subject: What Risks Are Associated With Liposuction? [print this page] While this slimming surgical procedure is gaining popularity from New York to Los Angeles, many wonder about the possible risks and side effects of liposuction. Prospective patients need to carefully asses themselves and their physician before committing to an operation.
The first thing to understand about liposuction is that it isn't a cure-all for body fat. A surgeon can only remove a certain amount of fat cells without putting your health at risk. Your body is not designed to lose huge amounts of fat in one day and there are serious health consequences if you over do it. Discuss with your physician how much fat can be safely removed.
Second, research your doctor carefully; skin irregularities and other blemishes are often due to a surgeon's inattention. If your doctor seems too busy or distracted, think twice before trusting him or her with your body. Ask your physician about the size of the cannula required for the surgery. The cannula is the stainless steel tube the surgeon inserts in the patient to suck the fat out. Larger operations require larger cannulas, but beware, the larger the cannula, the more likely it is to cause irregularities in the skin after surgery.
Third, choose your anesthesia wisely. You can choose either local anesthesia or general anesthesia (also called systemic anesthesia.) Of the two options, general anesthesia is more dangerous--nearly all deaths associated with liposuction involve general anesthesia. The reason that systemic anesthesia has a reputation for being dangerous is because it allows the doctor to remove excessive amounts of fat and perform multiple surgeries on the patient in one day. Don't let your doctor simply choose for you, discuss your sedative options.
Finally, remember that liposuction is not for everyone. Clients on prescription drugs, especially women on birth control might be poor candidates for surgery due to the side effects of their medication. Smokers should avoid liposuction since smoking increases the risk of infection. Remember that liposuction is no replacement for diet and exercise, without a healthy lifestyle the fat is likely to return--just on a different part of the body.
Choosing to have liposuction can be a difficult personal decision. Since no surgery is ever one hundred percent safe, seek alternate methods of weight loss or body sculpting before turning to this procedure. Be sure to have all the facts before committing to have this serious surgery performed on your body.
