The nature, purpose and validity of liposuction are matters many people often possess misconceptions about. Also known by other names like ‘body fat removal,’ ‘suction lipectomy,’ ‘lipoplasty,’ ‘body contouring’ and ‘body lift’. But What is Liposuction? It’s a surgical procedure designed to attain possible health benefits while minimizing potential medical risks. For this reason, it is imperative to seek the counsel of the relevant authorities—in this case, a board-certified doctor or a cosmetic surgeon—that are capable of providing correct information regarding factors that are involved in a medical procedure of this kind. The importance of finding out all there is to know about body fat removal cannot be stressed enough when little thought goes into what is actually involved in the procedure. NATURE Lipoplasty, first of all, is s surgical method administered by a medical surgeon that employs a suction technique to remove specific areas of unnecessary fat in the body. Areas around the body that respond well to this procedure include: the abdominal area, hips, buttocks, thighs, chest, back, upper arms, neck, chin, calves and ankles. These are considered common problem areas by people that, despite having gone through an aggressive weight-loss plan consisting of diet and exercise, do not see any improvements in terms of weight or size reduction in those particular sites. Patients who undergo lipoplasty are given a general or localized anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort that can be felt during a procedure that can last anywhere from 1 ½ to 4 hours (depending on the volume of fat being removed, number of specific regions that are suctioned and the technique used). This procedure can be done on an out-patient basis and a doctor provides prescription pain medication to a patient so that they can handle discomfort resulting from the surgery that may vary from mild to moderate. Recovery from bruising may last up to 3 weeks while swelling up to 4 months; body contour shifts as fat reconfigures their position when final results become apparent. The long-term outcome of suction lipectomy will be for naught without proper weight management complemented by a healthy lifestyle. PURPOSE Body fat suction should not be viewed as an all-encompassing weight-loss strategy or even as an alternative. A sensible weight-loss program of healthy diet coupled with regular exercise is the key to long-term weight loss—and this takes time, a lot of commitment, plus behavioral modification. In some cases, however, doctors may recommend lipoplasty procedure to people who are moderately overweight and once they have lost inches around their body after surgery, this serves as a springboard for a more comprehensive and rigorous weight-loss program. Not everyone is a right candidate for body fat removal—in fact, the most suitable patients for this procedure tend to be individuals that have already achieved considerable weight loss success but are still unable to taper and tone areas of the body resistant to dieting and exercise—the result is unsightly bulges and sagging excess skin. That’s why cosmetic surgery such as Lipoplasty is often performed in conjunction with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)—two procedures that reinforce one other to contour and lift the body in areas where they are necessary. VALIDITY The significance of any medial procedure lies in its utilitarian value. In 2009, in fact, more than 450,000 average to overweight Americans underwent the procedure based on the report by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. No surgical procedure, however, is devoid of potential medical risks—in the case of lipoplasty, complications such as infection, fat embolism, kidney and heart problems are plausible although rare. Recent studies estimate 1 death due to the procedure out of 5,000 successful surgeries. With improving technology and innovative techniques, cases of death and major complications resulting from the surgical procedure have dramatically decreased in the last few years, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. It’s important that a doctor thoroughly discuss with his patient matters involving the process of undergoing body fat removal—their short term and long term goals, what can be expected through recovery and healing time, possible health benefits and how they can be enhanced over the long haul, and potential setbacks or pitfalls and what can be done to rectify them. Lipoplasty is a legitimate surgical procedure because it is generally safe and effective. The pragmatic wisdom behind it is supported by the rationale that the possible health benefits that can be reaped from this surgical procedure tend to outweigh the potential health risks.
