Thursday, 9 of September of 2010

Tag » Mesotherapy

How Liposuction is Performed

Liposuction has become a popular option among many people in modern society to assist with fat removal from various parts of the body. There are many cosmetic surgeons practicing liposuction techniques regularly and are perfecting these techniques to sculpt the body as desired.

Consultation With Surgeon

After the careful process of selecting a surgeon, a patient should ask for a consultation if one is not offered before the surgery. Some liposuction surgeons offer two or three consultation appointments to give the patient time to consider what is being done and how, or to make decisions based on the surgeon’s recommendations. During the consultation(s), the surgeon will begin to map out the procedure based on the patient’s pain tolerance, the amount of fat tissue to be removed and the desired results. After receiving the patient’s approval, the surgeon may have to reserve operating space in a local hospital or he may have facilities on site.

The Procedure

These surgeries begin with the injection of a wetting solution made of mostly of salt water, which makes fat removal a much easier task by beginning the break-down process. The wetting solution normally also contains epinephrine, used to shrink the blood vessels and reduce bleeding and bruising. Depending upon the pain tolerance of the patient, a local anesthetic may also be used in the wetting solution. More, less or the same amount of solution as fat tissue may be injected. Most commonly, surgeons use more wetting solution than fat tissue (called Tumescent liposuction). Tumescent liposuction reduces bleeding and bruising, due to increased amounts of epinephrine in the body and requires only the use of a local anesthesia, opposed to an epidural or general anesthesia.

Dry Liposuction

Liposuction can also be performed “dry”, using no wetting solutions and merely removing the fat without any additional substances to aid. This is dangerous procedure and is rarely used anymore. It can result in major bleeding, tissue damage and extended recovery times.

Removing Fat

After all anesthesia has been administered and the wetting solution has been injected, the surgeon will make a small incision in the immediate area where the fat tissue is to be removed. A cannula is inserted into the incision and directed into the fat deposits to be removed. This narrow metal tube connects to a a hand piece that controls the device and a suction pump. The surgeon operates the cannula by moving it back and forth through the unwanted fat and it is sucked out by the pump.

Length of Procedure

Liposuction procedures take about an hour or two to be completed, on average. The more extensive the fat removal, the longer the procedure will take to complete. The incisions made to accommodate the cannula are closed using a few surgical stitches. Staples may be used on larger incisions.

Post Op Care

After a liposuction procedure, patients should always take care to follow any post-operation instructions from their surgeon or physician.


Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is becoming increasingly common as a body sculpting procedure in North America. It’s been around in Europe for decades and has been actively used there for many years. In fact, mesotherapy was developed by Michel Pistor, a French doctor, during the 1950’s. Now, nearly sixty years later, you’ll find many different variations of the initial procedure including lipodissolve, MesoGlow, MesoPeel, and MesoBoost. All use the same basic science – a combination of vitamins, minerals, medication and amino acid help to dissolve and separate fat calls, reducing the appearance of excess fat tissue.

Mesotherapy is a procedure that is always administered using injections. While some practitioners prefer to use a hand-held syringe, others opt to use a mesotherapy injection gun. Both are used to inject a combination of ingredients into the mesoderm, the bottom layer of skin. This is just slightly deeper than where a tattoo would be placed.

It’s important to recognize that mesotherapy is not like other surgical procedures. A reasonably healthy lifestyle is required in order to maintain the results of mesotherapy procedures. In these procedures, fat tissue is not removed like it is with liposuction. It is simply reduced and separated. Because of this, patients must realize that the full potential for the unwanted tissue to re-coagulate and thus, undo the procedure entirely. With healthy eating habits and frequent exercise, mesotherapy is a great jump start to re-sculpting the body.

Used for so much more than just body shaping and sculpting, mesotherapy has proved useful in treating injuries, physical ailments and skin conditions. Because the solution that is injected is a custom-made cocktail for every patient, the ingredients each mesotherapist uses differ from patient to patient according to his or her personal ailments.

Mesotherapy takes place over a series of sessions. Treatments for physical injuries can be completed in as few as five sessions, whereas body sculpting can take fifteen or more sessions. In North America, session costs range from $200-$600 USD and the initial consultation may be charged at a rate anywhere from $25 – $350 USD. While it may seem costly, this is often a less expensive option when compared to liposuction or gastric bypass. In Europe, these procedures tend to cost less since mesotherapy is an established practice there.

While mesotherapy is available in other parts of the world, it is best known and accepted in North American and European countries. Procedures and treatments are available to healthy adults, generally between the ages of 18 and 80. People with a history of complicated medical ailments or stroke, blood clots and kidney disease are not ideal candidates. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or may become pregnant should not consider mesotherapy.

Be sure to discuss your goals with your mesotherapist at your consultation. He or she can explain what results you can expect and if your ideals are reasonable. Together, you can create a plan that includes treatment sessions, a balanced diet and active living to help you reach your weight goals.