Every person’s body is different. Some people may be able to lose weight and stay in shape easily, while others may have terrible trouble keeping fit. Even with a healthy diet and exercise, for some, those last pounds won’t shed. In some cases, it may even be a larger amount of weight that won’t go away. Liposuction is a viable option for surgically removing the fat you want to get rid of. Typical problem areas include:
- -Chin
- -Neck
- -Arms
- -Stomach
- -Thighs
- -Hips
- -Buttocks
What Happens During a Liposuction Procedure?
Prior to this cosmetic surgery, a saline solution mixed with lidocaine and epinephrine is injected into a vein at the suction site in order to reduce pain and minimize resultant bruising and bleeding. This is referred to as tumescent liposuction.
During any liposuction procedure, the doctor will suction the fat out of the body through a cannula (a straw-like device). However, this cannot be done before the fat tissue is broken up and prepared for removal from the body—and this is where methods and techniques differ. Some techniques commonly used are:
- -Water assisted liposuction, during which the fat is loosened via constant water pressure through a fan-shaped beam.
- -Thermal lipolysis, a technique in its developmental stages, uses laser energy to emulsify the fat prior to suction.
- -Ulrasound assisted liposuction uses sound waves to soften the fat for suction.
- -Power assisted liposuction aids the cannula in suctioning the fat through motorized mechanical movement.
- -Suction assisted liposuction requires that the doctor break up the fat manually by moving the cannula back and forth.
Liposuction may be performed in hospital or in an equipped clinic/doctor’s office.
Are There Dangers With Liposuction?
Of course, a board certified and licensed doctor with must perform your procedure. Finding someone with plenty of experience and a high success rate is important for minimizing risks and maximizing your desired outcome. However, there are always risks with surgery.
First of all, no more than 5 liters (10.5 pints) of fat should be removed from the body at once, otherwise there is a risk of upsetting the body’s balance of fluid. Secondly, anyone with poor skin elasticity, heart or circulation problems, diabetes, or infections is not a candidate for liposuction. These ailments can induce life-threatening complications.
For the most part, as long as you are in good general health and don’t smoke for months prior to the surgery, liposuction is a safe procedure.