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Liposuction

When dieting and exercise just aren't achieving the desired body contour, liposuction offers a tremendous adjunct to enhance ones physique. After completing puberty, the number of fat cells in our body remains fairly constant. When we consume more calories than our body needs for maintenance functioning, our body stores the extra-consumed calories in the way of fat within our existing fat cells. When we loose weight, we are consuming less calories in our diet, and burning off more calories through increased exercise, so our body turns to the fat cells to burn reserve calories. Thus we shrink our fat cells and loose weight and inches.

Liposuction, first performed in this country in 1978, utilizes a 'cannula' through which unwanted fat is aspirated. The 'insulation layer' of fat lying between the underlying muscle and overlying skin is removed by repetitively working the cannula through this tissue and permanently removing the fat cells from the body. By using this technique, the tissue can be contoured and sculpted to achieve the desired results in proportion with other areas of the body. A "wet" technique is used which involves injection of tumescent fluid into the treatment area to enhance the amount of fat removed with greater comfort and less blood loss and bruising. Ultrasonic liposuction, which uses a special cannula system, is used in certain instances to remove more fibrous fat. A compressive garment is worn for a three to six week period following surgery to assist the overlying skin in retracting and re-adhering to the contours off the underlying muscle. Common areas of treatment are under the chin, abdomen, posterior hips, inner and outer thighs and inner knees.

The fat removal with liposuction is permanent, and does not come back with time. However, weight gain will occur if one consumes excess calories with limited exercise. Weight will accumulate to a greater degree in areas of the body not treated with liposuction. Thus good eating habits and exercise remain essential following liposuction. Liposuction can achieve the results of months of exercise and dieting in only hours, to obtain the figure often hoped for.

The common areas of the body that respond well to liposuction include the neck and area beneath the chin, the breasts (primarily in males), the abdomen, the posterior hips and posterior flanks, the inner and outer thighs and the inner knees. In appropriate cases, the upper arms and calves can also be treated with liposuction. It is important to remember that a period of three to six months is required after treatment to allow for complete healing and resolution of all swelling.