| What is it? |
Liposuction, liposculpture also known as lipoplasty,
is the surgical removal of excess fat from areas
that are often resistant to diet and exercise, including
the hips, thighs, abdomen and neck. Other common
sites include the arms, knees, calves and ankles.
Developed in the early 1980s, Lipoplasty offers
significant advantages over other methods of body
contouring. Extensive scars are avoided by working
through small incisions - less than one-half inch
in length - made in the most inconspicuous areas,
such as natural skin folds. Most lipoplasty procedures
can be performed on an outpatient basis and usually
involve only a brief recovery period.
Lipoplasty selectively removes fat only from those
areas where you desire reduction. This procedure
is permanent since the actual fat cells are removed.
Following liposculpture the body will have less
fat in the treated areas. However, liposculpture
is not a cure for obesity. Lipoplasty should not
be used as a weight reduction method because weight
may still be gained in the area treated (but usually
only in proportion to the rest of your body).
Because of its safety and effectiveness, lipoplasty
has become the most common cosmetic procedure performed
by plastic surgeons. It has helped thousands of
men and women eliminate unwanted fat and achieve
body proportions in harmony with their overall build.
Fat distribution is determined by your heredity
and diet. Heredity determines the location and number
of your individual fat cells that are fixed and
unchanged after puberty. Diet can increase or decrease
the amount of fat in each cell, but will not affect
your total number of cells or their location. Dieting
is not selective and will not reduce the fat cells
in the area you may want to reduce-for example,
the thighs, stomach or hips.
Good skin elasticity is desirable in all individuals
since it makes for a smooth surface contour of the
body. Tight skin is seen in the very young and is
gradually lost as you age. However, even through
middle age you retain some elasticity. If you are
not obese, your skin envelope shrinks to adjust
to your body's new contour following liposculpture.
Some individuals have lax muscles and loose skin
with or without excess fat. These people require
additional procedures such as an "tummy tuck"
(abdominoplasty) or other procedures to remove loose
skin. Together, you and your surgeon can determine
the best procedures and techniques to create your
new look. |
