Liposuction What You Need To Know

From relative obscurity, liposuction has become one of the most sought after medical procedure in the land. Not content with the slow progress that traditional dieting and exercise give, many have turned to the liposuction procedure for an easy way out of extra-large pants!

The term Liposuction is coined from the combination of the words lipid and suction. It is a medical, a surgical procedure where fats are removed from the body through the use of a vacuum-suction canula, which resembles a pen or an ultrasonic probe that breaks fats into small pieces before removing it through suction. Both methods are invasive as the instruments are placed under the skin.

Localized areas of fats

Although there are people who decide to have liposuction procedures in all parts of their bodies, there are some who only concentrate on the some areas of the body. It is often recommended to people who have localized deposits of fats in certain areas of their bodies such as in the thighs, in the arms or in the abdomen.

Liposuction may also be performed in the hips, the calves, the buttocks, at the back, at the neck and even on the face. Since suctioning fats are relatively easy and fast, multiple procedures can be done in just one day.

Not just for appearance

Liposuction has been associated with cosmetic surgery or procedures that are done to enhance the appearance of the face and the body, remodel deformed features and correct defects. Unknown to many though, the procedure is also used to remove fat tumors or what is termed in the medical field as lipomas. It is also used to treat gynecomastia, a condition where in the breast of men abnormally enlarges.

lack of standardization

Although there are certainly experts in the field that perform only liposuction procedures, plastic surgeons and dermatologists can also perform the procedure, provided that they have proper training and have knowledge of the process. In fact, any licensed physician can perform the operation as there is no standardized training that is being required.

This lack of standardization in the field has paved the way for some less qualified doctors to perform the surgery even without sufficient exposure, training and experience. This is why it is important for patients to shop carefully for doctors that will perform liposuction procedures. Make sure that they have the right experience and training to conduct it. It is also important that you survey the hospital or the clinic where the procedure will be done.
Because it is invasive, a clean environment is especially needed to ensure a safe and successful procedure. If the procedure will be conducted in a clinic and not in a hospital, make sure that the clinic has access to emergency facilities just in case something unexpected happens.

Yet, even with the best doctor in the field handling your case, liposuction, like all surgical procedures, poses risks and potential complications. One of the most common risks is infection, especially if the procedure was not done properly and the wounds were not kept clean.

To minimize this risk, some doctors recommend antibiotics before the surgery but others forgo with this bit of safety net for ‘costly” reasons. Antibiotics can cost so much and will add up to an already costly procedure.

Some infections can be very serious and in fact even life-threatening. There are cases when the bacteria will consume the tissue, a condition called “necrotizing fasciitis.”