Liposuction in Karachi

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, liposculpture, lipectomy or just ‘lipo’ is a surgical procedure that uses suction technique to remove undesirable fat and improve body contour – specially the fat hard to get rid of with a balanced diet and with frequent physical activity. It´s one of the most frequently performed aesthetic surgery procedures around the world with a great satisfaction index.  Liposuction is intended for patients close to their ideal weight but have specific areas with excess fat called fat pockets. Liposuction does not treat or cure obesity and is not suitable for people who are unable to lose weight by dieting and exercising. It is not safe, and it can be dangerous to remove huge amounts of fat through liposuction, there is a limit of fat that can be removed in one surgical procedure – usually up to 5 to 10 Kg. Women have fat mostly under the skin that can be removed with liposuction. Men have fat stored in between the gut loops or ‘intraperitoneal’, which cannot be removed by liposuction. Therefore in men the volume of fat removed is lower. Liposuction will usually not be of benefit to obese patients. It is best avoided in patients who are unable or unwilling to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Tumescent Liposuction: this is the most common type of liposuction – a mixture of saltwater and other substances is injected in the area to be treated. This solution will make fat more liquid and will cause the are to swell and stiffen. A cannula is then inserted and through a vacuum system the fat is suctioned out of the body.

Ultrasound Liposuction (UAL): during an ultrasound liposuction a metal rod that emits ultrasonic energy is inserted under the skin to break down the fat and make it easier to be removed.

Laser Liposuction (LAL): a laser fiber is inserted under the skin using a high intensity laser light to break down fat and make it easier for removal.

Power Liposuction (PAL): in this technique the cannula inserted moves in fast back-and-forth movements allowing the plastic surgeon to remove fat faster and with more precision. It’s often used when large amounts of fat need to be removed or in secondary liposuctions.

Liposuction treats local fat pockets that do not respond to dieting and exercising. Most common areas treated by liposuction are:

• Belly.
• Love handles.
• Chest (Gynecomastia, man-boobs).
• Back.
• Hips and tights.
• Buttocks.
• Ankles.
• Calves.
• Arms.
• Chin and neck.
• Liposuction can also be part of a breast reduction treatment in both men and women.

Liposuction it´s only a local fat reduction surgery and it will not treat any of the following conditions:

• Obesity.
• Excess fat in the entire body.
• Cellulite.
• Dimples.
• Stretch marks.
• Skin irregularities.
• Loose and saggy skin.

There are certain areas of local fat that are resistant to diet and exercising – even if you are in your ideal weight you can still have fat in these areas (belly, flanks, hips, under the chin, etc). Very often after pregnancy women find it hard to get rid of fat in the belly despite efforts with dieting and exercising.

Local fat inheritance is another key factor. Local fat accumulations often run in the families and is almost impossible to eliminate this fat unless liposuction is performed. After the age of 35 people often accumulate fat in the “inherited” areas so liposuction will focus the fat suction in specific areas of the body.

Good candidates for liposuction usually meet the following criteria:

• Ideal weight with local fat pockets.
• Good skin elasticity.
• Good muscle tone.
• Good overall health.
• Non smokers.
• Be aware of their own motivation and have realistic expectations about surgery outcomes. Liposuction will improve body contour but will not change your genetic body structure and characteristics.

A Liposuction takes between 1 and 4 hours and it is performed in the following steps:

Liposuction is very often combined with other procedures as a normal part of many aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries. Here are some examples:

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): standard abdominoplasty does not include liposuction, but most patients perform both tummy tuck and liposuction in the same procedure – Lipoabdominoplasty (Lipo-tuck) which will remove excess fat, tighten muscles and remove excess skin.

Buttock augmentation with fat transfer: in this procedure patient´s own fat is removed through liposuction to enhance buttocks. Some patient chose to have a more invasive liposuction (remove more fat than the quantity needed for the buttocks) to improve body contour.

Facelifts: excess fat is present below the jowl/neck a liposuction can be performed as a part of a facelift procedure for optimal results.

Female breast reduction and Gynecomastia: overly enlarged breasts (in women) and gynecomastia can be caused by both excess fat and excess breast tissue. When excess fat is present, liposuction is considered as a standard part of breast reduction procedures.

Fat Grafting: The fat that is removed during liposuction can be used in other areas. It can be used for a simultaneous breast augmentation or a butt lift (BBL) or to rejuvenate the face or hands.

Liposuction scaring is minimal. The cannula is inserted in the skin through very tiny incisions. The number of incisions you will have will depend on how many areas you wish to treat and how easy it is to reach a wide area through one incision only. Whenever possible incisions are strategically hidden in the natural creases and folds.

Any surgery involves preparation and liposuction is no exception to the rule. The first step towards your liposuction experience includes a medical consultation with your plastic surgeon where the following aspects will be addressed:

Medical history: inform your plastic surgeon about your overall health, about any medical condition or other important issues such as medication you take, allergies, surgeries recently performed etc.

Expectations: speak to your plastic surgeon about your goals and expectations regarding liposuction. Bear in mind that no two patients are the same and every person´s body and skin type are different. Liposuction results will depend on how your body looks before surgery, how much fat you have and skin elasticity/muscle tone. If you are not a suitable candidate for liposuction your plastic surgeon will suggest a different treatment to achieve the desired results.

Here are some tips to better prepare for a facelift:

• Get lab tests performed in advance (according to your plastic surgeon’s prescription).
• Do not smoke for a few weeks before and until the healing process is completed. Nicotine will interfere with tissue oxygenation and may affect .healing process.
• Do not take medication that can increase bleeding (aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs or herbal supplements).
• Take 15 days off work.
• Plan for someone to pick you up at the clinic.
• You should have someone helping you at home during the first 48 hours.

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms after a liposuction:

• Mild to moderate pain in the treated area.
• Discomfort.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Fluid accumulation.
• Skin numbness.
• Tiredness.
• Drainage from incisions.

Any surgery recovery takes time and care and liposuction is no exception. It is important to know what to expect and follow medical instructions for a speedy recovery. Here are some tips to take care of yourself after a liposuction and have a more a more comfortable recovery:

• Get 2 weeks off work.
• Full rest for 24 and then start getting back to daily activities as tolerated. Walking increases circulation and the flow of lymph fluid.
• Always wear compression garment.
• Take the prescribed medication.
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid taking medication that can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Attend the follow-up appointments.
• Avoid strenuous activities.
• Get lots of sleep and rest.
• Eat light meals and drink plenty of water.
• If you have babies or young kids, ask your family to help you at home until you feel good.

A liposuction will remove unwanted fat and will improve your body contour. In most cases you will see a difference immediately after surgery with significant improvement after 4 weeks. Since you will experience residual swelling up to 3 to 6 months after surgery do not be desperate if after 1 or 2 months you still feel you have not achieved the results you were expecting. The process of removing fat from the body is traumatic and it takes time to heal. Your results will continue to improve for up to a year as all the residual swelling resolves and skin tissue matures. Attend your follow up appointments and speak to your plastic surgeon whenever you have questions or concerns.

As with any major surgery, liposuction involves risks and complications such as bleeding and anaesthesia reaction. Possible risks and complications specific to liposuction include:

• Bleeding.
• Hematoma.
• Infection.
• Extended Swelling.
• Fluid accumulation.
• Fat embolism.
• Contour irregularities.
• Numbness.
• Internal puncture.

To diminish risks and complications, you must follow your plastic surgeon’s recommendations before and after surgery. During your liposuction consultation, all the surgery potential risks and complications will be discussed in detail and you will be able to ask questions.

The price of a liposuction depends on how invasive the liposuction will be – do you have a small amount of fat or do you have huge amounts of fat to be removed. Some liposuctions take only one hour while other can take two, three or four hours. No liposuctions are the same and may require additional procedures to achieve good results which will also affect the surgery cost. However, the price of a liposuction in Karachi starts at Rs 150,000 – includes medical and nursing fees, the cost of the surgery, anaesthesia and hospital stay. It does not include the fee for follow-up visits. If any revisional surgery is required it will be charged separately. The finance department will confirm the exact price of your liposuction surgery package after your liposuction consultation with Dr Zia. To schedule your consultation in Karachi or for more information on prices and conditions, please contact us today on the following numbers:

• Aga Khan Hospital: +92 21 111 911 911
• Cooper Consultants Clinic: +92 21 35 37 0671 4

Liposuction is a body contouring surgery that requires skill, expertise and experience but it also requires artistic eye to create a good looking and balanced silhouette. Dr Zia is a qualified and very experienced plastic surgeon from Karachi with over 10 years of experience in performing liposuctions and other body contouring surgeries.

• Dr Zia routinely performs liposuctions and body contouring surgeries.
• Proven results by before and after gallery.
• Top rated liposuction plastic surgeon in Karachi.
• Performs surgeries in some of the very well-known clinics in Karachi – Aga Khan Hospital and Cooper Clinic in Karachi.