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A Look at the History of Liposuction
By admin | January 20, 2012
Still one of the most requested cosmetic surgery procedures in the country, including at Dr. Wilcox’s Plano practice, liposuction (“suction-assisted lipectomy”) has come a long way since it was first performed in the 1920s by French surgeon Charles Dujarier. Unfortunately Dr. Dujarier’s surgical attempt was not successful as it led to a major complication; gangrene set in after he treated a famous, young Parisian model, which led to her death. Due to this devastation, several decades passed before suction-assisted fat removal was performed. Although it is not the oldest plastic surgery procedure – nose surgery traces back to 2000 BC – liposuction was developed nearly a century ago, and definitely took many years to become a safe option in removing excess deposits of fat from nearly anywhere on the body.
It was in 1974 when two Italian gynecologists, Dr. Giorgio Fischer and his son, Dr. Giorgio Fischer, Jr., better crafted the liposuction procedure into an effective fat removal process. They invented a way to internally cut away fat tissue that sits within the body using an electric-powered, rotating scalpel, which was contained in a thin metal tube called a “cannula,” and inserted through small incisions. This early form of liposuction did destroy fat cells, which were suctioned through a rubber tubing by a vacuum machine; but because the doctors’ technology was not nearly as fine-tuned as it is today, the surgical outcomes back then can hardly be compared to modern results.
Soon thereafter, throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, surgeons began to create their own techniques and make the necessary adjustments to the procedure in order to help prevent such problems as blood loss, permanent numbness in the treated areas, asymmetry, and unpredictable results – complications that were associated with the early attempts of liposuction.
Today, there are several methods of liposuction to choose from, depending on your particular cosmetic goals, where and how many problem areas you have, and the surgeon’s recommendation. During your consultation with Dr. Wilcox at his Plano plastic surgery practice, you can learn which liposuction techniques he specializes in, and which one will provide you with optimal results. Please note that this procedure is not a weight loss method; rather it is designed to help further sculpt a body that is already physically in shape but has stubborn pockets of excess pockets of fat in certain areas.
Please contact the office of Dr. Wilcox regarding your interest in liposuction, by calling (972) 620-1700.
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