Lipodystrophy is the accumulation of fat in a certain place of the body that deforms its shape, and which can have either hereditary or hormonal causes. Its location varies according to sex, and it is most frequently distributed in the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, and chin.
There are several procedures for its elimination. Among them are topical treatments and infiltrations of different products, which do not achieve the definitive elimination of lipocytes, meaning that they can reappear. On the contrary, liposuction allows the removal of fat deposits in the body that cannot be removed through regular exercise and following a balanced diet. It is important to mention that lipodystrophy is not synonymous with cellulite, which is a disorder in the structure of the superficial fat that gives the appearance of orange peel skin, however liposuction can also help to improve it.
Liposuction can be performed on those people who, despite being within their ideal weight, have fat deposits in localized areas and want to improve their physical appearance.
The anesthesia to be used in this procedure depends on the area that will be intervened and the volume of fat to be removed. It can be local or regional with sedation, if it is not very extensive. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of excess fat in the affected area of the body by suction with fine cannulas that are inserted through small incisions in the fat deposits located under the skin. The suction of the excess fat allows to mold the treated area and improves the figure and body contour..
The extracted fat does not reappear because the fat cells that are removed stop reproducing at the end of puberty, therefore if the procedure is performed after the patient is 18 years old lipodystrophy will not reappear. The surgical time varies depending on the amount of fat to be removed and the areas to intervene, but most procedures last about 1 hour.
The treatment is performed in a single session, and the hospitalization time depends on the amount of fat removed but in most cases is approximately 6 hours. The patient must wear an elastic compression garment for a month and the treated area must be massaged to control the swelling and to help the skin adapt to the new contour.