Much attention has been placed on Los Angeles reality star, Kim Kardashian who seems to have lost all her pregnancy weight just four months after giving birth to her new baby girl. She made a public statement asserting that her slim figure is the result of hard work, consistent discipline and a lot of exercise.
Kim Kardashian, a Los Angeles celebrity, attributes her svelt post baby body to exercise and not cosmetic procedures like liposuction (photo: Flickr)
Prior to this, many people (including media sources) assumed that she had some help from cosmetic procedures. While medical surgery is available to assist in the removal of unwanted fat, it is helpful to understand how liposuction works and whether or not it can be performed after a pregnancy.
What Exactly Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a form of surgery where excess fat is removed through a suctioning process. First, the fat must be broken up. There are various ways this can be done:
- ultrasound
- manual movement
- use of a motor
- laser energy
- fan shaped water beam
Afterwards, the fat is then suctioned through a straw-like tube called a cannula.
Los Angeles patient achieves thinner thighs and lower bodies regions after her liposuction procedure
Is Tumescent Liposuction Different From Regular Liposuction?
The term, tumescent actually refers to a technique used to prepare a solution of epinephrine and lidocaine prior to the actual surgery. This is actually a safety measure that is incorporated into all forms of liposuction procedures. Therefore, this is not an elective option that Los Angeles patients would need to decide upon.
The purpose of the lidocaine is to minimize pain. And the epinephrine works to reduce the size of the blood vessels so that there is less bleeding and bruising.
Is Liposuction the Same As A Tummy Tuck?
Liposuction and tummy tucks are often closely associated as ways of getting rid of unwanted fat. But the two are not the same. A tummy tuck is for eliminating excess skin, fat and flab around the mid section. Also the abdominal muscles are tightened during this surgery.
Neither liposuction nor tummy tucks should be considered as substitutes for healthy eating and exercise. Physicians may recommend them when a patient is not able to achieve the weight loss and changes they want to see through their own efforts. Both are major forms of surgery that should not be taken lightly.
If the female patient is unclear about wanting to have more children, liposuction and tummy tucks would not be feasible choices.
Is It Safe To Get Liposuction To Lose Weight From Pregnancy?
Most doctors recommend waiting between 3-6 months after the baby is born before considering liposuction. During this time, the body is recovering and returning to its baseline state. For example, a person’s weight should become stable and close to what it was before the pregnancy. Also, the procedure needs to be timed at about 3 months after the breastfeeding period.
How Did Kim Kardashian Regain Her Body So Quickly?
Losing pregnancy weight within a short period of time is not an impossible feat. Celebrity fitness guru, Tracy Anderson advocates exercise during the pregnancy. This is the key that she recommends for expediting weight loss after birth. She not only helped Kim Kardashian get back into shape, but also other stars like Jennifer Lopez, Gweneth Paltrow and Bethany Frankel.
If you are still interested in learning more about liposuction as a general procedure, click here to watch this video.