Sometimes, people resort to a short cut to achieve some things especially when it comes to fat. Diet and exercise take time to see the results. Shedding off extra fat in the abdomen, thighs and other areas can be a frustrating process. Good thing there’s a plastic surgery called liposuction or popularly referred as ‘lipo.’
Liposuction is one of the most sought out surgical procedures especially for those who suffer from excess fat in certain parts of their body. It’s commonly performed on the abdomen, buttocks, neck, chin, thighs, back, and the back of arms.
This surgery helps the patient slim down and reshape to a sexier figure. The procedure includes removing excess fat deposits and contours the body. It can be done as a lone procedure, or you can do it along with other cosmetic surgeries like the facelift.
Liposuction may reshape and cut off some excess fat, but remember it won’t keep you healthy within. It doesn’t stop obesity.
This surgery will only help you shed off that excess fat in certain areas. It’ll improve your physical appearance, but you have to work out to maintain a healthy body.
Before starting the main part of the process, you’ll be administered with anesthesia for your comfort. Your doctor will make small incisions after the anesthesia. Liposuction uses cannulas which are small, thin, blunt-tipped tubes inserted into the skin’s incisions. The fat is suctioned through these tiny tubes. Then, the doctor will move the tubes under the skin to target particular fat deposits using a surgical vacuum.
The treatable areas of liposuction include the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, flanks, arms, and breasts.
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure. It doesn’t require an overnight stay at the hospital unless the surgeon suggests.
By: MarinaPlasticSurgery
As the years passed, safer and less painful techniques of liposuction are developed. Here are some of them:
A liposuction surgery is estimated to cost an average of $3,200. This average price is based on the 2016 statistics of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The average price may vary because of some several factors. It still doesn’t include anesthesia and other related fees.
When determining the liposuction’s overall cost, take these considerations into account:
Liposuction, as well as other cosmetic surgeries, isn’t covered by most health insurances. However, there may be a flexible financing option for such surgeries.
You’re an excellent candidate for liposuction if you’re an adult with a positive outlook in life to go certain procedures like liposuction. Your body weight must exceed at least 30% from your ideal weight. Your skin must also be elastic, firm and you should have a good muscle tone.
You’re not allowed to go through liposuction if you have severe medical conditions and if you’re a chain smoker. These factors may result in complications and longer healing process of the incisions.
A liposuction must be done by a certified and expert surgeon to accomplish the best results. An unqualified surgeon may lead to surgical complications and unsatisfying results. Keep these factors in mind when choosing a surgeon for your liposuction.
If you’ve found the perfect surgeon you’re comfortable with to do the procedure, it’s now time for the initial consultation. In this consultation, you and your doctor will discuss all the procedure. You’ll talk about your operational goals, allergies, medical conditions, and current medications.
Your doctor will examine if you’re fit to undergo liposuction. Your doctor will also provide you with details about the anesthesia he’ll use. The different techniques of liposuction will also be discussed so you can choose the best method you’re comfortable with.
Before the day of the procedure, you should be able to prepare your body, mind, and some things you’ll need for recovery.
Weeks before the surgery, you should stop taking aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs as they may affect the healing process of your incisions. You should also quit smoking two weeks before the surgery.
The day before the surgery, prepare some loose clothes you can use after the surgery. It’s also advisable to ask someone to drive you home once the surgery is done. Get an enough sleep!
On the day of the procedure, your doctor will advise you not to eat or drink anything for about 6 hours if you’re undergoing general anesthesia. You can take a before and after picture to cite the differences made.
Depending on the size of the liposuctioned area, the recovery time of liposuction may vary. It may either recover in a few days or several months.
During the first few weeks after the surgery, the pain will be normal but if it’s intolerable, check with your doctor. You can also remove the compression garment after a few weeks if you feel comfortable already. In less than a week, liposuction patients can move and walk as they normally do. These are the times when the swelling, numbness, and bruising starts to diminish.
Consult your surgeon for certain ‘don’ts’ if you plan to exercise sometime after the surgery. Some doctors suggest starting with a mild walking exercise after the surgery. Avoid vigorous exercises and activities for the first month after the surgery.
The initial result of liposuction isn’t the full result. You’d have to wait for a few months to see the extent of its results. However, you can notice some visible changes. You can see and feel that you’ve already removed 10 pounds of fat and have a beautiful body contour. The results may seem minimal at first as the body is still healing from swelling and bruising.
You can observe the final results when the swelling and bruises fade after a month. It’ll take six months for your skin to tighten in that treated area. That’s just an approximation of the full results of the procedure. Recovery depends on your body’s response to healing, too. Soon, you’ll reap the reward of having a slender figure, lesser cellulite, and youthful appearance.
Don’t think that because liposuction removed some of your fat, you won’t need to exercise and proper diet. It can only improve your current figure but won’t stop your weight gain if you keep on eating irresponsibly and won’t exercise. To maximize the results of your liposuction procedure, make sure to exercise regularly and eat healthily.