When it comes to body fat, most of us could stand to lose a few pounds. Stubborn fat deposits tend to accumulate around the stomach, buttocks, lower back, hips, underarms, breasts, and hips over time, despite our best efforts.
For those who have a higher-than-average amount of body fat, it may seem like the only solution is to get medical help. Liposuction can be a great option for all different types of people to enhance their appearance and boost their self-confidence.
With that said, there are lots of myths circulating about this popular procedure. Want the truth? Read on to learn the facts about liposuction.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a moderately-invasive surgery that is typically performed under general anesthesia. This fat removal procedure works by essentially sucking unwanted fat cells out of the body. Using a cannula, which is a hollow suction tube, and a high-powered vacuum, the excess fat cells are permanently removed from the body. This procedure can be performed on multiple areas of the body including the stomach, flanks, thighs, and butt.
Myth: Liposuction Is Easy Weight Loss
Due to the nature of the procedure, many people believe that liposuction is designed to make weight loss easy. Simply pay a surgeon to perform the procedure and they’ll suck that excess fat right out of your body. This couldn’t be further from the actual truth about this unique cosmetic procedure.
Liposuction is designed to assist patients with areas of stubborn body fat. It’s not intended to be an easy weight loss aid. Rather, it’s meant to shape the body to create improved contours and an enhanced silhouette.
Most surgeons will require patients to be at a stable weight that is within 10 pounds of their goal before having the procedure performed. This helps to ensure that they’ll have realistic expectations of the results they’ll get from liposuction.
Myth: Liposuction Can Banish Cellulite
The dreaded cellulite is a woman’s worst enemy, especially in the summertime. Cellulite is a term that describes fat dimples in the skin, creating an “orange peel” appearance. This cosmetic issue is most common in the stomach, hips, thighs, and buttocks. What’s actually going on underneath the skin is that the fat cells are pushing and bulging through the body’s connective tissue. This is why cellulite creates such as bumpy appearance.
Most people are under the impression that liposuction will get rid of their unwanted cellulite. That’s simply not the case. While liposuction can work to remove some of the fat cells, it can’t do anything when it comes to the connective fibers in the body. In patients who already have loose skin, liposuction can actually make cellulite appear worse than before.
Myth: Liposuction Isn’t Real Surgery
This is a common myth that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there are non-invasive procedures that can be performed to reduce fat within the body, liposuction is a surgical procedure that creates more dramatic results than less invasive options. This cosmetic surgery typically requires patients to undergo general anesthesia so that they’re sedated and asleep throughout the entire procedure.
Once you’re sedated, your surgeon will make small incisions in the area or areas of the body that you want to slim down. A cannula, which is a thin hollow tube, is inserted into the incisions until it reaches the fat layer in the body.
The cannula is moved in a back and forth motion to break up the fat cells. Then, a vacuum device suctions the fat cells out of the body. The cannula may have a vacuum attached directly to its tip to make this procedure go faster. It’s major surgery that does require some downtime afterward.
Myth: Fat Can Come Back After the Procedure
As you learned above, liposuction works by removing fat cells from the body. Each person is born with a specific number of fat cells in their body. This number usually averages about 30 million cells. The human body doesn’t produce any new fat cells later in life. So, you’re essentially stuck with the ones that you have.
Over time, these fat cells can expand in size as more and more fat is stored. When you have liposuction performed, some of your fat cells will be removed, not reduced in size. Your body cannot regrow those fat cells.
However, the remaining fat cells that are left in your body can expand as you store more body fat. Therefore, it’s important to note that maintaining a proper diet and exercise program is vital to preventing your remaining fat cells from expanding and causing weight gain after your procedure.
Myth: Liposuction Is Only for Young Women
This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Adult men and women of all ages can be ideal candidates for this fat removal procedure. There’s no typical age that you have to be, other than an adult. Liposuction can be a great procedure for those in their golden years. It’s just important to note that the elasticity of the skin decreases with age, so your results can vary.
Lipo is not solely intended for women. Men all over the globe choose this type of cosmetic fat loss procedure all the time. The most common treatment areas for men include the flanks, lower back, stomach, and underarms. Liposuction is a safe procedure for various parts of the body to remove excess stubborn fat that won’t go away with diet and exercise alone.
Don’t Believe the Myths
There are always going to be myths circulating about cosmetic surgery. Liposuction has been around for a while, which has allowed a large number of these myths to develop and spread over time. Hopefully, you should now have a better understanding of what liposuction is and how it works to enhance the appearance of the body.
It’s never a good idea to just believe what others tell you about a cosmetic procedure (unless you’re talking to a reputable surgeon!). Rather, you should do your own research on the subject to get the facts.
Remember that cosmetic surgeons are always available to answer your questions regarding liposuction and other cosmetic procedures. If you’re wary about any aspect of this fat removal procedure, contact a professional to learn more about it.Dr. Erica Anderson, a body specialist at the Naderi Center in Reston, VA, and Chevy Chase, MD, has many years of experience in performing liposuction. If you have any questions about the liposuction procedure or wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Anderson, contact the Naderi Center today.
The post Common Myths Surrounding the Ever-Popular “Lipo” appeared first on Plastic Surgery | Chevy Chase, MD & Town Center, VA.