Liposuction Surgery – It Can Change Your Appearance, But Is It Right For You?

Liposuction surgery is a relatively new way of treating obesity. Liposuction is a procedure in which fatty tissue is removed from a specific area of the body. Generally, people with a stable body weight choose to have the procedure done to target pockets of fat that persist in spite of changes in diet and exercise. Liposuction can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on how many areas are being treated, and takes place either in a doctor’s office or surgical facility. This procedure has a stigma attached to it, among some people who feel that it is a shortcut to regular ways of treating obesity such as diet and exercise. However those who have tried diet and exercise and cannot exceed in getting rid of their body fat find that it can be a very beneficial procedure.

The concept of liposuction surgery may seem simple – the fat is vacuumed out, and you’re good to go – but it is actually a complex process just like any other surgery. A skilled physician will be well trained in all aspects of the liposuction procedure, and will be able to explain the process to you in as much detail as you wish. Following is a basic outline of the surgery: The liposuction procedure can be performed using local or general anesthesia. The term anesthesia simply means “without pain,” and the difference between local and general anesthesia is how much of the process you will be aware of. In most liposuction techniques, the process itself involves the injection of a numbing solution. With local anesthesia, your doctor will only numb the area of your body being targeted, and you will be conscious during the entire procedure. General anesthesia can be administered either as a gas or through a needle injection, and will put you to sleep for the duration of the operation. Once you awaken, you will still be numb in the area of the body that has been treated, and will feel little or no pain.

After administering anesthesia and, in some cases, injecting fluids, the next step in liposuction surgery is to create tiny incisions in the area of the body where fat deposits will be removed. These incisions are usually quite small, ranging from a quarter to a third of an inch. Next, your surgeon will insert a thin vacuum tube, called a cannula, through the incision and into the deep fat layer. Your surgeon will move the cannula back and forth to break up the fat cells, and, with the help of an attached syringe or vacuum pump, suction them out. Because a significant amount of blood and other bodily fluids are removed along with the fat, patients receive replacement fluids intravenously during and after the liposuction procedure. Depending on the preference of your physician, your incisions can either be closed with a few stitches or left open. Some doctors prefer to keep the incisions open to reduce the amount of bruising and swelling that can take place after liposuction surgery.

After liposuction there is always some amount of fluid left beneath the skin. If the incisions are stitched shut, the fluid drains less easily and can lead to bruising or swelling. However, if this method is used, you will need to wear an elastic compression garment (which resembles a girdle) to force the blood vessels into absorbing excess fluid. The current “open drainage” technique allows the incisions to stay open after liposuction surgery, and the fluid continues to drain from the area for several days. You will also wear a compression garment during this time to encourage proper draining and to protect your clothing from residual blood and fluid.

Apart from the concerns raised above liposuction surgery remains a viable way of getting rid of unwanted fat if traditional methods do not seem to work to your satisfaction.