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| WHO IS A CANDIDATE? | 
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If you have excess subcutaneous fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise. If you wish to change the contours of your body. Commonly involved areas are the anterior part of the neck (under the chin), upper arms and armpits, male chest/breasts, trunk, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, calves, and ankles. Patients desiring permanent improvement in contour abnormalities caused by excess fat. The use of VAL allows safer removal of larger amounts of fat than with standard liposuction. This increase in safety is due to the reduced amount of blood removed with VAL. This means that VAL can be very useful to moderately overweight individuals even though VAL is not a weight loss method per se. |
| INTENDED RESULTS |
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A permanent improvement in the contour and proportion of the treated areas. |
| PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION |
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The procedure is done on an outpatient basis. Either sedation and local anesthesia, or general anesthesia is appropriate for UAL. Small suction tubes (cannulas) are inserted through very short incisions placed in inconspicuous locations near the fat deposits, and excess fat is removed. If extremely large volumes of fat are to be removed, we may ask you to donate one or two units of blood and take supplemental iron before surgery .Your own blood will be used as a transfusion at the end of surgery .(The frequency of need for this type of transfusion is decreased by using UAL). |
| RECUPERATION and HEALING |
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The patient goes home with a compression garment covering the treated areas. Compression is advised for about a month as it helps reduce swelling and helps you achieve the final result more quickly. Once pain and soreness decrease, it is frequently more comfortable to wear lycra or spandex exercise pants. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. The advantages of UAL are reduced blood loss, decreased bruising, possible reduction in post-operative discomfort and overall faster healing. Bruising and swelling usually subside in 2-4 weeks. The final result takes shape over 2-3 months. |
| OTHER OPTIONS |
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Additional procedures that may enhance the result are Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty), Breast Reduction, Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Thigh Lift, or Buttock Lift. |
| INSURANCE GUIDELINES |
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This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment. |
| NOTE |
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The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare. |