Various types of liposuction are available to reduce excess fat from problem areas or remove large volumes of fat on moderately overweight people. Surgery, however, is a last resort for overweight people who can't reduce fat through honest efforts of dieting and working out.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a common surgery used to remove small amounts of fat from the body. Surgeons use a steel tube to suck the fat from between the muscle and the skin. Most procedures are outpatient and cause minimal scarring.
Liposuction and Weight Loss
Liposuction is effective for people who consistently work out and are careful about their diet, but still can’t trim fat from certain areas. Common body parts for liposuction include the stomach, thighs and underarms.
Liposuction works by removing excess fat in problem areas. Spot-reducing fat is not the equivalent of weight loss, though, and it can’t replace diet and exercise. Once you have tried dieting and the fat won’t budge from specific areas, it may be hereditary and you may need surgery to correct it.
- Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction uses a metal probe to send ultrasonic energy into the problem area to melt fat, making it easier to remove. This has been the most common method of liposuction.
- Tumescent Liposuction uses a saline solution on excess fat. The benefit of this surgery is that it removes inner layers of fat along with the outer layers. Tumescent liposuction causes less swelling and less bruising while providing better results and a faster recovery.
Large-Volume Liposuction
Though removing large amounts of excess fat has long been considered a dangerous surgery because the patient risks losing too many fluids, new liposuction procedures have made large-volume liposuction possible.
Large-volume liposuction refers to treatment that removes six pounds of fat from various areas of the body. While large volume liposuction does not provide the same drastic weight loss results as bariatric surgery, it is an option for people who are moderately overweight anmd wish to create a more slender frame and lose up to 30 pounds. This surgical option does require a brief hospital stay.
Before You Opt for Liposuction to Lose Weight
- Educate yourself on the risks involved with the surgery.
- Find a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform the liposuction.
- Exhaust all other options to lose weight before consulting a plastic surgeon for liposuction.
After Having Liposuction
- Continue to eat a natural, healthy diet.
- Follow a regular cardio routine.
- Include resistance training in your workouts to tighten and tone your body.
Tracy Rose - Tracy Rose is a powerflifter who holds the state record in deadlifting and has had success in her own weight loss journey.
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