It's quite common to have areas of your body that you're uncomfortable with. Exercise can be frustrating if there are certain areas of fat that just won't disappear. If you find yourself constantly focusing on problem areas and pinching the fat wishing it would just go away, Liposculpting may be a great option for you.
Liposuction is an operation that removes pockets of fat by suctioning it out. The fat that is removed during liposuction will never come back. Where fat is located on your body is determined by two factors - how many fat cells you have and how big they are. The number of fat cells in each area is determined early on by genetics and your weight as a child. When you gain weight as an adult, your fat cells get larger, but you don't form any new ones.
If your body has more fat cells in one particular area, that becomes a "problem area" for you. Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from selected areas. Your body can still make the few remaining fat cells larger, but it will not create new ones. This means you stay thin in those areas even if you gain a little weight. Of course, if you gain a lot of weight (20 or more pounds), you will notice that even those areas which were treated with liposuction become larger again.
Liposuction is not a substitute for losing weight because it's not safe to remove very large amounts of fat during a liposuction procedure. But, it's perfect for contouring parts of the body and for removing a particular area of fat that just won't go away.
What about SmartLipo™ and Lipodissolve? SmartLipo™ claims to remove fat by dissolving it with a laser?
Like all new things, there is a lot of media and publicity, but there aren't any rigorous scientific studies that show that it's better or safer than regular liposuction. Most of the physicians doing SmartLipo™ are not Plastic Surgeons but a mix of Family Physicians, Gynecologist, or Internal Medicine doctors, many of whom have received only a few days of training at a weekend course. Because surgeons don't believe this is any better than regular liposuction, they usually don't offer it to patients. However many surgeons do offer Vaser™ which is a liposuction machine that helps dissolve tougher areas of fat with ulatrasound before it is suctioned out and can help tighten the skin in many patients.
Lipodissolve uses a chemical to dissolve fat. This process is not approved by the FDA, and since it only works on about a quarter size area, it requires hundreds of injections to introduce the chemical to all the areas being treated. There is a good chance that the fat will dissolve unevenly or not work at all, so Lipodissolve will likely leave you less than satisfied.
Technique of Liposuction:
The procedure involves making tiny incisions (less than a half inch) in about two or three places for each area where the liposuction will be performed. Usually these are hidden by your underwear or in natural creases on the body.
Then, with a small thin tube, IV fluid that is mixed with medications is introduced to numb the area and to reduce bleeding. When more fluid is put in than the amount of fat to be taken out, this is called the "tumescent" liposuction technique. This numbs everything so that you can have the surgery while you are wide-awake, and it dramatically reduces the chances of bleeding or bruising. Next, using liposuction cannulas, the fat is removed. This is done very carefully to ensure that the fat is removed evenly and the body is contoured for the best shape.
When the liposuction procedure is complete, you will see small pieces of tape where the tiny incisions were made. You will be dressed with gauze over the incisions and a compression garment over the entire area.
Expected Recovery from liposuction:
For a day or two after surgery, there will be seepage of pink fluid from the incisions. That's the fluid that was put in to do the liposuction combined with a small amount of blood, and it's completely normal after surgery. Be sure to keep gauze over these areas as instructed. You may want to use extra towels or even trash bags to cover your car seats and your furniture.
Pain: Most people stay numb for 8-12 hours after surgery. The amount of pain you will experience depends on how much fat is removed and in how many areas. For example, a small amount of fat (ie: a soft drink can) removed from one areas will probably very little pain and can return to work in a few days. If you have more areas worked on or a larger amount of fat removed (ie: a two liter bottle), you will feel more pain. Soreness can last for two to three weeks. There are several other after-effects to keep in mind:
Bruising: A small amount of bruising can be expected, and the amount varies with the amount of liposuction. It lasts 7 - 10 days.
Swelling: is completely normal and is part of the healing process. You will need to wear a compression garment for about six weeks, during which the swelling will slowly improve. You will see pretty big changes in about 3 weeks, but it can take up to 6 months for the contour and appearance of skin to reflect your final result.
After liposuction, you can return back to work in just a few days, but again, it depends on the amount of fat removed, the number of areas that are worked on, and if you combine liposuction with any other surgery.
Risks of Liposuction:
Bleeding: Bruising is common after liposuction, and the fluid draining out of the incisions always looks pink or red the first day or two. Very rarely, bleeding may be more serious.
Contour Problems: The most common complication after liposuction is a small firm or uneven area. Most of the time, it goes away in a few months on its own or with massaging. If it doesn't, you may need further liposuction or less commonly, fat transfer.
Blood Clots: With large amounts of liposuction you are at risk of developing blood clots in the veins in your leg. These can cause swelling in the leg and can sometimes move to the lungs and where they can be fatal. This complication is rare, and I follow every precaution to ensure that the risk is as low as possible.
If you would like to hear a patient experience about his liposuction procedures in West Palm Beach please visit our? Liposuction works if you have fairly tight skin and just want to be thinner or get rid of fat. A tummy tuck is a better option if you want to remove extra skin and stretch marks between your belly button and your groin, tighten the muscles, and shape the belly into an hour glass. For some patients liposuction combined with a tummy tuck will give the best results. You can also search for my Tummy Tuck article on this site.
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