Liposculpture and Liposuction – BASIC INFORMATION

Liposculpture presently represents more than 50% of all aesthetic operations performed in the world.

It was initially labeled liposuction since it meant removal of localized fat areas of the body. Following, the fat removed started to be implanted in areas needing filling in for a better contour and thus the name evolved to liposculpture.

This is one of the most fascinating chapters of Plastic Surgery for its contemporary history and revolution, adding a boundless list of new resources and greatly increasing the specialty field of action.

This revolutionary process was discoveredby the Frenchman, Yves Gèrard Illouz.

I usually comment that Illouz placed France in the world symbolization of Plastic Surgery.

In truth, that country was already very developed in the field of plastic surgery by great names related to reconstructive surgery (Paul Tessier, for example, a craniomaxillofacial specialist) but with no notoriety in plastic surgery as in Brazil by the reputation of world's number one, Prof. Ivo Pitanguy.

It was Illouz that granted this notoriety to France.

Liposculpture is a simple procedure regarding its technical principles, being applicable to most areas of the human body. Through a small skin opening, a tube with a perforation (or multiperforations) is inserted at the tip, sliding over the fat tissue immediately under the skin. This tube is connected to a negative pressure system (a syringe or suction apparatus) which will extract the fat tissue.

It is interesting to notice that not only fat is suctioned but also part of the fat tissue that carries fat cells, a deposit of this fat.

Therefore, in a remarkable way, the body loses the possibility of selectively gain weight on that area, modifying that which is a genetic individual characteristic.

Illouz came upon this process, as he himself reports, when removing lipomas (small benign fat tumors) from a patient that wished for small incisions. From this time on, he evolved to larger removals in different parts of the body.

LIPOSUCTION TECHNIQUE

When first reported, this apparently simple process attracted many unprepared individuals, generating a series of complications which were attributed to the technique itself.

This does not correspond to reality, since this technique is simple but not easy. It proved that it should be applied by well versed Plastic Surgeons, with specialized medico-surgical education and total mastering of the art of Medicine and training in liposuction.

Removal of fat is an easy task, but precise extraction requires specialized expertise and knowledge.

Added to this, a support structure is needed such as an anesthesiologist, nurses, equipment, and appropriate facilities to confer maximum safety to the patient. This is a task exclusive of specialists.

A procedure that can be carried out on all parts of the body, but with attention to the anatomical characteristics of each area.