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Everything You Need to Know About Liposuction

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Are you considering undergoing liposuction?

According to 2011 statistics, liposuction is in the top ten cosmetic surgeries for both males and females, with a total of 3,249 procedures carried out on both sexes in the UK last year. However, if you’re thinking about undergoing this procedure, you must know all the facts so that you can decide whether it is ideally suited to you.

So, here is just some of the information you need to know concerning liposuction:

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that can be used as a body sculpting tool. It is not, however, a means of losing weight, so those that are overweight or even obese shouldn’t see it as a way of reducing their body size. Instead, it can be used to target stubborn pockets of fat that many people experience. These pockets are usually located on the arms, thighs, abdomen, and bottom, but the procedure can be used for almost any area of the body.

Who can undergo liposuction?

As mentioned, liposuction isn’t suitable for those that are very overweight or obese. Individual cosmetic surgery clinics will be able to advise you on whether you would be a suitable candidate for the procedure but, generally speaking, those that have a healthy BMI can undergo it. Non-smokers are also ideal for the surgery, as smoking can hinder recovery, and it is vital that patients have realistic expectations for the outcome of the operation and are willing to stick to a healthy diet to retain the results.

What happens during liposuction?

Liposuction is always performed under general anesthetic, and once the patient has been put to sleep, the surgeon makes a small incision in the area that is to be performed on. They then insert a cannula into the incision and use this to extract fat from the area. The amount of fat that is obtained is decided upon before surgery. Usually, only a maximum of ten pounds of fat can be safely removed during one procedure. However, some surgeons may be happy to transfer a more substantial amount, depending on the circumstances.

What happens after liposuction?

After a liposuction procedure, the patient is often advised to wear a support garment over the area to assist in the recovery. The area is likely to be quite swollen and sore and will bruise over the following days, and this may last for up to two weeks following the surgery. Practically all cosmetic clinics will insist that patients return for a post-operative consultation, in which the surgeon removes any stitches from the incision and checks that the patient is healing well. It is often advised that patients abstain from any physical exercise for at least two weeks, although this length of time can vary from patient to patient. Patients usually have to take around two weeks off from work to recover.

What results can be expected with liposuction?

Each person will experience different results following liposuction. Still, people can generally expect the area that has been operated on to be smoother, flatter, and more sculpted, and patients often experience improved self-confidence. They are also usually able to wear a broader range of clothing and feel happier with their body shape after the surgery.

If you believe that you would like to undergo liposuction, you can contact a cosmetic surgery clinic in your area, where you will need to attend a consultation before you can book your surgery.