Liposuction: A Dream Come True?

The battle of the bulge is one that many Americans are trying to fight. Those that have unwanted fat are always looking for easy ways to lose weight and keep it off. Could liposuction be the cure? Could America's problem with weight be solved with this revolutionary medical procedure? What is lipo anyway?

Liposuction is literally suction assisted fat removal. A certified plastic surgeon uses special tools to remove the unwanted fat from your body. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, first of all, this procedure is generally reserved for patients that are at or near their goal weight. In other words, it is not a "get thin quick" strategy. This procedure is very effective at removing excess fat that will not bulge in spite of diet and exercise. So why is lipo only reserved for this instance and not for removing fat from the severely overweight or even the obese?

This cosmetic procedure is performed under general anesthesia and it is ideal for the patient to be in the best possible health. The surgical risk is higher for those that have more fat removed, so performing this surgery on severely overweight or obese patients is too risky.

Generally there are several factors that affect weight, and liposuction is not a cure for those factors. Genetics, lack of self-control (overeating), and the need to exercise are just a few of the reasons someone may be overweight. There are medications that cause weight gain and other medical issues that affect someone's weight. Lipo will not reverse any of these conditions and should not be used in a manner to suggest that it would.

Liposuction is a wonderful tool for the right candidates. It can help reshape and re-sculpt a body that has stubborn fat. It can help give a patient some confidence. It can even help restore a more youthful appearance by turning back the clock (in a sense). However, lipo is a treatment for stubborn fat, not a cure for weight gain.

If you are considering lipo, make sure your body is ready for such an amazing procedure. Stop smoking, keep working out and get as close to your goal weight as you possibly can. Identify problem areas and let your doctor know that those areas are the ones you would like to target.

Above all, be realistic. Liposuction is not going to make you "suddenly skinny" but it can help get rid of those pesky problem areas and allow you to fit into clothes that diet and exercise will not. Also, since this is a surgical procedure, be sure to give yourself adequate time to heal before you evaluate the success of the procedure. With swelling and bruising (normal parts of a surgery) you will not notice results for a few days or even weeks. Don't be discouraged, however, because you will heal and your new body will be sculpted and shaped as you wished.