Dieting and exercising are excellent for losing weight, but there is always some amount of fat that’s left behind and no amount of diet or exercise can seem to get rid of it. In this situation, liposuction can be a lifesaver for people. Also called lipoplasty or lipo, it is a type of cosmetic surgery that breaks up and then ‘sucks’ the fat from your body. The procedure is usually done by a plastic or cosmetic surgeon on the belly, thighs, hips, arms, back, face or buttocks for improving their shape. It is also possible to perform liposuction with other plastic surgery procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast reductions and facelifts.
Who is a Good Candidate?
It is essential for people to have realistic expectations from liposuction. The procedure will not get rid of cellulite, so if you thought that it will be eliminated during the surgery, then you are out of luck. It should be noted that it is a surgical procedure and there are risks associated with it. Therefore, the ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is in good health. This means that they should have elastic and firm skin, not smoke and be within 30% of their ideal body weight. Liposuction is not recommended for patients if they have health problems like a weak immune system, diabetes or heart disease.
What to Know Beforehand?
The first thing people need to do is consult their surgeon. This means that you should discuss your goals, the options available, the benefits and risks, and the costs. Ask any questions that you may have about the procedure. If you decide to go through with liposuction, the surgeon will provide you with instructions about how to prepare for it. These include alcohol and diet restrictions. You should disclose any allergies to your surgeon, along with any medications you take, including any herbal and over-the-counter supplements. Some medicines cannot be taken, such as certain painkillers or blood thinners.
What to Expect?
The liposuction procedure will take place at a surgery center or the doctor’s office. Always get the procedure done at an accredited facility. Patients can usually go home after the procedure, unless they are getting a lot of fat removed. Before the procedure begins, the doctor will mark the areas of the body that will be treated. Photos may also be taken for before-and-after comparisons later on. General anesthesia is given next, which means you will not be awake during the procedure.
Types of Liposuction
There are several liposuction techniques, but the use of thin tube known as cannula is common in all of them. It is connected to a vacuum for suctioning the fat from your body. The most common technique is tumescent liposuction. A sterile solution is injected into the area from where the fat has to be removed. The solution, which is made up of saline, epinephrine and lidocaine, makes it easier to suction the fat with less pain and blood loss.
Laser-assisted liposuction, or SmartLipo, involves using the laser for producing a burst of energy that liquefies the fat. UAL or ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses sound waves energy under the skin for rupturing the cell walls of the fat, thereby liquefying it and making it easier to suction.
Recovery
Depending on the type of surgery, you may not have to stay in the hospital. But, you will experience soreness, swelling and bruising for a few weeks. A compression garment may have to be worn for a month or two for controlling swelling. Some antibiotics are given for preventing infection. Most people can go back to work within 2 weeks of undergoing liposuction.
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