Is Liposuction for Me?
Is Liposuction for Me?
by Aazdak Alisimo
Television is covered with shows about plastic surgery - from real life expert shows to makeover shows. Magazines are just as filled with ideas about plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation or facelifts. Most of all, these are filled with stories about liposuction, and how great it is.
Liposuction is a technical term coming from the word suction, easy to figure out, and the prefix lipo-, which comes from lipid, Latin for fat. It is sucking fat. Liposuction is a procedure that is done by a plastic surgeon, usually under general anesthesia, in a hospital or possibly in a surgery center.
The standard type of liposuction is the one that is most common today, although others are being tested. Small incisions are made in the fatty area (in the skin) and cannulas (which suck the fat) are inserted into these cuts, along with syringes that squirt in a solution of saline and a local anesthetic.
The doctor then roots the cannula around under the skin in the fat layer, using the saline as a lubricant, and dislodges fat cells which are sucked out through the cannula. On average, most patients can expect to lose no more than 10 pounds of fat in a liposuction procedure. This is a high amount.
There are other types of liposuction procedures that are performed, including laser assisted liposuction, but this is the standard right now. Patients are then bandaged up tightly and sent home to recover. In some cases, dents and rippling can occur from overzealous liposuction. Rarely there are complications.
Liposuction is not a good alternative to weight loss programs such as diet and exercise, and in fact, most doctors won’t even work on patients that are overweight and expecting to lose a lot of weight through this process. Liposuction is just meant to work on problem areas of the body.
Most liposuction on women occurs in the thigh and abdomen, and in men the flanks and the abdomen. Of course, other areas can be liposuctioned depending on need. It is important to note that liposuction will not get rid of excess skin - in those instances, a tummy tuck may be needed.
Sometimes, patients are turned away for being liposuction candidates.You need to have realistic expectations of the outcome of your surgery as well.
You might not be able to get your liposuction if you are a smoker, diabetic (or otherwise ill), too overweight or under the age of 18.
You shouldn’t think of liposuction as a way to lose those extra few pounds - instead, it’s a way to make yourself look better if nothing else has worked. If diet, exercise and all natural methods have failed to make you look the way you want to, then consider getting some liposuction done.
Aazdak Alisimo writes about plastic surgery issues for PlasticSurgeonPractices.com, where you can locate a plastic surgeon in your city. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
