SHARES
“I worry about how I’m look in my clothes when going out. Ever since I gave birth to my first child, I just couldn’t get rid of my belly fat. Even though I have lost some weight with dieting and exercises, there are still some body parts that I’m unhappy about… I love taking photographs, but have to delete a lot of them.” said Eileen, who is considering liposuction.
Liposuction Explained
Liposuction is a surgery that removes excessive fat tissues from a part of the body to improve body contour. That is why this procedure is also well known as body contouring. In this case, it is really helpful if you have areas of the body fat that do not respond well with dieting and exercises. With this procedure, you can sculpt your body into better shape and refine the details.
You can remove extra fat from specific areas of the body such as:
- Belly (abdomen)
- “Love handles” (side fat of the waistline)
- Inner thighs, thighs and hips
- Upper arms
- Neck
- Chest
What to expect from liposuction?
You will get an immediate result of looking thinner and fitter after a liposuction. This procedure duration is under an hour and you can go back home the same day. During the procedure, you will be given a painkiller and sedative to help you relax. If a large body area is involved, the surgery may require general anaesthesia. In such case, you may need to stay longer or overnight in a recovery room.
Various techniques are available such as using saline water flush (tumescent), ultrasound-assisted liposuction and laser (power-assisted liposuction). Therefore discuss with your cosmetic surgery doctor on the suitable options for you which your doctor have mastered.
After the procedure, you will experience for weeks some pain, bruising and swelling in the skin area involved. Wearing a compression garment helps in reducing swelling and promote skin contraction. You can go back to work and exercise in days to weeks depending on intensity.
Photo by Madison Seth on Flickr
What NOT to expect from liposuction?
1. Liposuction cannot remove cellulite and stretch marks
This fat removing technique targets only the fat tissue. Therefore, liposuction does not treat the other skin issues like cellulite or stretch marks. For instance, cellulite is a condition when the fatty tissue push their way through the connective tissue into skin layer. As a result, this gives rise to a lumpy or dimply appearance to your skin in the affected area.
On the other hand, stretch marks appear when you gain and then lose weight too fast. This causes the skin structure (collagen and elastin) to break and form scars. Pregnancy, grow spurts and weight training are common causes of stretch marks.
Hence, if you have the above issues, do consult your cosmetic surgeon for opinion and available options. To point out, your stretch marks and cellulite are likely to remain after this procedure.
2. Loose and sagging skin will not improve with liposuction
When you gain weight and increase in body size, your skin is stretched. This may cause your skin to lose elasticity. With weight loss and liposuction, the underlying fat tissues are removed. As a result, the overlying loose skin to sag in appearance.
Having said that, your doctor is around to help. Your cosmetic surgery doctor may advise for tummy tuck and body lift to tighten the skin in addition to your fat removal surgery.
3. Liposuction does not mean you will never gain weight again
Liposuction is more of a body contouring than a weight loss procedure. Getting close to your ideal body weight before surgery will provide more satisfactory outcome. Also, if you are not careful with your diet and activity after surgery, you can still gain body weight. Usually the fat will go to different parts of your body and may affect your body shape and proportion.
Is liposuction dangerous?
This is a relatively safe surgery, but do select your surgeon carefully. Additionally, there are small risks for bleeding, infection, numbness (temporary and rarely permanent), and fluid accumulation under the skin (seroma). Rare life-threatening complications include fat embolism (pieces of fat become trapped in lung vessels), and heart, lung and kidney problem related to use of anaesthesia.
Photo by aman YADAV on Flickr
Conclusion
Are you happy with your body? Liposuction can help you get the refined body contour you desired almost immediately. In addition, maintain a healthy lifestyle and nurture your self-compassion to really feel good about your new body!
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References:
- Liposuction Guide [Internet]. American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. 2019. [Available from: https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/body/liposuction-guide/; assessed on 2019 May 24]
- Liposuction: What You Should Know [WebMD]. WebMD LLC. 2019. [Available from: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedure-liposuction#1; accessed on 2019 May 24]
by Chang Xian
View all articles by Chang Xian.
