Liposuction - Know Facts About It!

Sometimes, even a strict diet and strenuous exercise don't give you the body shape you dream of. In such cases, liposuction can be the answer to the problem of excess fat you are facing. Liposuction is a surgical procedure of removing stubborn fat bulges from the body. Age is not a major consideration with liposuction as long as your skin is firm and elastic.

Else, your skin may begin to sag in places where the fat has been removed. It is important to note that liposuction does not remove cellulite but only removes fat. Thus, for people with cellulite, liposuction may not give them the results they desire.

If you're thinking of undergoing liposuction, do not expect the procedure to give you a supermodel's figure. Be realistic in your expectations. Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

Liposuction does not show instant results: Recovery from a liposuction surgery is quick and you may be back to your normal routine within a week ten days. However, the treated area may still look swollen. This can take four to six week to subside and best appreciable results come in about three months time. Hence work backwards and time your surgery with regard to major life events.

The results are long-lasting: Undergoing liposuction surgery does not mean that you will not be overweight again, but it means that fat will not collect in the areas that have been treated. If you do gain weight, the fat will be redistributed to other areas. Results are long lasting if one is motivated to maintained the shape with the help of balanced diet and exercise.

Smoking and alcohol must be avoided: Smoking and alcohol both inhibit healing. It also increases your risk of complications during the surgery. Stop drinking and smoking at least three weeks prior to your surgery, and avoid it until your body has healed completely.

Can be beneficial for many parts of the body: Liposuction can be performed on many areas of the body. The thighs, abdomen, breasts and buttocks are common areas where this surgery is performed. Other areas are the back, face and neck. Like any other surgery, liposuction has its risks. While some risks are very rare, others can be quite common. Here are three minor risks that you should be aware of.

Excessive liposuction: Removing too much fat can leave your skin looking unnatural and uneven.

Skin discolouration: When making an incision for liposuction, the skin cells in the area may rupture and release melanin into the surrounding area. This can cause prolonged hyperpigmentation that can take 4-6 months to heal. Patients with a dark skin tone have a higher risk of hyperpigmentation at the port site.

Swelling , bruising & seroma formation: When liposuction is performed swelling and bruising are common side effects. This usually disappears within 7-10 days. Sometimes there is collection of body fluid known as seroma in the liposuction area which can get absorbed on its own or may have to be aspirated. Results of liposuction are wonderful and very motivating if done by a qualified and well experienced plastic surgeon.

Selection of procedure is equally important so discuss with your doctor which procedure is best for you , which he will decide after examining the type of obesity, BMI, abnormal fat deposits, quality of skin and underlying medical problems such as hernias.