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Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that many women consider when wanting to improve their overall appearance and beauty. While liposuction has many benefits, including improving a woman's overall shape, liposuction (or lipo as it is also called) does pose serious health risks and side effects.

 

What is Liposuction? The Basics of Liposuction Surgery

Liposuction is a surgery that is designed to improve the contours of the body through the removal of extra fat found in the deposits between the skin and muscles.

During lipo suction surgery, a stainless steel tube is connected to a suction pump. This device is inserted into fat cells via a small incision; the steel tube and suction pump create a small tunnel through the layers of fat. After the liposuction surgery is complete, these tunnels collapse, improving the overall shape of the body.

A liposuction surgery can be performed on several parts of the body including:

• inner and outer thighs
• legs
• abdomen
• arms
• buttocks
• face
• neck

 

When Is Liposuction Surgery Recommended?

Liposuction is usually conducted when a woman wants to improve the overall shape of her body and/or safely lose about 6 to 8 pounds off her overall weight.

If a woman wants to lose more weight than that, it is safest to do so by dividing the surgery into multiple surgeries performed approximately three to four weeks apart.

 

Plastic Surgery: The Benefits of Liposuction

Liposuction surgery improves the look of the body's shape; many women who have liposuction report feeling more self-confident.

The effects of lipo suction surgery are generally long-term; fat cells that are removed generally do not grow back. However, new fat cells can develop, as is often the case with aging.

Also, while liposuction helps to improve a woman's overall body shape, it does not improve the quality of her skin. Therefore, liposuction is not recommended for improving the appearance of cellulite or stretch marks.

Some experts believe that having liposuction surgery is more effective in improving one's appearance than a tummy tuck.

 

The Risks and Side Effects of Liposuction

Liposuction should not be seen as a way to remove excess amounts of fat associated with such conditions as obesity; rather, it is a cosmetic surgery whose effects are primarily aesthetic.

Some common and generally minor side effects associated with lipo are:

• allergic reaction (to anesthetic)
• scarring
• skin discoloration
• temporary bruising
• numbness
• nerve injury
• post-operational swelling

While these side effects are usually minor, you should always discuss them with your plastic surgeon in the event that you experience them.

More serious side effects associated with this type of surgery, although rare, include:

• blood clots (in the legs or lungs)
• cardiac arrest
• permanent lung damage
• brain damage (due to a lack of oxygen)
• seizures

 

Types of Liposuction Procedures

There are a variety of different liposuction surgeries from which to choose.

In laser liposuction, a fairly new process, a laser is used to liquefy fat before it is removed, making the removal process of the surgery easier.

In tumescent liposuction, areas of fat are injected with an anesthetic liquid prior to surgery. This type of lipo suction surgery reduces the risk of bruising and swelling.

Ultrasonic liposuction uses high frequency sound waves and mechanical vibrations along with a stainless steel tube, which is inserted into the skin or on top of it in order to liquefy fat. Surgery then follows. This type of liposuction is no longer very common, however, as it is not considered very effective.

 

Cosmetic Surgery: Liposuction and Pregnancy

Liposuction can help reduce excess fat in the abdominal area associated with pregnancy.

Pregnancy does not permanently alter the effects of lipo suction surgery on a woman's body shape. A woman's body can return to the shape to given to her by lipo suction surgery; all she has to do is lose weight after giving birth and the contours of her body will return to what they were after the lipo suction surgery.

 

The Cost of Liposuction Surgery: Liposuction Prices

The cost of liposuction varies, depending where you want the liposuction treatment done.