Liposuction: An Overview
Having long been one of the more popular forms of cosmetic surgery, liposuction is a procedure which involves a doctor removing fat from specific areas on a patient’s body. Recommended for those patients who follow a good exercise and diet routine but have trouble areas they can’t seem to get rid of, the procedure is the only proven form of spot reduction.
So while exercise programs and diet pills promise to get rid of fat in localized areas,
only liposuction can really deliver on its promises. Here is some more information about this fascinating procedure.
The operation itself consists of using a tube and a suction device to actually suck fatty tissue out of the patient’s body. There are few limits as to where a patient can choose to have liposuction. Some of the more common places include the thighs, the abdomen, the sides, the back, and the butt. In most cases, the suctioning aspect of the procedure is paired with an injection of fluids into the incision area, helping to loosen fatty cells and tissue, as well as providing local anesthetic and salts to replenish lost water.
One of the most common misconceptions regarding liposuction is when people think that it is a substitute for a weight loss plan. It is anything but. There are surgeries for those who wish to lose weight. These surgeries, such as lap band surgery and gastric bypass, shrink the stomach’s circumference and force the patient to be satisfied with less food. Liposuction doesn’t work this way, and it would be much too dangerous to simply suction out all the fat in an obese individual. Most procedures take out less than ten pounds of fat, which can make a big difference in a localized area, but does not mean the difference between an obese person and a skinny person.
As with any surgery, there are risks when it comes to this procedure. This is one of the reasons why it is imperative to see a doctor who is a plastic surgery specialist who has a great deal of experience doing quality work in this field. Some of the risks include lumpy skin in the area being treated. This is due to an uneven amount of fat being removed. There is also a good amount of bruising that follows even a perfect procedure, so patients should be prepared to have a rather good deal of downtime after the operation. Following the doctor’s advice as it pertains to preparing for surgery and recovery will do wonders when it comes to shortening that downtime.
