Not so long ago, the most popular cosmetic surgery in Marbella, and indeed around the world, was a boob job. Whether you wanted bigger (enlargement), smaller (reduction) or perkier (breast lifts). Yet today, this is not the case; liposuction is the undisputed number one cosmetic procedure around the world.
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s 2022 Global Survey on Aesthetic / Cosmetic Procedures report (based its findings on the information provided by 1,003 cosmetic surgeons operating all over the world) shows that the number of liposuction procedures carried out was around 1.9 million compared to 1.7 million boob jobs in the same time period.
We have already flagged up liposuction’s rising popularity in our “Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic procedure in world” but now we want to take a look at the possible reasons why it has become and continues to be such a popular cosmetic surgery procedure.
WHAT WE MEAN BY LIPOSUCTION
So that we’re all on the same page, liposuction is a surgical procedure. The purpose of the treatment is to create contours and smooth the body’s silhouette by removing stubborn pockets, not as a weight-loss solution. The process is carried out by inserting a cannula attached to a suction device which is used to extract fat cells from a specific area. This process is highly adaptable, it can be used on virtually all part of the body, including thighs, chin, arms, legs and love -handles to name a few.
BUT WHY IS LIPOSUCTION MORE POPULAR?
There are two schools of thought as to why liposuction has overtaken boob jobs as the must-have procedure. Firstly, there has been concern about complications associated with breast implants, such as capusular contracture and issues with placement, resulting in a rise in breast implant removal operations since 2017. That said, obviously, you need to do thorough due diligence as to the experience of your doctor before you commit to undergo any surgical procedure. Any experienced surgeon will discuss the right size and use the most suitable implants.
LESS STIGMA AROUND COSMETIC PROCEDURES
The other reason, which is more widespread, is that patients today feel that there is less stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery and think nothing of undergoing an aesthetic ‘tweakments’ and procedures such as liposuction to get rid of unwanted areas of fat. Although it is technically invasive surgery, undergoing lipo is now commonplace and is considered no more startling than having lip fillers.
However, it isn’t just women who are taking advantage of the latest liposuction techniques, there has been an increase in the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery solutions to tackle the dreaded middle-age spare tire. Quite often this stubborn band of fat cannot be dealt with by diet and exercise alone. Dr. di Mauro confirms, “I have seen an increase in liposuction (and other cosmetic procedures) amongst male patients. Liposuction is ideal for helping to augment or enhance the male physique, yet it is a minimally invasive procedure, which requires little down town.”
INNOVATION IN LIPOSUCTION TECHNIQUES
Today liposuction is no longer considered to be an invasive procedure requiring extensive downtime. New methods allow surgeons to treat the fat before extraction, making it a much quicker and easier process.
Liposuction techniques have come on a long way since Charles Dujarieri first introduced the idea of body contouring by fat removal in the 1920s. it wasn’t until the 1970s that cosmetic surgeons Georgio and Arpad Fischer developed the tunnelling technique.
Since then, the process has been constantly refined including the introduction of suction assisted fat removal using fluid to break up the fat before removing and development of local sedation techniques, removing the need to use a general anesthetic.
Dr. Pietro di Mauro explains, “Today’s patients expect greater innovation, less downtime and better results than when liposuction was first introduced. This is why my plastic surgery clinic in Marbella offers a revolutionary liposuction technique called Vaser Liposuction which uses ultrasound to liquify the fat to make it easier to extract. As a more precise process, it is much kinder to the surrounding tissue, resulting in less swelling and bruising”.
Let’s take a look at the various techniques of liposuction available in cosmetic surgery clinics today.
Traditional liposuction
When undergoing a traditional liposuction procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will make an incision in the area where the fat is due to be removed. A cannula is then inserted into the fat and moved in a backwards and forward motion to break up the fat to allow it to be sucked out of the body. This process is often carried out under a general anesthetic. It is a popular choice for patients with a higher ratio of fat, as comparatively larger quantities can be removed using this method.
Vaser Liposuction
Vaser lipo also breaks down the fat to be suctioned out of the body. The process requires a small incision which will be injected with saline solution to numb the area. However, instead of using the physical back and forth motion of the cannula to break up the fat cells, ultrasound frequency is used loosen the fat in the required area. This method is more precise and therefore causing less damage to the surrounding tissue, which minimizes the pain, bruising and bleeding. The precise results also allow your surgeon to deliver beautiful silhouettes and to target very precise pockets of fat. This treatment can be carried out under local anesthetic which means that in most cases you can go home the same day.
Laser liposuction
Similar to vaser liposuction, laser lipo uses a machine to target, loosen and suck fat from the body, however, this is where the similarity ends. Vaser lipo uses ultrasound technology to precisely target the areas of fat to be loosened and removed, whereas laser liposuction uses a laser to heat and melt the fat, which is then expelled via the lymphatic system and eliminated like other waste products. Some practitioners also use a cannula under the skin to suction out the melted fat. This method is less precise than vaser liposuction and can result in damage to the surrounding tissue.
As with any cosmetic surgery, the results are only as good as your surgeon. Whether you want a mommy makeover, just cannot shift some pesky pockets of fat or you want to look great for your big day, the answer is to get the best possible advice, understand the risk and discuss your expectations with a doctor experienced in this area of cosmetic surgery.
If you would like to find out more about liposuction or any of the cosmetic surgery procedures carried out by Dr. Pietro di Mauro, get in touch for a confidential no-obligation personalised consultation, by calling 648 43 45 93.
