subject: Liposuction: The Battle Of The Bulge [print this page] You don't have to look very hard to find someone hawking a new weight loss book or a new workout video. Weight loss in America has become a billion dollar industry and people are always on the lookout for the newest thing that will make it that much easier to achieve success. Of course, this has sent many to the plastic surgeon's office in search of liposuction. Many of these prospective patients are sent away disappointed, having learned that the procedure has nothing to do with helping you go from fat to skinny. It is intended more for those individuals who have done everything they can do with diet and exercise and still have problem areas.
Excellent Candidates
There are a few things a doctor will look at when determining whether or not a patient is a good candidate for liposuction. One of the most important is that they have realistic expectations regarding their results. They will also look for patients of an average weight or perhaps just slightly above average. They will want to see patients with skin that still has a decent amount of elasticity left in it and patients who have a good level of overall health. Of course, the most important factor is that the patient have pockets of fat they cannot seem to get rid of through traditional methods.
What You Need to Know
If you're thinking of getting liposuction, one of your first steps should be to make an appointment with a good surgeon in your community. Any plastic surgery starts with an initial consultation. This is where the doctor is able to evaluate your candidacy, answer your questions, and discuss alternatives if it turns out that this procedure isn't right for you. This is also your chance to determine if you really want to go through with this operation and, if so, whether or not you want this doctor to be the one who performs it. If you decide both of these in the affirmative, your doctor will schedule your surgery and give you some instructions for preparation.
The Procedure
Not all liposuction procedures are done the same way. While each of them has the same general aim, there are some distinct differences when it comes to the tools and techniques used. More often than not, the procedure is done on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home following the surgery. The amount and type of anesthesia used will also depend on the type of procedure performed and the amount of fat the doctor is aiming to remove.
