Liposuction Offers Benefits for Many

by Lloyd M. Krieger, MD/Women's Health

Rate this article:

[ 2 voters ]

COMMENT ARTICLE JOIN DISCUSSION WRITE ARTICLE WRITE ABOUT LIPOSUCTION

Many people can benefit from liposuction. The procedure is very effective for removing unwanted fat – and this affects many of us. This procedure is sometimes also called suction assisted lipectomy or liposculpture.

Liposuction removes fat deposits from beneath the skin by means of a hollow steel tube called a cannula. This tube is attached to a strong vacuum. It is generally done under general anesthesia in an operating room. In some cases, it can be done under heavy sedation or with only local anesethesia. The incisions created in the skin for the procedure are generally quite small and usually heal up so they are difficult to see.

The current standard for doing liposuction uses a technique called tumescent liposuction. This involves firming up the fat by injecting local anesthetic and other medicines into it. It is very safe and creates less pain following surgery, as well as during. Surgeons can modify this procedure by using both general anesthesia and local anesthesia.

Liposuction can be done without pain using several different forms of anesthesia. The type of anesthesia used depends on the patient and on how much tissue is to be removed. Not all anesthesia techniques are equally safe. It is therefore important to come up with a plan that works best for your needs.

Liposuction is both a medical procedure and a form of artistic expression. The doctor must have perfection in his workmanship, a quest for continual improvement, clinical experience and a goal to see that patients are happy with their outcome. Being artistic and being safe are interdependent on one another. For example, if the patient wants it all done at once and the doctor thinks that would give an unacceptable outcome, the doctor must explain the patient the benefits of several small operations.

There are risks of liposuction. These include removing too much volume of fat. This can result in an uneven appearance after healing. If the surgeon attempts to do too much in one day, there can be dimpling of the skin and an unacceptable result. Using the wrong sized cannula can result in a poor result.

The Tumescent Technique

The tumescent liposuction technique is a very safe approach to liposuction. In general, the use of local anesthetic technique cuts down on the amount of surgical bleeding. This technique also uses small suction tubes that take only small amounts of fat at a time. This is a precise way of doing the procedure, and allows for a smoother cosmetic result. Larger cannulas can form depressions and irregularities of the skin that do not go away even following healing.

After liposuction, some bloody fluid remains under the skin and is gradually absorbed by the body over several weeks. Some doctors use drains to allow the fluid to drain out faster, though this practice is now quite uncommon.

Cost of Liposuction

We are all concerned about costs. And while the cost of liposuction is important as a factor in determining where to go, the quality of surgeon and the facility must be considered along with these cost issues. In many cases, going with the lowest price can ultimately cost you the most money. One must balance cost with the overall desired result and decide who is most likely to provide the most value in terms of smooth and well-sculpted tissues without large scars or uneven skin tone.

Issues that influence the price are the size of the patient, surgical time, preoperative fees, operative fees, or related expenses.

Time of Operation

The time to perform liposuction procedure depends on many factors. It depends on the number of body areas to be treated, the size of the patient, and how challenging the procedure is to perform. The procedure is not a “race to the finish line” and should be performed carefully and without rushing. Most procedure take anywhere between one and four hours.

Liposuction offers good candidates a chance to remove areas of unwanted fat, resulting in a more pleasing body shape. It can provide great boosts to self-confidence. But is it a real surgery, and care must be taken to select an experienced and qualified surgeon to perform the procedure and to allow time at home for recovery.

Important notification about information and brand names used in this article!

Author's biography

Lloyd M. Krieger, MD is the founder and medical director of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery. He has completed extensive research on how to make plastic surgery a more rewarding experience for patients. This academic work has led to the publication of more than 50 articles, including more than 20 in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the premier plastic surgery journal.

Article sources

Lloyd M. Krieger is a specialist in Beverly Hills liposuction and all plastic surgery.

COMMENT ARTICLE JOIN DISCUSSION WRITE ARTICLE WRITE ABOUT LIPOSUCTION

Comments

The following content represents the opinions of SteadyHealth.com users. It is not editorially reviewed for medical or factual accuracy. It does not constitute medical advice. See your doctor for medical advice.

Posted 3/07/09 - 19:27 by bluedog

I actually have a friend who just underwent this surgery and although he was reluctant to talk about even doing it, he is very happy with the results so I think it's important to point out all the mental health benefits to doing it as well! I think a lot of people don't realize that being unhappy with your body can really have an impact on your self-esteem and that liposuction can be very helpful. Thanks for talking about this!

COMMENTS

Readers posted 1 comments for this article

Username:

Comment text

Visual confirmation

How many BLACK HEARTS are shown on the image below? [numeric answer only]

Answer: *

Image verification code explanation
Confirmation is necessary to make sure that you are a human being, rather than a program. Please read the question above carefully, then with same care take a look at the picture and answer the question. Please note that answer you enter is a case sensitive. On all general questions (e.g. background color) answer in lower case. In most cases, important notes regarding the answer will be written in question itself (e.g. numeric characters only) so read it carefully.

Tummy Tuck: Abdominoplasty procedure

FROM THIS AUTHOR

ARTICLE CATEGORIES