Liposuction
You may be interested to know that liposuction is the number one cosmetic procedure performed in the United States for both men and women. Women commonly have liposuction performed on the hips, thighs and stomach. For men, liposuction is often done around the waist especially the "love-handles" and the stomach. Liposuction can be performed around the neck and is often combined with a facelift or necklift.
Liposuction is not a good method for weight reduction and it does not take the place of appropriate diet and exercise. Liposuction is an excellent procedure for sculpturing and slimming areas resistant to exercise and dieting. Most plastic surgeons feel that the best candidate for liposuction are those who are close to their ideal body weight and physically healthy, but have fatty deposits in particular areas.
The standard principle of liposuction involves using a cannula to suction out fat from an area of fat burden. Some years ago, tumescent liposuction was developed, which involves instilling the tumescent fluid under pressure into the area to be suctioned. This technique not only improved the results from liposuction but also allowed for larger volumes of fat to be removed.
The ultrasound liposuction technique still involves a variation of the standard cannula and the tumescent technique, but also adds an ultrasound current to the tip of the cannula. The ultrasound current further dissolves fat and probably improves results for certain areas.
What are even more important in liposuction are the skill, experience and artistic judgment of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure. Understanding male vs. female fat distribution anatomy, recognizing end points, utilizing different cannula techniques, and sculpturing are equally or more important issues. Don't get caught up in the latest technology buzz; there is no substitute for a skilled and experienced surgeon.
Liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia and IV sedation or with general anesthesia. Some patients stay over night in the hospital, especially if they have larger volumes of fat removed. Healing after liposuction is gradual but most patients return to work within one week and can resume full activities within one month. Although the results of liposuction are seen immediately, there is swelling that can take up to three months to resolve. In fact, the initial swelling and bruising resolves within several weeks and the final new body contour will continue to improve.
If you want to know if your surgeon is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, call 1-888-4-PLASTIC.
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