subject: How Does Liposuction Really Work? [print this page] Cosmetic surgery is a very popular industry in the world today, and liposuction (also known as lipoplasty and suction lipectomy) is one of the most popular surgeries. In America, this surgery has ranked as the number one most popular cosmetic surgery for twelve out of the past thirteen years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans undergo this surgery, and the surgery is similarly popular in many other parts of the world. In many places throughout the world such as Europe, Asia and parts of South America, surgeons perform this surgery.
A lipoplasty is a surgery which is designed to remove fat from the body. It typically targets one or a few areas at a time (examples of target areas include the abdomen, the inner and outer thighs, the buttocks, the hips and the flanks). The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, and it takes between one and several hours to perform. An overnight stay in a hospital or surgical center is typically not required. First, the patient is anesthetized. After the patient is numb enough, the doctor makes one or more small incisions in the target area. These incisions are typically very small, frequently under a centimeter long. Through these incisions, the doctor inserts a special tool called a cannula. Using the cannula, the doctor breaks up the excess fat and suctions it out of the body.
After the surgery, the patient returns home (he or she must be driven by someone else). After a couple of days of resting and recovery, patients are usually able to return to work. A complete return to all normal activities, including strenuous exercise, typically takes a little longer. However, most people are able to return to their full level of activity within a few weeks. Lipoplasties have shorter recovery times than many other types of cosmetic surgery. Some amount of bruising and draining is common after the surgery, but this goes away with time.
The surgery can be fairly pricy, but it is cheaper than many other forms of cosmetic surgery. Depending on where you live, which target area or target areas you select, what your gender is and a number of other factors, your surgery could cost as little as around $1000 to as much as several thousand or more.
The surgery can be performed on a wide variety of people, but it is not meant for everybody. People who have severe or chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart or lung disorders or diseases which interfere with one's ability to heal, may not be able to undergo the surgery. People with large amounts of cellulite or who have a low amount of skin elasticity may not see optimal results. People who are significantly overweight may have to lose some weight before they undergo the surgery.
