Liposuction Results: The Fat Vacuum Cleaner

When they have dieted faithfully and exercised carefully and still have areas of bulging fat that do not respond to honest efforts, some people elect to have the procedure known as liposuction or suction lipoplasty. In this process, a small incision is made in the skin near the troublesome area, a thin tube called a cannula is inserted under the skin and the fat cells and fluids are "vacuumed" out. The tissue in the area may be semi-liquefied first by the use of ultrasound techniques.

Liposuction results vary from patient to patient and are dependent upon the health of the patient, the skill of the surgeon, the amount of tissue removed, and the type of anesthetic used.

If the patient is in good health, has not smoked for several months prior to the surgery and is not using liposuction as an alternative to dieting, the satisfaction with liposuction results is likely to be higher. Qualified doctors prefer to do the procedure under "twilight sleep" anesthesia and typically remove less than ten pounds of fat and fluid, but dramatic cases of three hundred to four hundred pounds of weight loss occasionally are presented. This type of liposuction results is NOT typical

Liposuction properly applied will sculpt and smooth the lumpy or sagging parts of the body, typically jowls, abdomen, hips, thighs and upper arms into a smoother more flattering shape. This is done by removing small amounts of fat deposit from under the skin. If too much is removed, it can lead to liposuction results with unusual hollows, dents or lumpiness under the skin.

When people have misconceptions about liposuction, it is likely that they will be disappointed in the liposuction results. Liposuction doesn't prevent deposits of ugly fat either at the original liposuction site or on other areas of the body. Liposuction will not remove cellulite and it doesn't tighten or tone the skin.

The best liposuction results and those which most closely match the expectations of the patient are gained by choosing a qualified cosmetic surgeon, discussing various options and understanding what each method does and does not do. Key elements to aim for during and after the surgical procedure are to remove the correct amount of fat with the least disturbance of the surrounding tissue; to leave the fluid balance of the patient undisturbed; and to cause the least discomfort to the patient. This is very very important.