Maintaining a trim body does more than make you look great. It can help extend your life, improve the quality of it, and encourage a more active lifestyle. On the contrary, having excess fat increases your chances of heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, getting rid of fat is not always easy. There are stubborn fat areas in the body that do not respond to exercise and dietary efforts. This is where liposuction comes in, a cosmetic procedure that helps patients get rid of fat.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction, sometimes referred to as lipo, is a surgical cosmetic procedure that extracts fat and fat cells from different parts of the body. Most patients go for liposuction when they have no luck losing weight through exercise and dieting. Lipo is best suited for patients with elastic skin because it doesn’t address excess skin.
Why Do People Get Liposuction?
Liposuction Beverly Hills is designed to alter body shape by extracting body fat. The procedure is performed on a targeted body part such as the buttocks, hips, thighs and tummy to achieve a trim and toned look. In some cases, lipo is used during breast reduction or treatment of gynecomastia.
How Is Liposuction Performed?
Before a liposuction procedure, the surgeon may mark out the part of the body that will be operated on. The surgeon may also take pictures so you can compare them with the after pictures. The technique used during a liposuction procedure depends on the area of the body; however, all techniques involve using a cannula and numbing solutions to loosen the fat before extraction. After the procedure, your surgeon will stitch you up and bandage the area after inserting drains.
Liposuction Risks
Like any other major surgery, liposuction carries risks such as bleeding and infection, which can be avoided by following doctor’s orders. Other complications specific to liposuction include:
Fluid Accumulation
After your surgery, your body produces fluid which may pool in central spots under the skin, causing pressure and discomfort. To avoid this, your surgeon will attach drains to the operation site to allow this fluid to drain.
Contour Irregularities
After a liposuction procedure, you may notice irregular bumps, wavy or withered skin due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity and irregular healing patterns. These contour irregularities address compression garments and lymphatic drainage massages post-surgery.
Numbness
Some patients experience temporary or permanent numbness around the area operated on. Massages can help stimulate nerve function after a liposuction procedure.
Internal Puncture
In rare occasions, a cannula can puncture internal organs and lead to unforeseen complications. This kind of complication should not happen when working with a board-certified plastic surgeon; if it does, the doctors are well-equipped to fix it quickly.
How Much Does Liposuction Cost?
The cost of your liposuction will depend on where you are and the extent of the surgeon. If you get your liposuction done with another procedure like a tummy tuck, you may also pay extra, but the results will be better and more defined curves and contours.
Liposuction Q&A
How can I prepare for liposuction?
Before your surgery, discuss with your surgeon what you should do to prepare for the procedure. You may need to take some drugs like blood thinners, anti-inflammatories and herbal supplements at least three weeks before the procedure. If you are a heavy smoker, you may also need to abstain from them.
You will also need to do a deep dive into your medical history to avoid any unforeseen complications from pre-existing medical conditions and allergies.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
Good liposuction patients should have realistic expectations of the procedure and be ready for the recovery process, which can take a few weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure. You should also get your financial affairs to afford the procedure and the medical care required after the procedure. Lastly, the patient must be good at following the doctor’s orders to avoid unnecessary complications.
How long does liposuction surgery take?
Liposuction surgery usually takes about one to three hours, depending on the extent of the procedure. The procedure is usually an outpatient procedure, so you can go home on the same day the procedure is done. You will need someone to drive you home after the procedure and take care of you for a few days until you can get up and walk around.
Is liposuction a weight loss surgery?
No liposuction is not a weight loss surgery and should be done to address obesity. The procedure will only remove cellulite and stretch marks and is suitable for people who have tried other means to lose fat without results.
Does liposuction leave scars?
Yes, liposuction will leave a scar or two, but they will be minute scars that are hard to notice unless someone is looking for them. They can be mistaken for scars from a common accident.
