A sad truth about the body for most, if not all, people is that it packs on fat faster than it can burn it. Especially when we age, our metabolism gets even slower and the fat build-up at different parts of the body may take forever to lose. If you have tried to remove body fat through various methods, such as diets, exercise, or slimming drinks but have not lost the fats in certain parts of the body, then it is time that you stop wasting your hard-earned money on those failed regimen and consider an alternative tactic: liposuction.
Liposuction may not be an alien word to many of us. In fact, this method of removing unwanted body fats has been used for several decades already. The very first liposuction procedure was done way back in 1974. Lipo, as it is also called, is a surgical procedure that is done in various areas of the body where clumps of stubborn fat usually cling to and are not burned despite being exposed to exercise or diet. These are:
- Abdomen
- Ankles
- Arms
- Back
- Buttocks
- Calves
- Chest
- Chin
- Neck
- Thighs
Liposuction: The Works
The way liposuction is done can be very intimidating to people. For sure you may have heard about some liposuction horror stories, but if you research about this procedure and read studies done by medical experts, this fat removal technique is generally safe. Sure there are risks and complications—as with any other invasive medical procedures, though these rarely happen. There are far more success liposuction stories than failed ones. In addition, thanks to technological advancements, the methods and medical equipment used to do this procedure continue to evolve over the years, making it a more efficient and dependable way to have fats removed from the body.
So, how does liposuction work exactly?
Depending on the type of the liposuction method, your doctor may use local anesthesia and a sedative or general anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. Local anesthesia combined with a sedative allows you to be awake and feel relaxed during the procedure, but you will not feel discomfort or pain.When general anesthesia is used, expect to be knocked out of your consciousness during the entire procedure. In simpler terms, you are asleep during the liposuction.
As soon as the anesthesia’s effects kick in, your doctor will proceed to commence the liposuction procedure. It is important to let your doctor know that you feel pain during the procedure even when you have been given a dose of local anesthesia. Your doctor and the medical staff doing your lipo surgery will be monitoring the rate of your heart, blood pressure, and the level of the oxygen in your blood from start to finish.
How long a liposuction procedure is performed will depend on the amount of fats that are needed to be removed. You will need to stay for longer once it is done as the medical team will monitor your recovery.
Liposuction may be done in your doctor’s clinic or at a hospital.
Benefits of liposuction
Although the main goal of liposuction is removing fats from the body, its benefits are more than just that alone. Liposuction enables you to:
- Get slimmer faster without having to undergo too much physical effort
- Wear and look fab in clothes that often does not flatter chunkier parts of the body
- Appear younger and more fit in the flesh, photos, and videos
- Be more confident with the way you look
- Improve your quality of life
Risks of liposuction
As mentioned earlier, there are some risks and complications involved with this type of fat removal method. However, if you choose a doctor that has more than enough experience and has effectively delivered successful results to countless patients, then the chances of encountering these risks and complications is similar to how your body will look like after liposuction: pretty slim.
Nevertheless, it is also good to be aware of what could happen negatively to your body, so you can make rational decisions. Liposuction is life-changing after all. Here are the possible complications that you should take note of:
- Accumulation of fluids – Seromas or pockets filled with fluid can build-up beneath the skin.
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia – The body may have a toxic reaction to lidocaine, a type of anesthesia used for liposuction, which can lead to conditions and problems related to the central nervous system and the heart.
- Fat embolism – An medical emergency that can occur when a loose fat gets into a blood vessel and gets contained in the lungs or reaches the brain.
- Infection – Although this is rare, infection may happen to the surrounding skin.
- Numbness – Permanent or temporary numbness may be felt in the target area.
- Problems affecting the heart and kidney – Because the level of bodily fluids shift as substances are injected and the fats are suctioned out, the heart and kidney may not be able to keep up and tolerate these changes during the procedure.
Have a thorough discussion with your doctor in case you are at risk of experiencing any of these, especially when you are planning to have liposuction on different parts or a large portion of your body
Results of liposuction
What almost every patient wants to know is this: How long does a liposuction result last?
Before answering that question, it is imperative to know that liposuction is not a method for losing weight. Liposuction is recommended for people who are at their desired weight, but have remaining stubborn fats in certain parts of the body that cannot be removed by diet or exercise. Being overweight or addressing obesity is better done by making changes to diets, undergoing bariatric procedures, and/or sticking to exercise than relying on liposuction.
That said, let’s answer the question at hand.
As soon as you have recovered from your liposuction procedure, you may see immediate, but subtle changes to the target areas. However, the full results will take a bit of time to be more evident in your figure. Once your body has healed completely, you will see the life-changing results of liposuction. Expect to see those problem areas to be more contoured and free from fats.
Keeping the results of liposuction will also need some extra effort on your end. Fats will not accumulate in the body once it has been removed, but of course this is only true when you monitor your weight and keep it at a healthy level. Maintain a nutritious diet and couple it with regular exercise so as to enjoy your liposuction results for a lifetime.
Remember that only the right amount of fats and not all fat cells are removed during a liposuction procedure. Letting go of your body’s health by not consuming healthy food and keeping an active lifestyle can bring back fat deposits and make your liposuction treatment and results worthless.
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Nassim Plastic Surgery
1 Orchard Blvd
#11-02 Camden Medical Centre
Singapore 248649
(65) 6517 9890
(65) 9267 7469