subject: Which Is Best--abdominoplasty, Liposuction, Or Lipodissolve? [print this page] Cosmetic surgery is fast becoming the "quick fix" of choice for Americans who, for one reason or another, are not satisfied with their bodies. And, from New York to Las Angeles, it is also becoming a highly lucrative business; even in the recent economic downturn, the number of cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States continued to climb.
One of the more common reasons for cosmetic surgery in America is excess body fat, whether on the belly, hips, or buttocks. There are several options for people who wish to quickly remove excess body fat--Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty), Liposuction, and lipodissolve--and it can be hard to decide which procedure is best. It is possible, however, to identify which procedures are safer than others.
The Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) is a favorite of patients who wish to tighten abdominal muscles and remove excess skin as well as fat. It is the most sophisticated of the three procedures treated in this article but also carries greater risks than the others. An abdominoplasty involves a large incision across the entire abdomen; the size and invasiveness of the operation demand that it be performed under general anesthetic. This greatly increases the risk and variety of complications and the likelihood of discomfort during recovery.
Liposuction is, perhaps, the most widely known fat-removal procedure in the United Sates. It involves less risk than an abdominoplasty because it involves only small incisions (just a few millimeters in most cases) and requires only local anesthetic. There are still plenty of possible complications but most, if not all, may be avoided by talking with your doctor and making sure he or she is aware of any allergies or abnormalities you may have.
The final procedure, lipodissolve, is relatively new in the United States. It involves a series of injection meant to dissolve body fat with little or no discomfort and no invasive incisions. However, lipodissolve is still unregulated. While certain enzymes, acids and extracts are used in all fat solvent solutions, the exact composition of the injection varies, depending on the doctor. The greatest concern, however, comes from the fat itself; it is unclear what happens to the dissolved fat. Some doctors believe it may go directly into the blood, which can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and erectile dysfunction. Others think the fat might be filtered out through the liver, which would raise the risk of liver failure or inflammation. Further research and testing is needed before the FDA can approve lipodissolve
