The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) relates that one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States is liposuction, or simply lipo. Nearly 350,000 people underwent the procedure in 2008 alone. People decide to have it done when exercise and dieting don’t give them the results they want. Lipo is usually used during tummy tucks, thus removing fatty tissue stores from areas of the body that most likely will never respond to exercise or diet.
Consult a board certified plastic surgeon about the risks and complications of this procedure before you make any decisions. You should consider your reasons for wanting to improve your looks, since cosmetic surgery is not for everyone. The physician you choose should go over any questions or concerns you may have and give you an idea of the risks and benefits of having liposuction.
The tumescent procedure involves injecting an anesthetic liquid into the areas of excess fat before the lipo is performed. This liquid will contract blood vessels and cause fat to become swollen. The swollen fat pockets will allow your surgeon to quickly and smoothly move his tool under the skin to remove the fat.
The super wet method is similar to the tumescent technique. Fluid is injected into the tissues before it is removed. Really, the only difference is that less fluid is used.
Ultrasound waves break up the fat before it is removed, during the ultra-sonic assisted procedure. This method uses a combination of heat energy and vibration energy on fat, and is commonly used when a secondary procedure is needed. It targets fibrous areas of the body like the upper back or male breasts.
The latest advance in fat removal is the power-assisted lipo. A wand-like instrument is used to break up fatty tissue during this procedure. It loosens up fat cells so that they can be gently sucked away without causing damage to the surrounding tissues.
As with all plastic surgery procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast augmentations and nose reshaping, to name a few, the risks and complications will vary depending on which method is used. Typically, however, the most common risks include blood clots formulating in the leg, excessive blood loss, infection, reaction to anesthesia, asymmetry, hyper-pigmentation, swelling, necrosis and numbness.
It is normal to feel some pain and discomfort after having the liposuction procedure, although most people are able to return to work after three or four days. As you heal, your skin will naturally tighten and reshape over the contoured area. The decision to have any cosmetic surgery can be overwhelming and confusing, so take the time to do some research before making up your mind about undergoing any procedure.
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