Liposuction is a surgical procedure to sculpt the body, removing unwanted collections of fat. Almost all the body may have some liposuction and that includes the face, the neck, arms, tummy, love handles, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles. Liposuction should not be perceived as a method of weight loss. However, it can remove troublesome areas of fat that do not respond to a sensible diet and exercise routine.

Liposuction was invented in 1974 and by 1977 a French surgeon Yves Gerrard Illouz described the first liposuctions in the world.  

During the past decade liposuction has gone through a revolution so that today it is a much safer procedure and the results are greatly improved with less discomfort, bruising and swelling. It is by far also the most popular Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in Colombia. More than 450,000 liposuction procedures were performed in 2007, making it the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States too. However, it is  a procedure that should be performed alone and not in so called Combos with other plastic surgeries.

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Types of Liposuction

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SAL or Suction Assisted Liposuction: Standard liposuction may also be referred to as suction assisted lipoplasty (or SAL). It is the simple old technique started in 1977.

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UAL or Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction: Liposuction may also be performed with the use of ultrasonic energy to assist in breaking down the fat that is to be removed (ultrasonic assisted lipoplasty, UAL, or VASER LipoSelection). In many patients this is advantageous, particularly in treating male breast enlargement (Gynecomastia), areas that have previously undergone liposuction, and in patients with marginal skin elasticity.

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Vaser Liposuction: This is the evolution of UAL in wish ultrasound is not continuous but it vibrates and that avoids burning of the skin that was very common with simple ultrasound.

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PAL Power assisted lipoplasty (or PAL): Involves the use of a cannula that rapidly vibrates at the tip. Dr. Pavajeau believes this type of cannula vibration is unsafe and makes no difference with SAL.

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LAL or Laser Assisted Liposuction or SmartLipo: LAL is another type of liposuction commonly in the news today. SmartLipo can achieve the same results as the VASER but uses a different mechanism. SmartLipo uses light of a laser to accomplish the same thing the VASER accomplishes with ultrasonic energy. VASER uses a high frequency ultrasonic soundwave and SmartLipo uses a beam of laser light to liquify the fat prior to its removal. 

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Liposuction is among the plastic surgery procedures with the highest patient satisfaction ratings. Many patients experience an immediate improvement in their self-esteem and discover a greater self-confidence.

If you think you might be a good candidate for liposuction, this page will give you a basic understanding of the procedure and the results you can expect. The cornerstone of Dr.  Pavajeau approach is to individualize treatment to your specific circumstances and goals and to ensure that you have an adequate understanding of the issues involved so that you can make a fully informed decision.  For example, Dr Pavajeau will sometimes advice patients to divide the procedure in to two stages because he believes Megaliposuciton or extraction of more than 5 kg of fat , is a very unsafe procedure. Also, Dr Pavajeau believes that combining Tummy tuck and Liposuction is extremely dangerous and unsafe.

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Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate patient experience with your liposuction in Colombia. Our well-trained staff will help you understand your procedure, the scheduling of your surgery, and your post-operative care. We are available to assist you during our regular office hours, Monday through Friday but Dr. Pavajeau is also available 24 hours a day to post-surgical patients; he will give you his cell phone number after surgery so that you will always be able to reach him with any questions or concerns you might have during your recovery.

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The Web Consultation:   WhatsApp  57 3202309114

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During your web consultation, Dr. Pavajeau will inquire about your medical history, prior procedures, medications, allergies, and your motivations for seeking liposuction. It is very important that you be thorough when providing your medical history, as this information helps to prevent complications during your care. When asked about medications, be sure to include any vitamin or Natural herbal preparations, as these can affect your blood pressure and clotting ability. Honesty regarding your use of tobacco and alcohol is also very important, as these may have a profound impact on your recovery period and your ability to heal following your procedure.

After you send your medical history and Pictures, our Patient Coordinator Lissette Pavajeau, will send you a written estimate of the cost of your procedure. Now, you will also have the option to reserve with a deposit, and schedule your procedure if you so choose. The decision to undergo surgery is a very important one, and the final decision should be given very careful consideration. Dr. Pavajeau realizes the importance of this decision, and at no time will you be pressured by our team to decide.

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Where Your Procedure Will Be Performed

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Dr. Pavajeau has been granted  privileges at our local Clinics. In the interest of the safety of his patients, he only performs surgery in fully accredited facilities with the proper services and staff. The staff and  the anesthesiologists of these facilities are very experienced in the care of plastic surgery patients in general and specifically in the care of our patients.

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Types of Anesthesia

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Anesthesia is an essential part of any surgical procedure and must be performed safely. General anesthesia is the ideal form of anesthesia for liposuction. if several areas of the body are to be treated. You are asleep, feel no pain, and will not remember the procedure. This form of anesthesia is usually required for liposuction unless the patient specifically requests regional anesthesia.

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Details of the Procedure

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Liposuction usually takes one to three hours to perform, depending on the total area to be treated. After you are properly anesthetized, Dr. PAVAJEAU will make tiny (3 millimeter) incisions in the areas to be suctioned. A dilute solution containing saline (salt water), epinephrine (to decrease bleeding and subsequent bruising), is infiltrated in the areas to be treated.

A Laser cannula (a slender, hollow metal tube attached to suction with a Laser beam inside) is then passed repeatedly through the areas and serves to liquify and break up and remove the fat deposits. If you are undergoing ultrasound-assisted liposuction, the cannula has an ultrasound probe at the tip.

Afterwards, when fat is liquid. another small cannula is then passed suctioning all the destroyed fat cells.  the incisions are carefully closed to minimize your scar. A sterile dressing is applied to the incisions, and a stretch garment (compression garment provided by us) is placed over the areas that have been treated.

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After Your Procedure

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Liposuction is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. However, if you are from out of town or a patient abroad, you may choose to stay in the hospital overnight with an additional cost of 120 USD. You will recover from surgery in the recovery room for approximately one hour, and then you will be able to go to your hotel in the company of a staff member. We also have a private duty nurse available to care for you in the comfort and privacy of your hotel if you so choose at an additional cost of 60 USD per night.

The antibiotics that were prescribed and given by us during your preoperative visit should be taken twice daily beginning on the evening prior to surgery. Continue this medication for five days post-operatively or until it is gone. The pain medication prescribed by Dr. Pavajeau during your preoperative visit, should be taken regularly, every eight hours or so, during the first 24 hours. It is not safe to drive a car within 24 hours of taking pain medication, as your reflexes and alertness may be altered. 

You should plan to wear the compression garment for 4 weeks following surgery, depending on the rate of your recovery.

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Results You Can Expect

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Your result will  be apparent immediately following surgery, but will become really apparent over the first several weeks.  Immediate Post Op massage and drainage of liquid is very important. One of the members of or staff , Mary , should be with you form the day after surgery. Drains left in the pubic area and in the gluteal area help drainage. They should be left there until draining is very low.

After drains are taken away swelling will remain in the inter cellular tissues. And your body will still be absorbing some of the fluid injected at the beginning of the procedure through the next 2 or 3 months. In fact, you will probably weight more the days following surgery than you did the morning of surgery.

The very mild swelling usually takes several weeks to subside. Any bruising that may occur usually disappears within one to two weeks. You should not let sun when bruising is still in your body.   You must resume your normal daily activities the day after surgery, and you should be able to walk as much as possible to prevent DVT or deep venous thrombosis. We will also give you special type of socks and an injectable called Clexane or Enoxiheparin to prevent DVT. But walking is the most important of all these measures to prevent DVT. You may be able to resume all your physical activities within 2 weeks of surgery.