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About Liposuction: 6 Commonly-Asked Questions Answered
Liposuction has become the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery with a growing number of people choosing to have this procedure every year. More than 2 million people undergo liposuction each year, and an estimated 395,000 liposuction procedures were performed in America alone during the last year for which information has been made available. It’s an effective way to trim away body fat and help people to achieve the body contours they want.
If you’ve been considering having this procedure done, it’s important to fully understand it before committing. You need to learn as much as possible about liposuction well in advance so you’ll be prepared for not only the procedure itself but the days and weeks afterward. Like most people, you probably have several questions about the surgery. Read on to see some of the most common and their answers.
1) How Does Liposuction Work?
This is one of the most common questions about the procedure. It’s also one of the most important. Your first step here is to consult with a cosmetic surgeon who is experienced in performing liposuction. You and your surgeon will discuss where your problem areas are. From there, the surgeon will determine how to proceed. He or she may recommend additional measures to help you achieve the body size and shape you’re looking for, such as combining liposuction with j-plasma or having a tummy tuck performed in conjunction with fat removal.
When it’s time for your procedure, the surgeon will make small incisions in the area of your body to be treated. Then, he or she will insert a small tool known as a cannula into the incisions to break up and suction out the fat you want removed. Ultrasound, lasers, radiofrequency, and other technologies may be used to facilitate the fat removal and body shaping process. After the fat has been removed, the incisions may be closed, or the surgeon may choose to leave them partially open to allow fluids to drain out.
Liposuction itself removes fat and allows for targeted body contouring. It doesn’t address loose skin and other issues. That’s the reason why your plastic surgeon may recommend adding other procedures to your agenda.
2) Does Liposuction Hurt?
Most people don’t describe liposuction as particularly painful. During the actual procedure, you’ll be under either general or local anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you’ll be asleep throughout the procedure, and you won’t feel anything. Under local anesthesia, you’ll be awake, and you may feel some twinges and slight pressure as the surgeon moves the cannula, but it won’t hurt.
After the procedure, you’re likely to have swelling, tenderness, bruising, and discomfort in the affected areas. You may feel bloated for a time. Those issues are temporary, and they’ll gradually subside in the weeks following the procedure. Your surgeon may prescribe pain medication to help with the discomfort until it begins to fade.
3) How Long Do Liposuction Results Last?
Your fat loss and body shaping results should be permanent after having liposuction performed. The procedure involves removing fat deposits rather than simply shrinking them. Once they’re removed, they won’t return. Still, if you gain weight after liposuction, the fat cells in the surrounding areas will grow and swell, and they may creep into the areas you had treated. Gaining weight after the procedure can certainly have an impact on your body contouring effects. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine after liposuction to fully preserve the results of the procedure.
4) How Much Weight Can I Lose With Liposuction?
Liposuction isn’t a weight loss procedure. In fact, anyone considering liposuction is advised to get as close to their ideal weight as possible through diet and exercise before undergoing the procedure. Liposuction removes fat in areas that are particularly resistant to diet and exercise and can aid in shaping the body after significant weight loss.
Having said that, fat has weight, so removing it may lead to a slight reduction in body weight. After the fluid retention and swelling subside, most people lose about 3 to 5 pounds. Per FDA regulations, cosmetic surgeons aren’t allowed to remove more than 11 pounds of fat during liposuction.
5) How Long Does It Take to Recover From Liposuction?
Recovery times can vary a bit from one person to the next depending on several factors, such as the extent of the procedure and your body’s ability to heal itself. Most people return home the day of their procedure, but you’ll most likely need to have someone drive you. The first few days after the procedure are when you’ll feel the most swelling and discomfort. You may need to wear a compression garment to ease the swelling and help with proper contouring. As mentioned, you may need to take painkillers as well.
You should be able to return to light activities after a week or so, but most people need to wait at least 3 or 4 weeks before easing back into their exercise routines and other more strenuous activities. Depending on your job, you may be able to return to work after a couple of weeks though you may need to remain on light duty for a time. It may take six months for your body to completely heal and to see the full results of the procedure.
6) Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
If you’re healthy and close to your ideal body weight, liposuction may be a good choice for you. However, if you’re diabetic or you have heart disease, poor circulation, or certain other conditions, you may not be an ideal candidate for the procedure. Liposuction isn’t recommended for people who smoke or consume alcohol as those can interfere with wound healing. As noted, liposuction isn’t the answer if you need to lose a great deal of weight; it’s meant for targeting stubborn fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise.
Shaping Your Body With Liposuction
Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure, and it can go a long way toward removing stubborn fat deposits and contouring the body. You should fully understand the procedure and have realistic expectations before going into it, though. It’s not a substitute for diet and exercise, but it can certainly complement your weight loss and fitness efforts.
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