The liposuction procedure can be advertised as a fast method to lose weight. Some people tend to believe that they can eat what they want, as much as they want, get liposuction, and all the fat disappears. But this is a myth. Reality is that liposuction per se is not a weight-loss method and shouldn’t be viewed as such. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure which helps patients to get a more defined body shape.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is the only method currently available that guarantees the removal of fat from specific areas of the body. This is what makes it one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. It can do what diet and physical exercise can’t, which is to eliminate fat from a specific area of the body. At the same time, it is important to know that liposuction is not the procedure for you if you need to lose weight everywhere.
Let’s See How It Works
The plastic surgeon makes small incisions in the area to be treated. Often these incisions are no larger than 4-5 mm, but it depends on the area and the amount of fat that will need to be removed. After making the incisions, the surgeon will insert a liposuction cannula. This is a hollow steel tube that will help dislodge and liquefy the fat and eliminate it from the body. The cannula connects to a medical vacuum device. Then, the cannula suctions out the fat. After removing the fat, the plastic surgeon sutures the area.
During a liposuction procedure, the plastic surgeon can address one or multiple areas of the body. The most common area is the abdomen (stomach). However, the patient might need liposuction in the lower back, the arms, the thighs, ankles, knees, and even the neck. While multiple areas can be treated at once, there are certain limits to the amount of fat that can be removed in one session. An experienced plastic surgeon can determine what works better for each patient.
The fat cells eliminated during a liposuction procedure won’t find their way back in the body, but not all the adipose (fat) cells are removed. The remaining fat cells can increase their volume up to a thousand times if weight gain occurs so drastic weight fluctuations can alter the results of liposuction.
After liposuction, the patient experiences a certain level of swelling and bruising. These are natural occurrences after surgery. The swelling can make it difficult to see the results of liposuction right away. Most patients need to wait for the swelling to subside before the results are visible. Keep in mind that the outcome of liposuction is measured in inches, while the effects of weight loss are measured in pounds.
Liposuction Procedure and Weight-loss
Awards & Acknowledgments
When we lose weight as a result of physical exercise and diets, the fat disappears from all areas of the body, including the face, breasts, waist, legs, etc. It is not possible to lose weight just in a specific area. Even if some parts of the body tend to respond faster to weight loss, then others, weight loss affects the whole body. Liposuction, on the other hand, targets the subcutaneous layer of fat in areas where the cannula is inserted.
An eligibility criterion for patients who desire to undergo liposuction is a normal weight. Patients who sport their typical weight can fully benefit from the results of this procedure. The results can be disappointing if overweight or obese patients undergo liposuction. For people who want a surgical option for weigh-loss, bariatric surgery may be it. Only after achieving a healthy weight and keeping it for a few months, liposuction can improve your body shape.
Saggy Skin
It is important to know that there can be other aesthetic consequences, such as saggy skin, after liposuction. Depending on the individual patient, and hers or his skin elasticity, liposuction can leave behind some saggy skin. To prevent this unwanted effect, the recommendation is to wear the girdle for a few weeks post-op. Other times, liposuction, in combination with other lifting procedures, is a popular choice to eliminate the saggy skin.
Liposuction eliminates the stubborn fat deposits that don’t go away after weight loss. However, in the case of patients who have lost a lot of weight, combining liposuction with body lifting procedures (breast lift, thighs lift, tummy tuck, brachioplasty, etc.) is essential for successful results.
So, a Lipo Procedure It’s All About Contouring
In conclusion, liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. It is a plastic surgery operation which aims to improve one or more particular areas of the body by eliminating localized fat deposits. The procedure can be target areas where the fat is resistant to diet and exercise. Even if liposuction removes adipose cells from the treated area, this doesn’t guarantee that the results are permanent. The only method to ensure long-lasting results is to try to avoid big weight changes. Performing liposuction on patients who are obese or severely overweight won’t deliver satisfactory results.
About Dr. Rosso and Peninsula Plastic Surgery
Awards & Acknowledgments
Dr. Rosso is one of the leading Plastic Surgeons in the South Bay and performs a large number of liposuction procedures.
Procedures are done at either his state-of-the-art Surgery Center or at the local Torrance and Little Company of Mary Hospitals.
Dr. Rosso has been voted 2019 Daily Breeze Reader’s Choice Winner; 2018 Daily Breeze South Bay’s Favorite; 2017 and 2018 Best of the Beach; and the Peninsula Plastic Surgery doctors and staff have been awarded the 2018 Spectrum Award for Customer Service Excellence. At the end of 2018, he has also received an Award from the ER Doctors and Medical staff at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance for his great work and commitment to patients.