Liposuction

As the number of plastic surgery treatments performed in this country has drastically increased over the last year, a number of cosmetic surgery procedures have entered the mainstream. One of these Plastic Surgery treatments has been liposuction. Also known as lipoplasty and suction lipectomy, liposuction is a cosmetic surgery technique that will remove fat deposits from the patient’s body and leave the patient with a sleek, refined look that is irresistible. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the country. According to their 2005 reports, ASAPS states that 455,489 lipoplasty treatments were performed in that year and was the most popular plastic surgery treatment for both women and men. Additionally, the ASAPS report indicated that liposuction was the most commonly performed plastic surgery treatment for individuals in the 35 to 50 age group. With people facing so much pressure to retain a sleek, slim figure, it is easy to understand the appeal of liposuction surgery. A treatment that allows patients to have so many options in shaping their bodies, liposuction is a great way for individuals to get rid of those extra pounds that exercise and dieting can’t seem to shed.

While the numbers don’t lie when they say liposuction is an extremely popular plastic surgery treatment, it is important to note that it is a procedure that isn’t for everyone. Undergoing liposuction surgery is a personal decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are a number of benefits to having lipoplasty surgery but there are also a number of reasons why individuals shouldn’t undergo the treatment. Really, it is a decision that is up to you. However, it is highly recommended that you weigh the potential benefits of liposuction surgery with the Dangers of Plastic Surgery and other potential negatives. For individuals that have decided that liposuction surgery is something that they are seriously considering, the next step is to consult with a board certified, qualified plastic surgeon. One of the biggest mistakes that Plastic surgery patients make is to enter the treatment without having all of their questions answered. When you consult with a plastic surgeon, make sure that they have a history of performing excellent liposuction surgery and that they will take the time to go through the different steps of the lipoplasty process. Make sure that you take the time to ask your plastic surgeon what type of liposuction surgery technique that they are going to use. Although liposuction is a surgical technique that can be performed on pretty much any area of your body, the most popular place for liposuction is in the abdominal area. Also known as abdominal liposuction, this treatment is best performed on relatively healthy individuals that understand that liposuction will enhance their appearance but won’t make them look perfect. While liposuction is typically a safe cosmetic surgery procedure, it is not recommended for individuals that have these medical conditions: diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or poor blood circulation. Additionally, individuals that have had recent surgery in the part of their body that they want to have liposuction on should wait a bit longer to have the procedure done. This is because all of these factors can increase the potential for complications from liposuction surgery occurring.

Like most plastic surgery procedures, liposuction surgery is typically performed at either the plastic surgeon’s office facility, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery center. In cases where only a small amount of fat is going to be taken out, the patient will be given a local anesthetic. However, in more extensive liposuction treatments, the patient will be given either general anesthesia or regional anesthesia. In a typical liposuction surgery, the plastic surgeon will make an incision in the part of the patient’s body that they want fat deposits removed. Once the incision has been made, the plastic surgeon will then insert a tube that is used to break through the layer of fat and break up fat cells. Through this tube, the broken up fat deposits are suctioned out. However, in addition to the fat deposits being removed are crucial fluids. As a result, one of the most important parts of liposuction surgery is to constantly replace the intravenous fluid to prevent the patient going into shock. Although this is the traditional method of performing liposuction surgery, there have been a number of new surgical techniques that have developed that increases the quality of the treatment while reducing the recovery time. One of these ways is ultrasonic liposuction. Also known as ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty, ultrasonic liposuction surgery utilizes a special suction tube that emits ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy that is produced breaks through the walls of fat cells and then liquefies the fat. From there, the plastic surgeon will remove the fat deposits. The main benefit of ultrasonic liposuction is that it allows the plastic surgeon to operate on fibrous areas of the patient’s body like the upper back. Another popular liposuction technique is tumescent liposuction. In tumescent liposuction surgery, the plastic surgeon will inject large volumes of fluid into the area of the patient’s body where the treatment will be performed. By injecting these fluids, fat deposits are easier to remove and there is a reduction in blood loss during the surgery. Once the fluid has been injected, the plastic surgeon will employ traditional liposuction surgery methods to extract the fat deposits. A liposuction surgery technique that is rapidly gaining popularity is laser liposuction. In a laser liposuction, the plastic surgeon will utilize the power of lasers to liquefy the fat deposits within the patient’s body. While it appears that laser liposuction isn’t as invasive as other methods of liposuction and is highly effective, the plastic surgery treatment is still considered to be experimental. As the long term effects of using lasers in laser liposuction surgery reveal themselves, many plastic surgeons are waiting to see whether laser liposuction is the future of liposuction surgery.

Although liposuction is by far the most popular cosmetic surgical technique today, it is also one of the most invasive and can result in a number of complications. For the most part, though, liposuction surgery is generally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon that has proven experience of performing successful liposuction surgeries However, there are some potential risks that come with liposuction surgery. These include the potential for fat or blood clots to form, excessive fluid loss, and lidocaine toxicity.