subject: How Safe Is Liposuction? [print this page] Last year, nearly 350,000 people underwent surgical liposuction (also called lipoplasty and lipectomy) in the United States alone. Certain signs suggest that next year's figures could be even higher. With more and more people undergoing lipoplasties, people want to know if these procedures are safe. This article will discuss the safety of the surgery and what patients can do to improve their chances of a safe and successful procedure.
The first thing that patients should know is that liposuction is a surgical procedure, and that there is always some amount of risk associated with surgical procedures. Although modern technology and surgical techniques have made lipoplasty a relatively safe and reliable procedure, there is always the chance that something could go wrong. There is the possibility for scarring, skin blemishes, nerve damage and occasionally even serious injury or death.
With that said, however, most of the time, lipoplasty can be performed without much in the way of real danger. The FDA has approved most of the major lipectomy techniques used in the United States, which signifies that they feel that these surgeries meet a certain minimum safety requirement. While you should not take your liposuction lightly, you don't need to be overly frightened of it either. The choices that you make will affect, to a great amount, the safety of your surgery.
Possibly the most important decision for the safety of your lipoplasty is the choice of which surgeon you have do the procedure. An insufficiently skilled or experienced surgeon can make the difference between a positive, safe, successful surgery and an unsatisfying or even dangerous surgery. There is a great deal of variation in the skill levels of different surgeons. Some have studied at prestigious universities, been board certified and have performed thousands of lipectomies. Others have barely squeaked past with the minimum requirements. Do some in-depth research before you pick your surgeon. Find out as much as you can about their experience levels, as well as their success rates.
Another important thing that you can do is to make sure that you are completely open with your surgeon. Do not conceal any part of your medical history, whether out of embarrassment or out of the fear that the information would disqualify you from having the surgery. In order to make the right decisions for you, your doctor needs to know the whole truth. This includes an in-depth list of all prescription and over the counter drugs you are taking, as well as any health supplements. A number of drugs and supplements can actively interfere with the healing process and make your operation and recovery more dangerous.
Finally, start living healthier. The healthier your body is, the better equipped it will be to deal with the stresses that liposuction will put on it. If you smoke, quit. If you drink alcohol, reduce your consumption. Eat healthily and exercise regularly. If you're planning on losing a lot of weight, try to do it before your surgery. The more weight you can lose naturally, the lower impact your operation will be and the more easily it will be able to fine tune your body.
If you would like to know more about how you can improve the safety of your liposuction, you might want to meet with a doctor in your area for a free consultation. If you explain your desires to prepare, he or she should be able to help you to know what you can do to make yourself as ready as possible for your surgery.
