Liposuction - Facts and Misconceptions

Liposuction is an ideal choice for patients that have trouble getting rid of stubborn fat on various parts of the body. Even though many patients have thought about undergoing liposuction, there are still a number of common misconceptions about the procedure that need to be addressed. Patients that are interested in undergoing liposuction in the future should take a look below to learn the facts about how it is performed and the misconceptions that surround the procedure.

Liposuction Explained

Liposuction is performed to reshape areas of the body with stubborn fat by eliminating the fat cells in the targeted area. The removal of these fat cells works to provide a better shape and contour to the body. Some of the areas of the body where fat is often reduced include the hips, calves, abdomen and thighs. It should be noted that liposuction is not considered to be a weight loss treatment.

There are multiple liposuction treatments available to patients and they include traditional liposuction as well as tumescent, power-assisted, super-wet and laser lipo. The surgeon makes tiny incisions in the targeted area of the body so a suction tube can be inserted into an incision. The suction tube, which is known as a cannula, removes fat deposits from the body.

The final results can take up to six months to become visible. The skin will enjoy a greater tightness and a better contour. The fat cells that are removed will not return but fat can still be an issue on other parts of the body.

Liposuction – Common Misconceptions

Here are some of the most common misconceptions about liposuction shared by patients of all ages:

• Liposuction does not eliminate cellulite that is the result of fat that pushes against the skin or fibers pulling down on the skin of a person. While liposuction can reduce the amount of fat that is pushing against the skin of a person, it will not be able to stop fibers pulling against the skin that result in dimpling. Patients with loose skin need to know that liposuction might actually make cellulite worse because of their current skin condition.
• Liposuction is not a weight loss method and should not be entered into with that expectation. Patients need to enter into the liposuction process at a reasonable weight. Fat is not dense, and does not weigh that much, so the removal of the fat cells will not make a significant impact on the total weight of a person.
• Liposuction will not remove stretch marks since they are scars. The scars that occur from stretch marks happen in the dermis which is the layer that is located under the epidermis and above the subcutaneous layer. Once stretch marks appear on the body, they can fade but they will never completely disappear from the patient.
• Patients with a body mass index (BMI) that is over 30 can be classified as being obese. Before having liposuction, they should know that there is a limit to how much fat can safely be removed during the procedure. Even if a person has a large amount of fat removed by the doctor, it might not make much of a different in comparison to the overall body size of the patient.
• The removal of fat cells is not a substitute for daily exercise. Patients should maintain an active and healthy lifestyle with increased activity to help maintain the results.
• Liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy diet. Without a lasting change in the daily nutrition habits of a person, the results from the procedure might be voided as time passes. The remaining fat cells on the body can shrink thanks to weight loss or expand due to a significant weight gain. Patients need to incorporate fruits and vegetables in to their diet and also minimize the amount of fat and sugar they consume each day during meals and snacks.
• Liposuction can help improve the self-esteem and self-image of a person. It will not completely transform the look of the body in the treated area. Instead, the procedure will simply enhance and augment the current physique of a person.
• The fat that is removed via liposuction is not visceral fat. This type of fat wraps around the abdominal organs of a person deep inside the body. A person that has a stomach that is rather flat in appearance can still have visceral fat. In addition, visceral fat pushes out on the muscles that work to form an abdominal wall. Even if the doctor removes fat from above the muscle, there might still be fat include the belly that can only be eliminated through proper diet and regular exercise.

Contact an Experienced Liposuction Surgeon

There is no misconception when it comes to using the services of an experienced and board-certified doctor when it comes to undergoing liposuction. The doctor can examine the patient and determine if the person is an ideal candidate for liposuction along with the best lipo technique to use to achieve the desired results. Once the doctor has answered all questions, cleared up any misconceptions and set realistic expectations, the liposuction procedure can be scheduled by the patient.

- MA