Liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove fat deposits and shape the body. Fat is removed from under the skin with the use of a vacuum-suction canula (a hollow pen-like instrument) or using an ultrasonic probe that emulsifies (breaks up into small pieces) the fat and then removes it with suction.
If you have localized fat you may decide to have liposuction to remove fat from just one specific area. Keep in mind, thought, that liposuction is a procedure for shaping the body and is not recommended for weight loss.
Liposuction may be performed on the abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. A liposuction surgery may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back, and thighs all on the same day.
Who performs liposuction and where is it performed?
Most liposuction procedures are performed by plastic surgeons or dermatologists. However, all that is required to perform liposuction is a medical degree, so any licensed physician may perform liposuction. It’s a good idea to find out all you can about a particular physician before considering him or her to perform your surgery. Check with your local licensing board, ask your physician how many procedures like yours has he/she done and request to see before and after photographs. Some professional organizations recommend special training for physicians, but it isn’t required by law. So the more information you can determine, the better you can feel about your procedure.
Don’t be afraid to ask your physician detailed questions about the surgery. Remember, you deserve to know the answers. Ask for in depth explanations of what your procedure consists of, what the risks are, and what results you can realistically expect.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure, so remember even the best screened patients under the care of the best trained and experienced physicians may experience complications as a result of liposuction. Emergencies may arise during any surgery and access to emergency medical equipment and/or a nearby hospital emergency room is important. These are things that you should ask your physician before the liposuction procedure.
Don’t base your decision simply on cost and remember that you don’t have to settle for the first doctor or procedure you investigate. The decision you make about liposuction surgery is an important one but not one that you must make right away. Take your time to decide whether liposuction is right for you and whether you are willing to take the risks of undergoing liposuction for its benefits.
When is Liposuction not for me?
If you are considering liposuction as a means to lose weight, then liposuction is not for you. This is a procedure designed to shape the body and is not recommended for losing weight.
Cost is a huge factor to take under consideration. Since liposuction is primarily considered “cosmetic,” most medical insurance companies will not pay for the procedure placing the burden directly on you.
Complications can arise and are unavoidable in a percentage of all patients.
If you are on certain medications this may not be a procedure you should risk. Some of the considerations are:
Current infection
History of bleeding
Heart disease
Edema
Blood clotting medications
Anti-inflammatory agents
Anti-coagulants
Any medications that may interact with the drugs used during liposuction.
Your skin elasticity may not be adequate. Your doctor will evaluate the skin at the site where you are considering liposuction to determine if skin is elastic enough to shrink after liposuction. If it is not, it will be baggy after liposuction. This may cause you to have to consider plastic surgery to eliminate the excess skin.
Liposuction Risks
It is important to remember that liposuction is a surgical procedure and that there may be serious complications, including death.
Before you have liposuction, you should be aware of these risks and should weigh the risks and benefits. Don’t believe that complications “only happen to other people.” Try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so. Take your time deciding if you are willing to accept the risks of liposuction.
Before you undergo liposuction, you should have a complete physical exam so that your doctor can determine if you are an acceptable candidate for liposuction.
It is important for you to discuss any medical conditions that you have and to tell your doctor about any medications that you are taking including any herbal or other non-prescription ones. If your doctor decides that you can have liposuction, discuss the procedure thoroughly with him or her. Just because a physician says that you may have liposuction does not mean that you must decide to have liposuction. You may still change your mind even after discussing the procedure with a physician.
Your physician should be able to answer any questions that you have about liposuction including questions about what to expect during and after liposuction and the complications or problems that sometimes occur with liposuction. Some physicians will provide written information about liposuction.
Have Realistic Expectations
While medical complications are important, the reason that people have liposuction surgery is for cosmetic reasons. The cosmetic effect after liposuction may be very good and many patients report being satisfied. However, it is possible that the cosmetic effect will not be what you expected. In other words, your appearance after liposuction may not be what you expected or wanted.
Some cosmetic shortcomings after liposuction include:
- There may be scars at the site where the doctor made the cut to insert the liposuction canula. These scars are usually small and fade with time but in some people, scars may be larger or more prominent.
- The liposuction site may have a wavy or bumpy appearance after liposuction.
- Liposuction results may not be permanent. If you gain weight after liposuction surgery, the fat may return to sites where you had liposuction or to other sites.
- Results may be less dramatic than what you were expecting and you may be disappointed.
The “make over” programs you may be watching on television give the impression that anyone and everyone is a candidate for a dramatic make over. Don’t enter into a decision based on what you see on television. The patients you see on television are the very best candidates in terms of health and other factors. They are selected based on the fact that their “before” and “after” will show drastic results. That just isn’t true for the average person.
What Are Some of the Alternatives?
Some of the alternatives to liposuction are:
- Eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh raw fruits and vegetables to lose some excess body fat and toxins
- Exercise more to strengthen muscles
- Learn to accept your body and appearance as it is
- Use clothing or makeup to downplay or emphasize body features that you don’t like
- Try some of the other methods that we discussed such as creams or body wrapping.
Read more on my blog How to Get Rid of Cellulite. To learn about other methods that you may try, visit Body Wraps for Cellulite Removal and other methods to Get Rid of Cellulite. Also readTop Hamstrings Exercises for Cellulite Reduction , Killer Cellulite Exercises For Your Legs and Butt.
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I think I’ll go the route of a health diet, disciplined exercise and water. Just drinking water instead of sodas or coffee will cut about 1000 calories a day from my diet.
Have a talk with your local surgeon and go into the details of whether liposuction would be good for your condition. In the end it is your decision that will prevail, so make sure to do enough research and collect enough information in order to decide whether liposuction is the correct way to fix and improve your cellulite problem.
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