All About Liposuction

Those who have difficulty losing weight often consider liposuction (lipo). This procedure is a type of cosmetic surgery that involves the removal of fatty deposits under the skin by suction. The result is a less flabby and more contoured appearance. Traditionally, this form of weight loss has been popular in women, because of the immediate cosmetic result. However, it is only cosmetic and does not address the underlying health problems.

Liposuction is performed in hospitals and clinics equipped to do so, with the expertise and experience that is necessary. Unless the operation is very limited, it is performed under anesthesia. Tumescent anesthesia is a form of local anesthesia often used because it can be injected directly into the fat. The tumescent solution is highly diluted, and has the added benefit of shrinking capillaries. This prevents excessive blood loss. Tumescent anesthesia is long lasting, minimizing the need for post-surgical pain medications.

The different types of Liposuction

In traditional liposuction, a long, hollow needle called a cannula is inserted beneath the skin. It is used to scrape fat off of the underside of the skin. The fat is then sucked out by a vacuum, very much like a domestic vacuum cleaner. The results are immediate! Because of the excess skin that is left hanging, further surgery may be required to reduce the redundant flab to provide a beautiful and acceptable end result. More and more men are opting for lipo-suction of the abdomen and breast reduction liposuction.

Laser liposuction is less invasive than traditional liposuction. It involves the use of a laser to break up and liquefy fat underneath the skin. Lasers can also be used after liposuction to tighten the skin over the area involved. Laser liposuction is a relatively new procedure, so its long-term effects are unknown.

Vaser liposuction surgery uses ultrasound energy to liquefy fat in a manner similar to that of laser liposuction. The liquefied fat is then removed with a specially designed suction cannula. This procedure is minimally invasive and is reported to result in very little post-operative pain.

Lipo-suction in all forms poses minimal risks, but it is important to follow your plastic surgeon's orders following the procedure. Patients can often go back to work in a matter of days. Liposuction recovery time is anywhere from several weeks to a couple of months.

In years past, those who had excess belly fat that they could not get rid of had few options. It was common for them to have abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, which involved the removal of skin from the lower abdomen. Tummy tucks often resulted in a large amount of scarring and displacement of the navel. This procedure is still done today, but tummy liposuction is often a better option. The skin shrinks naturally to a large extent after the procedure, producing effects similar to those of a tummy tuck.

Other options to Liposuction and Surgical Weight Loss

Non surgical liposuction options are frequently touted as an alterative to liposuction. These options range from topical creams to herbal body wraps to infrared devices. Be sceptical, as the results are no where comparable to the surgical techniques and often non-surgical options refer to limited area such as thigh or shoulder cellulite. Getting the effects of liposuction without surgery sounds great but hard to achieve. It is a thoroughly good idea to research any of these products and services before trying them.

Surgery is recommended for those who are not extremely overweight. It is intended to remove stubborn fat that will not come off with diet and exercise. Those who need to lose more than 20 pounds are advised to try to lose weight by other methods. For those who are obese, bariatric surgery is the best surgical option.

Body contouring surgery can help you get the body that you want but cannot achieve through diet and exercise alone. By restoring the figure that you want, your confidence will almost certainly sky-rocket together with a sense of well being. It is at this time you should embark on other holistic weight loss tactics in order to ensure lasting results. Those who have areas of fat that do not respond to basic or traditional weight loss methods can benefit greatly from liposuction surgery.