Liposuction Risks Vs. Benefits

It seems like everywhere you turn, there's conflicting information about liposuction

. Some people claim it's a magical cure all that can instantly fix anyone's appearance, giving them the body of a sexy, slim hollywood diva. Others claim that botched liposuction jobs are more common than true successes and that liposuctions will lead to permanent disfigurement, scarring, rippling of the skin and even serious damage to nerves or vital organs. This article will try to separate fact from fiction and explain what liposuction is and isn't meant for, and what it can achieve.

Liposuction can remove roughly 10 pounds of fat per procedure, and each procedure targets one or a few body areas (examples of body areas include the abdomen, the flanks, or the thighs). This means that liposuction works best at removing specific bulges of fat from problem areas. Liposuction was not designed as--and does not work well as--a weight loss plan. If you have lots of weight to lose, you're best off beginning an exercise regimen and eating healthily. Once you have lost a significant amount of weight, then you will be able to see what problem areas are left.

Liposuction cannot fix cellulite. In fact, most liposuction surgeries actually make cellulite worse. The removal of additional fat from areas where cellulite is visible tends to exaggerate and exascerbate the wavy or dimpled appearance of the skin. Recently, the inventors of certain forms of laser liposuction have claimed that their surgical lasers stimulate collagen growth and can help assist in the treatment of cellulite. Initial studies seem to suggest that this is the case, however, things are not certain.

Liposuction does carry the risk of scarring. During liposuction, incisions are made so that hollow tubes called cannulas can be inserted into the body to suction out fat. These incisions can lead to scars. However, these incisions are typically very small, and thus they lead to small scars. In some surgeries, the scars are virtually invisible. In others, they can be up to a quarter of an inch long.

Liposuction can cause other forms of physical blemishes and problems. The trauma associated with liposuction typically causes bruising and swelling, but these usually disappear within weeks or months. However, there is the potential for more lasting blemishes, such as pigmentation of the skin, the creation of waves or ripples in the skin or uneven fat distribution. Some methods of liposuction can cause burns or nerve damage.

Liposuction works better if you have healthy and elastic skin. If your skin is unhealthy or loose, then the removal of fat can exacerbate problems of excess skin. However, if you have relatively elastic skin, your skin should be able to adapt and tighten to fit your new figure.

Most of the problems associated with liposuction can be either fixed or minimized if the patient is healthy and if a suitably experienced and skilled surgeon performs the operation. One should remember as well that techniques and technologies are constantly improving (laser liposuction, for example, is frequently less traumatic to the body than traditional tumescent varieties, and is currently available under a wide variety of names--SmartLipo, ProLipo, CoolLipo, LipoLite, and LipoTherme, just to name a few), and that some of the problems that abounded 20 years ago are much less common today. However, as with all surgeries, there are real risks. Whether or not you choose to get liposuction is a choice that is entirely up to you.

by: Christian Heftel

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