The present-day plastic surgeons have a new weapon in their armory now called liposuction. Liposuction is an alternative cosmetic surgery procedure that has gained considerable popularity since it was first launched in Europe in the 1970s.
Irrespective of whether you are a man or a woman, you can opt for liposuction if your condition warrants it. As per statistics, however, the proportion of women (75%) greatly exceeds that of men (25%).
The first thing that you must keep in mind is that liposuction is not an alternative to dieting or exercise. A weight-loss program may help you reduce fat uniformly over your whole body, whereas liposuction is aimed at removing localized fat deposits in specific areas such as face, the chin/cheeks/neck, arms, abdomen, waist, thighs, back, hips/buttocks, inner knees and calves/ankles.
Having been refined to a great extent over the years, liposuction has now become a very common cosmetic surgery procedure. The introduction of innovative techniques such as tumescent liposuction in the 1980s, ultrasound-assisted liposuction in late 1990s, and use of laser-tipped probes in recent years have made liposuction a great tool for reshaping the contours of your body.
The Process
Liposuction uses suction to great effect to draw out the excess fat in a hollow, metal cannula that is inserted through tiny incisions made through the skin over the target area. You will come across different mechanisms – such as suction-assisted, water-assisted, power-assisted, or the twin-cannula (assisted) type – being used by plastic surgeons to move the cannula in or out.
Before the cannula is inserted, a special solution is injected through the incisions to loosen the fat in the target area so that it becomes easy to suction out. Depending on the particular cannula mechanism and the method used to loosen the fat, liposuction is also categorized as dry, wet, super-wet, tumescent, ultrasound-assisted or laser-assisted liposuction procedures.
While the bulk of the methods use the special fluid in varying quantities, the dry liposuction method uses none. The ultrasound-assisted and laser-assisted methods, in contrast, employ ultrasonic energy and low-energy laser waves, respectively, to loosen /liquefy the excess fat.
Benefits of Liposuction
Within a very short period of time after its entry into the plastic surgery field, liposuction has become a great favorite amongst people who once hated going through the rigmarole of a surgical operation. The major reasons for liposuction’s current popularity are:
- With the advent of newer techniques, an increased amount of fat can now be easily removed. (A maximum limit of 5 kg, however, is considered ideal.)
- Blood loss in liposuction is minimal. So also, the pain, discomfort and risks associated with the procedure.
- There is a shorter recovery period with fewer postoperative complications.
- There is an improvement in your overall health and general appearance.
- These benefits apart, liposuction stands to enhance your sense of self-esteem to a great extent.
Are You the Right Candidate for Liposuction?
In case you happen to have accumulated pockets of fat in the most vulnerable areas of your body, which you couldn’t get rid of through conventional weight-loss programs, it may be time that you opt for liposuction. Some other criteria that you need to fulfill are:
- You must be over 18.
- You must be in good health.
- You must have no history of poor circulation, diabetes, heart, lung or psychosomatic conditions.
- You should normally weigh within 10-12 kg of your ideal weight (without major fluctuations).
- You are preferably a nonsmoker (or have stopped smoking at least two months prior to the operation).
Risks and Side Effects
The dangers and risks presented by the liposuction process can range from cases of allergic reactions, infection, contour irregularities, damage to tissues or the skin and burns to perhaps major complications such as damage to organs, thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism, fluid imbalance or lidocaine toxicity. There have also been a few reports of death due to possible complications occurring during the liposuction process.
The liposuction procedure has its quota of side effects too. These include pain, bruising, swelling, reduced mobility, numbness and scarring – problems commonly associated with patients during the postoperative phase.
You must, however, understand that the degree of risks associated with liposuction greatly depends on your general disposition as a patient, as also on the technique employed and the competence of your surgeon. It is therefore important that you educate yourself adequately on all aspects of the liposuction procedure prior to going for it.
References:
1. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (2009). Wikipedia: Liposuction. 26 October 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipo_suction>
2. Gutirrez, David (2007). Natural News. Com: Liposuction on the rise as many women shun exercise and dieting. 30 January 2007. <http://www.naturalnews.com/021530_liposuction_cosmetic_surgery_dieting.html>
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