A Fatty Matter – To Liposuck or Not

Lipoplasty, a suction-assisted lipectomy, is performed under general anesthesia by your cosmetic surgeon. During the surgery, fatty tissue is drained from the body via suction technology, allowing the surgeon to sculpt your body back into a more toned appearance. 

If you’ve ever dieted and exercised only to find that some areas of your body refuse to lean down, you likely need liposuction. Liposuction is not about losing weight, but rather about helping the body tone and firm in areas where regular exercise and dieting can’t help. 

Popular areas to liposuck include the neck, buttocks, upper arms, upper abdomen, and chin. Before you plan on “sucking your fat away,” you should discuss your concerns with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Joel Aronowitz.

Types of Liposuction

Several types of liposuction are available, and which you choose depends on the body area, your health, and the costs. Choose between traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), and laser-assisted liposuction (LAL). Each method has pros and cons, so ensure you understand your choice. 

• Traditional liposuction 

In this method, the surgeon inserts a tube known as a cannula into small incisions near the fatty deposit. A medical vacuum suctions the fat through the tube. 

• Tumescent liposuction 

For this procedure, the surgeon injects a solution of saline, anesthesia, and epinephrine into the fatty deposit before suctioning, which helps reduce swelling and bruising for a more comfortable recovery. 

•  Ultrasound-assisted liposuction 

Imagine if you could simply liquefy the fat and then suction it out? Well, that’s exactly what this method does. Ultrasonic waves help liquefy the fat before it’s suctioned. 

•  Laser-assisted liposuction 

This method liquefies fat using laser technology, allowing for an easier suction process.  

Best Candidate for Liposuction

To be a good candidate for liposuction, you should be in good overall health, with no previous history of heart disease. Preferably, you have reached your goal weight but struggle with isolated pockets of fat that won’t shed naturally. 

Since general anesthesia is applied, you should have no history of complications during surgery. Likewise, you should have no previous issues with wound healing, as you can expect swelling and discomfort post-surgery. 

Care and Results

Post-operative care for liposuction includes compression suits and bandaging to help reduce swelling and aid the body in healing. Results vary depending on where the fatty tissue was suctioned, your body’s healing, overall health, and lifestyle. The surgeon’s skills are also vital to ensure that the body heals quickly with minimal scarring and sagging. 

The surgery is very precise and lasts 1–4 hours, which is why a surgeon with high attention to detail is a must. Consulting with an expert like Joel Aronowitz MD, is vital to getting the best surgery possible. With expert help, you can avoid complications and risks such as infection, bleeding, irregular contouring, and skin discoloration. 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and engaging in regular exercise to prevent fat reforming and to keep your body toned or sagging is a real threat to your new shapely body.