Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that helps get rid of fat from the desired location of the body. Here, we will discuss the common liposuction procedures that people opt for.
A liposuction can be carried out at a doctor’s clinic, a surgery center, or as an outpatient procedure. It may also be taken up in a hospital, followed by an overnight stay, in case a large amount of fat is removed. Chances of a successful liposuction heighten if the candidate has normal or slightly above-average weight; firm, healthy, and elastic skin; and good overall health.
A good candidate, along with such factors, must also have concentrated areas of fat or ‘trouble areas’ such as tummy, thighs, and buttocks, which do not respond well to diet and exercise. People with weak immune system, and a history of heart diseases, diabetes, and/or certain kinds of cancer, are not considered as appropriate candidates for liposuction.
Types of Liposuction Procedures
Tumescent Liposuction
This procedure has been rated as the safest, effective, and the best of its kind. It involves the usage of a relatively larger dose of local anesthesia, followed by fat removal. This, in turn, reduces pain which is a common post-surgery complaint. Not only does it reduce the pain, but it also takes care of the possible bleeding, swelling, and skin irregularities. As a whole, tumescent liposuction is a smooth operation following minimal side effects. However, it is associated with two common side effects: lidocaine toxicity and fluid accumulation.
Ultrasonic Liposuction (UAL)
UAL is usually performed as an addition to tumescent liposuction. It is required in cases wherein, the patient requires body contouring, up to a precise level. Before the fat is removed from a specific area, surgeons use high-pitched sound waves to liquefy the fat. This procedure is mainly used for areas such as the chin, neck, cheeks, knees, calves, and ankles. These areas, according to what doctors say, are a bit cumbersome to treat. UAL also has its own share of post-surgery side effects, and may cause burns, blistering, scarring, and seroma (a pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery).
Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Although cannula is the primary medical instrument that is employed for liposuction, sometimes it becomes ineffective in removing all unwanted fat. So to overcome such situations, surgeons opt for Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) in order to perform a precise and thorough fat removal. This is achieved through devices which are easier to maneuver, and offer greater control, by breaking up fat using rapid and small vibrations. Pigmentation as well as loose, uneven, and wrinkled skin are the possible risks which may brim up after surgery.
Smart Liposuction
Compared to the other conventional procedures, smart liposuction is a less invasive and inexpensive procedure. It is a new procedure wherein, patients are treated with a local anesthesia, and a laser is used to destroy fat cells in the specific areas. Later on, the body can flush them out through the natural process. The recovery period is faster than other procedures, and it is a low-impact and cost-effective surgery with the least number of side effects. Some people who have undergone this lipo, regard it as the best when it comes to cosmetic surgery.
Cost
The cost incurred by the patient depends widely on the type of liposuction, and the areas to be treated. Prices may also vary from surgeons practicing in urban, suburban, or rural areas. Apart from the surgeon’s fees, other expenses include anesthesia fees, operating facility fees, as well as other costs like travel and accommodation expenses, etc. Liposuction costs for men are higher than that for women. This is due to the male anatomy which involves a larger body shape, and comparatively more time and effort.
One of the benefits which people experience after any kind of liposuction is that even if they gain weight, the treated areas are not affected. However, undergoing a lipo does no guarantee that the patient would not gain weight at all. To keep and maintain the new and ‘sculptured’ shape, a balanced diet and regular exercise is required.
