Liposuction

Eliminating excess fat from the body can be a difficult process. Despite diet and exercise, many people find it hard to shed extra pounds. Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries that can help people achieve the desired fat loss.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery used to remove excess fat from the body. It is a very effective technique to eliminate isolated fat deposits from the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, upper arms, neck and other parts of the body. Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in the world.

In this surgery, the fat is removed from the body using suction. A small, hollow instrument- a type of tube called cannula- is inserted in the skin to suction out the fat. The surgeon moves the tube around to suction excess fat from a specific body part. Liposuction is popular as it is one of the most effective ways to remove isolated deposits of fat. However, it is important to understand that it is not a treatment for surgery. Liposuction is most effective when it is combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures like breast augmentation and abdominoplasty.

With advancements in technology, new techniques have emerged that have made liposuction a safer and more effective way to remove fat from the body. These include tumescent liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction and laser-assisted liposuction. In tumescent liposuction, an anesthetic solution is inserted in the fatty tissue before doing the liposuction. In ultrasound-assisted liposuction, excess body fat is liquefied using ultrasound. In laser-assisted liposuction, low energy waves are used to liquefy the fat.

Liposuction is primarily done to enhance the looks and appearance of a person. In most cases, it doesn’t have any significant health benefits.

Who is the best candidate for liposuction?

People over the age of 18 who meet the necessary health criteria are good candidates for liposuction. It’s an effective way to remove excess fat in those people who haven’t responded to dietary changes and exercising. The person should not be overweight. People who’re close to their ideal body weight are likely to benefit more from this procedure. Also, the person should be in good health.

What are the possible side-effects?

Liposuction is a safe procedure to eliminate fat from the body. However, certain complications can arise. Some of the common side-effects of liposuction include numbness, swelling, bruising and scarring. Most of these side-effects are temporary and usually go away within a few days of surgery. However, in some cases, swelling may take many months to settle. Some of the dangerous side-effects of liposuction include allergic reaction, kidney or heart problems, excessive blood loss and formation of blood clots.

What is the cost?

The cost of liposuction depends on a number of factors including the treatment area, body type and the procedure used. The approximate cost of treating one or two areas of body is around $4,500 – 10,000 (AUD).

How to find a skilled cosmetic or plastic surgeon that is right for your cosmetic enhancement needs?

The success of your liposuction procedure is often determined by the skill and expertise of the doctor, practitioner or  the service provider who performs the procedure. That is why it was the topic of debate during the earlier stages of liposuction development.

Now that more doctors have studied and developed the skill needed to perform this procedure, you must not be complacent.  Devote time in selecting the right doctor for the job. After all, not only is the success of the procedure on the line, but your health and life as well.

Choosing your doctor entails as much work as choosing the right procedure to be done to treat your specific problems.

What are the possible alternatives?

  • Zeltiq Cool Sculpting ( fat freeze technology) – only for mild to moderate fat pockets around the abdomen, love handles , inner and outer thighs that don’t respond to exercise and diet .
  • Lipo-dissolve
  • Vanquish