Large Volume Liposuction

Liposuction has traditionally been stressed as a body contouring treatment and not a weightless technique. Most plastic surgeons will warn you that it simply can't replace diet and exercise, and that it's only for those fatty deposits that are resistant to both. In general, the bottleneck for removing large volumes of fat is the fact that patients also lose large volumes of blood and body fluids that must be replaced intravenously. If the surgeon does not keep up with the intravenous there is the risk of patient death. That's why large volume liposuction has been avoided by all but the most skilled surgeons.

However, recent advances in the liposuction technique including tumescent, super wet, ultrasonic assisted, power assisted, and even laser assisted have continued to push the limits of fat removal with less blood loss. Even with all these technologies, the task of a high volume liposuction is still incredibly complex and completely different from regular liposuction. The loose definition of a large volume liposuction is when over 5 liters of fluid (blood and wetting fluids) is removed from the patient.

There are several caveats to the procedure that a surgeon must be aware of before performing the surgery.

First of all, the surgeon needs to be well trained and educated in basic liposuction techniques. He or she should also be well versed in how the regular techniques extend to a high volume technique. With so many patients interested in liposuction these days, finding a good plastic surgeon is by far the most important task.

Second, the anesthesiologist should understand the effects of infusing and removing large volumes of fluid from the body.

Third, the surgery room should have the right equipment to respond to any problems that may come up during or after the surgery. Make sure to check the certification of both the facility and the surgeon.

Fourth, the support staff should be experienced with the procedure, your care and recovery.

Fifth, your body type has to be suitable for such an operation.

If any of these conditions are not met, you are at an elevated risk level and you should be well aware of that before you proceed. A high volume liposuction is no light matter. It's a major reconstructive operation that will require general anesthesia and a prolonged recovery period.

Qualified surgeons and support personnel can perform it safely, however. If you need to lose a lot of weight and change your body measurements, consider a high volume liposuction. Other improvements include lower blood pressure, blood insulin levels, and a slower metabolism.

Though a large volume liposuction is definitely not for just anyone, if you have tried losing weight but remain significantly far from your goal, then talk to a certified surgeon today to discuss your options.