Liposuction: How Does it Really Work?

Liposuction can be a great way for people who have problem areas of their body where fat tends to accumulate in unattractive ways to change their body and self image. Depending on the skill of the surgeon and the type of tools used liposuction can be done with very little or no permanent marks on the body. But, just like all other cosmetic procedures, liposuction does carry its own risks. So a detailed review of the pros and cons should precede any commitment to have the procedure done. Here are a few facts to help you formulate your own questions for your doctor.

Liposuction is a procedure that uses a needle, a long tube called a called a cannula, and a powerful pump to remove fat cells from the body. The surgeon will make tiny incisions in the body, into which he will place the needle and begin removing fat. Following a criss-cross pattern across the body, the surgeon will remove fat from the designated trouble areas around the body. This is a big procedure that does remove actual cells from your body in large portions, so it should not be taken lightly. Liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss or exercise but a way to reduce the amount of fat that accumulates over certain areas and reduce the likelihood that fat will redeposit. Removing large amounts of fat across the body can be dangerous, so typically very little fat is actually removed during the process. The key purpose of liposuction is to remove the fat in such a way that it improves the aesthetic appeal of your body, changing your shape rather than your weight.

Since cells of the body are being removed, there is also a chance that dimpling, or small impressions in the skin can be made. A skilled doctor will usually use a smaller needle to reduce the risk of this, and the cris-cross pattern with which the fat is removed help to prevent this from occurring. But it is important to remember that liposuction will not deliver perfect results. If the idea of some minor dimpling in your skin is too much for you, then you may not want to explore liposuction. But for those who are looking for a way to make it easier to keep the problem areas of their body fit, then liposuction can have some long-term, pleasing effects.

If you do decide to go for liposuction, then it is important to maintain your weight. Gaining a significant amount of weight could have some very unsightly implications for you. Since this procedure eliminates fat cells from your body, your body can no longer store fat in them and instead stores fat in other areas of the body. For someone who had liposuction on their stomach the fat may be otherwise stored in the buttocks, face, etc. But, if you are ready to lose weight and make life-style changes to make sure your weight is maintained then liposuction may be a viable way to get a jump-start on the physique you have always wanted.