Liposuction

Exercise and diet will make you healthy, muscular and lean. It does not always remove those stubborn LFD's (localized fat deposits). Every individual's fat distribution and body shape is genetically determined. What this means is that often no amount of diet and exercise will remove these stubborn fat deposits. Liposuction removes fat and fat cells, thus sculpting the body and doing what diet and exercise alone cannot. Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. Liposuction does not replace or serve as a substitute for proper diet and exercise.

Lipoplasty, commonly known as liposuction, is a common surgical procedure that removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of the body, face or neck. Liposuction can be used to slim the hips, thighs, flatten the tummy, shape the calves and ankles or eliminate a double chin.

The best candidates for Liposuction are:

• Men and women of normal weight who mainly want to improve their body shape and contours.
• People with fat deposits that are "trouble areas," where exercise and diet seem to have little or no effect.
• People with good elasticity in their skin, so when the fat is removed, they will achieve a smooth appearance.

The areas that liposuction can have the greatest effect on are the abdomen and waist area, the arms, back, chin, neck, hips, buttocks, thigh, ankles, calves and inner knees.

Patients of any age can undergo the procedure, but those who have greater skin elasticity will achieve the smoothest end result.

Your doctor may use the tumescent technique, which is where the fat is pre injected with a solution of salt water, local anesthetic and small amounts of adrenaline. The other type of procedure is the Ultrasound assisted Lipoplasty. This is a two-step procedure that uses ultra sound waves for energy, liquefying the fat that is then suctioned out.

During the procedure one or more incisions are made near the area to be treated. When possible, the incisions are made within the fold or natural creases in skin. Your doctor will then insert a small hollow tube called a cannula through the incision where he will penetrate the underlying fat. The cannula is connected to a flexible tubing and suction pump. Your doctor then moves the cannula back and forth through the fat, vacuuming the fat out through the tube.

The Procedure is very common with thousands of patients undergoing the procedure each year with no major complications. In rare cases, the procedure has caused severe trauma, particularly when multiple or very extensive areas are suctioned at one time. Other possible complications include fluid accumulation and injury to the skin. Sometimes asymmetry or unevenness may require further treatment.

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