedure in Germany, and
the majority of these operations are
successful, there are risks and
limitations to the procedure, as
with any surgery.
After surgery, some patients
experience dimpling, lumpiness,
numbness, scarring, discoloration,
or sagging skin in the treated area.
More serious complications include
blood clots, infection, excessive
fluid loss leading to shock,
pulmonary embolism or fluid build-up in
the lungs. A
combination of the following factors
is associated with an increased risk
of serious complications:
- The
removal of large amounts of fat
- More
than one procedure being
performed at the same time
- The
use of general anesthesia
In
order to minimize these risks, it is
important that you follow all of Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl’s
instructions, both before and after
surgery.
Read
our Specific
Surgical Risks Form from the
comfort of your home NOW!
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Be
sure to:
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- Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl about any
allergies you have (to
foods, drugs,
environmental elements)
- Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl if you have a
history of bad scarring,
such as keloids.
- Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl about all
medications, herbal
supplements or natural
supplements you are taking
(both prescription and
non-prescription)
- Carefully
follow any instructions Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
gives you
regarding eating and
drinking and smoking.
- Avoid
aspirin and
aspirin-containing
medicines for two weeks
prior to surgery.
- Arrange
for someone to drive you
home after surgery or
after discharge from the
day surgery center or the
hospital.
- Please
inform Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
immediately in case you
should experience fever or
symptoms of an infection
after surgery.
Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl if you have any of
the following pre-existing
conditions:
- thyroid
problems such as
hypothyroidism
- elevated
blood pressure or other
circulatory disorders
- cardiovascular
disease
- diabetes
- any
other serious medical
condition(s)
The
information on this web site
is only intended as an
introduction to this procedure
and should not be used to
determine whether you will
have the procedure performed
nor as a guarantee of the
result.
The
best method of determining
your personal options is to
schedule a personal
consultation with Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl.
He will be able to answer
specific questions related to
your situation.
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