Liposuction
Liposuction
Everybody's looking for ways to lose weight, get fit, and live a longer, healthier life. One of the most popular means of getting from here to there is liposuction. In a recent report, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery put liposuction at the top of the list for the most common cosmetic surgeries being performed in the United States today, running a close second only to breast augmentation. In fact, this organization reported that nearly 300,000 liposuction procedures were done in 2009 alone. But what exactly is liposuction? Is there more than one type? What happens during a liposuction procedure? And, above all, what are the risks of this type of weight loss surgery?
Definition and history
Liposuction, or 'lipo' as it has come to be known, is a cosmetic weight loss surgery that removes fat deposits from various desired areas of the body. Typically performed on abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and arms, this surgery has become one of the most prolific cosmetic procedures in the country. It has been chosen by millions because it helps to contour and reshape the body. Lipo is typically performed on fat pockets that are tough to eliminate by traditional weight loss means such as diet and exercise.
Believe it or not, weight loss surgery has been around for more than a hundred years. It's true. Back in the early years of the 20th century weight reduction through surgery came onto the medical stage. However, when one female patient developed a deadly infection and her leg became gangrenous, the public's trust in such procedures plummeted and such procedures all but disappeared. It wasn't until 1982 when Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz, a surgeon from France, performed the first modern liposuction with a new surgical technique that utilized high-vacuum suction. From there, liposuction has advanced tremendously with the uses of ultrasound, liquification, and lasers.
Types and procedures
There isn't just one form of lipo available these days. The most popular types include ultrasound, or 'ultrasound-assisted,' tumescent, suction-assisted, and water-assisted. In ultrasound-assisted lipo, sound waves liquify fat deposits before they are removed completely from the body. Tumescent liposuction utilizes injections of epinephrine, saline, and pain medication in order to aid in removing fatty tissue with little blood loss. In suction-assisted lipo, fatty tissue is first broken down with surgical instruments before suctioning out of the body. In water-assisted lipo, the surgeon first loosens fat deposits with water to assist their removal. Liposuction often can be performed in an outpatient setting, meaning hospital stay is not necessary. Recovery periods for liposuction average at about two weeks, and some patients can actually resume their activities of daily living in less than one week. Physicians typically prescribe pain medications and compression bandages at the surgical site. As with most surgeries, hydration is vital for quickest recovery.
Benefits and risks
Naturally, the benefits of liposuction include a fitter, healthier body with less fat and better contouring. Other major benefits of this type of cosmetic weight loss surgery include newfound confidence, more active lifestyle, and more positive outlook. Additionally, not all liposuction is performed for aesthetics. One benefit of such surgery has arisen more recently, and that is the removal of fatty breast tissue in a condition known as 'gynecomastia.' This is the abnormal enlargement of breasts that can occur in males. Liposuction can also be utilized to treat excessive underarm sweating.
The risks of liposuction can include some uncomfortable side effects. These include pain, swelling, and bruising, especially at the surgical site (or sites). Scars can occur at incision sites, and some patients have reported numbness in these areas also. Less common but still important to mention are the possibilities of severe risks such as damage to internal organs from puncturing, infection, and skin damage.
Liposuction has become one of the most common and popular forms of weight reduction in New Jersey and throughout the country, and the many advances in this field of medicine have aided in the progression of safety. When weighed against the risks, the benefits of liposuction often pale in comparison, especially when considering the alternatives of the myriad of health problems that can accompany excessive fat. If you're considering liposuction or any other type of weight reduction surgery, schedule a consult with a qualified cosmetic surgeon in your area to have all your questions answered.
Definition and history
Liposuction, or 'lipo' as it has come to be known, is a cosmetic weight loss surgery that removes fat deposits from various desired areas of the body. Typically performed on abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and arms, this surgery has become one of the most prolific cosmetic procedures in the country. It has been chosen by millions because it helps to contour and reshape the body. Lipo is typically performed on fat pockets that are tough to eliminate by traditional weight loss means such as diet and exercise.
Believe it or not, weight loss surgery has been around for more than a hundred years. It's true. Back in the early years of the 20th century weight reduction through surgery came onto the medical stage. However, when one female patient developed a deadly infection and her leg became gangrenous, the public's trust in such procedures plummeted and such procedures all but disappeared. It wasn't until 1982 when Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz, a surgeon from France, performed the first modern liposuction with a new surgical technique that utilized high-vacuum suction. From there, liposuction has advanced tremendously with the uses of ultrasound, liquification, and lasers.
Types and procedures
There isn't just one form of lipo available these days. The most popular types include ultrasound, or 'ultrasound-assisted,' tumescent, suction-assisted, and water-assisted. In ultrasound-assisted lipo, sound waves liquify fat deposits before they are removed completely from the body. Tumescent liposuction utilizes injections of epinephrine, saline, and pain medication in order to aid in removing fatty tissue with little blood loss. In suction-assisted lipo, fatty tissue is first broken down with surgical instruments before suctioning out of the body. In water-assisted lipo, the surgeon first loosens fat deposits with water to assist their removal. Liposuction often can be performed in an outpatient setting, meaning hospital stay is not necessary. Recovery periods for liposuction average at about two weeks, and some patients can actually resume their activities of daily living in less than one week. Physicians typically prescribe pain medications and compression bandages at the surgical site. As with most surgeries, hydration is vital for quickest recovery.
Benefits and risks
Naturally, the benefits of liposuction include a fitter, healthier body with less fat and better contouring. Other major benefits of this type of cosmetic weight loss surgery include newfound confidence, more active lifestyle, and more positive outlook. Additionally, not all liposuction is performed for aesthetics. One benefit of such surgery has arisen more recently, and that is the removal of fatty breast tissue in a condition known as 'gynecomastia.' This is the abnormal enlargement of breasts that can occur in males. Liposuction can also be utilized to treat excessive underarm sweating.
The risks of liposuction can include some uncomfortable side effects. These include pain, swelling, and bruising, especially at the surgical site (or sites). Scars can occur at incision sites, and some patients have reported numbness in these areas also. Less common but still important to mention are the possibilities of severe risks such as damage to internal organs from puncturing, infection, and skin damage.
Liposuction has become one of the most common and popular forms of weight reduction in New Jersey and throughout the country, and the many advances in this field of medicine have aided in the progression of safety. When weighed against the risks, the benefits of liposuction often pale in comparison, especially when considering the alternatives of the myriad of health problems that can accompany excessive fat. If you're considering liposuction or any other type of weight reduction surgery, schedule a consult with a qualified cosmetic surgeon in your area to have all your questions answered.