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Liposuction
For many obese men and women, liposuction is a dream come true. No longer those sagging bulky bodies!!! Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted stubborn, diet and exercise resistant fat deposits and to carve the body into a slimmer contour.
The commonly treated areas in women are the abdomen, hips, and thighs. In men, abdomen and enlarged male breasts are most often treated. Other areas treated in men include the arms, neck, and face. Fascinatingly, sweat glands in the underarm can be removed by liposuction to reduce excessive sweating without affecting the body's overall ability to cool itself. Isn't that great news!!
How liposuction is done?
Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula. A vacuum is applied through a hose attached to the cannula and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. This draws fat out of the body. Liposuction is usually not intended as a weight-loss technique.
Who are best suited for liposuction:-
- Normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who just have pockets of excess fat in some areas.
- Physically healthy, psychologically stable.
- Age is not a major consideration; however, older people may not achieve the same outcome as a younger one with tighter skin.
- Liposuction is hazardous for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, major heart or lung disease, poor blood flow, or those who have lately had operation near the area to be contoured.
Different liposuction techniques:-
There are many ways to do liposuction. The most commonly used ones are-
- Tumescent liposuction procedure is proven to be safer than other methods of liposuction. It gives smoother results, fewer complications, and faster recovery.
- Ultra sound assisted lipoplasty (UAL) has improved the ease and effectiveness of liposuction in fibrous areas of the body, such as the upper back or the enlarged male breast. UAL takes longer to perform than traditional liposuction.
What are the risks involved?
Liposuction is normally safe, as long as patients are carefully selected and the physician is adequately trained. But:-
- Too much liposuction leads to surgical trauma and other complications.
- Prolonged exposure to anesthesia is dangerous.
- Skin irregularities are frequent although the surgical scars are well hidden.
- A puncture of either the lung or the abdominal cavity can take place.
- Formation of fat clots or blood clots.
- Infections and reactions to the surgical equipments, accompanied by delays in healing.
- Worsening of cellulite in the treated areas.
So, think before you go ahead. You should be psychologically stable on the surgical table to get best results.
Post liposuction:-
- Don't expect to look or feel great right after surgery.
- You may experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness.
- Pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by surgeon.
- You will begin to feel better after about a week or two and you should be back at work within a few days. The stitches are removed or dissolve on their own within the first week to 10 days.
- Strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month as your body is recuperating.
- You will see a visible variation in the shape of your body soon after surgery. However, improvement will be more apparent after about four to six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.
- If any unusual symptoms develop, consult your doctor.
A word of caution:-
Areas that have not been liposuctioned can grow bigger than the treated ones if you let yourself go - do not eat properly or regularly exercise.
Therefore, if you have realistic expectations from liposuction go ahead and get that great look.