When you want to lose weight, you will usually hear about many options: exercise, fad diets, and, of course, the controversial liposuction. A common question is “what liposuction is” and whether it can help reduce belly fat.
Liposuction is another way of reducing belly fat. It is a cosmetic procedure that can remove the collected fat from various parts of the body, including around your belly, which will then reduce your waistline and improve your appearance. Liposuction costs can vary, and prices often depend on where you live, doctor fees, and even the number of sessions you need for the required results.
But before you head straight to your local cosmetic surgeon to get your greedy little clunkers injected with some magical fat vacuum, there are a few things you should know about it. This article will help provide you with some useful information on liposuction and whether it is something that could help you obtain the look you desire.
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1. Liposuction Is a Body Contouring Procedure
Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that uses a hollow tube called a cannula to remove fat from specific parts of your body. You may be wondering how liposuction differs from other plastic surgery techniques.
There are several key differences between the two:
2. Research the Procedure; Select a Board-certified Plastic Surgeon
While most people have a rough idea of what it means to remove fat from the body, many are still unfamiliar with the specifics of liposuction. Do your homework. The more you know about the procedure, the more confident you’ll feel about it before and after. There are plenty of reliable online sources on liposuction that can tell you everything you need to know.
Talk to friends, family members, and work colleagues who’ve had the procedure done. Most importantly, speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn more about how he or she will go about doing the liposuction.
A thorough examination and discussion of your goals is essential, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or voice any concerns.
3 Know the General Costs of the Liposuction Process
The costs for liposuction are variable. You can pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the location, the doctor, and what kind of package you choose. There are many different packages with different kinds of services included, so it’s important to know what you’re getting before you agree to have the procedure done. For example, there are packages that include blood work, x-rays, and follow-up visits, whereas other packages may not include those services.
There are also many different ways that liposuction can be performed. Liposuction is usually done using a local anesthetic like lidocaine and epinephrine. This means that you will feel some pressure around the area being treated, but you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. However, it does not mean that you will be awake during the whole procedure!
If you’re getting lipoceuticals injected into your skin or fat tissue before surgery, you may be given a sedative to help you relax and fall asleep. Afterward, when the doctor is performing liposuction on your body, he or she will use a local anesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
4 What Does Liposuction Not Treat?
While liposuction can take inches off your waistline, it won’t help with cellulite or skin problems. Liposuction is ideal for people with large amounts of fat that they want to be removed in one specific area, like the abdomen or the thighs.
On the other hand, people with smaller pockets of fat, like the back of their arms or neck, might be a better fit for other procedures like laser liposuction or SmartLipo, which use lasers to target and remove fat.
If you’re wondering whether liposuction is right for you or if you need more information about this powerful procedure, schedule a consultation with our doctors today.
5. Consult with Friends Before Making a Decision
If you’re considering getting liposuction, ask your friends if they know anyone who has had the procedure done—a friend or family member’s recommendation can be a great resource for understanding the benefits of liposuction over other procedures (see our blog on breast augmentation for more info).
Even if they haven’t had liposuction themselves, they might have heard from someone in their social circle who has had the procedure done and can tell you about their experiences with it. If you don’t have anyone in your life who has undergone this particular procedure, you can always get information from people at your gym, beauty/health professionals like dermatologists or spa technicians/managers, or even a trusted doctor.
Remember: all these sources are only as good as the information they provide. If you encounter any conflicting information or hear negative things (such as death from lipo) about liposuction in general, that doesn’t mean you should rule out all future procedures—it just means you should be cautious. Talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon if you’re still interested in learning more about the procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has information on its website and a directory of its members performing liposuction procedures.
Will Liposuction Remove Belly Fat?
Although liposuction can be used on many parts of the body (buttocks, thighs, arms, etc.), most people who get it done have it done on their abdomen or belly. Liposuction is usually not used to remove fat from the belly specifically—it’s used to remove fat that may be hiding under the skin. If you have a flat stomach, but bulgy love handles, that’s where liposuction comes in.
However, liposuction can’t do everything—it can’t make your stomach any flatter than it already is. Liposuction isn’t the way to go if you already have a flat stomach and want to remove excess fat from it. Liposuction is only for people who want to remove excess fat that has accumulated over time.
So if you’re looking for a quick fix for your belly fat, liposuction isn’t going to do it for you. On top of that, liposuction isn’t going to magically melt away all of your belly fat; you’re still going to have to exercise and eat right if you want to see the results of your efforts.
Does Liposuction Get Rid of Fat Permanently?
In a friendly tone: Liposuction is often said to get rid of fat “permanently.” This can be true, but there are several important caveats. The first is that liposuction does not get rid of fat instantly—it takes time for the body to metabolize the fat and release it as waste. A given volume of fat may take weeks or months to go away completely, depending on how much you have and how fast your metabolism is.
Additionally, even after the fat has been released from your body, liposuction results will only last as long as you maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. It’s entirely possible to keep getting results from liposuction for years if you’re vigilant about watching what you eat, but they won’t last forever.
Most people who undergo liposuction find that they lose a significant amount of weight and see their bodies change drastically after one or two sessions, but don’t expect to see effects that will last forever unless you’re committed to maintaining them indefinitely.
What Type of Lipo Removes Most Fat?
The question of what type of lipo gets rid of fat the fastest has been asked by so many different people with so many different reasons for wanting an answer. It’s important to understand that there is no one technique that will do it all, and any doctor who promises otherwise is likely not as knowledgeable about the different types of lipo as he or she should be.
The most effective lipo for fat removal depends on a few factors:
- What kind of patient you are
- What your expectations are
- How much time you’re willing to put into the recovery process.
Power-assisted liposuction is probably your best bet if you’re looking for a quick fix like the celebrities you see on TV.
Power-assisted liposuction uses mechanical agitation to increase the effectiveness of liposuction by breaking down the fatty acids before they are removed from the body. This process isn’t exclusive to liposuction; it’s actually used on all forms of lipolysis (including CoolSculpting). Power-assisted liposuction doesn’t change any aspect of how your body processes fat in terms of its long-term health implications—it simply makes liposuction more effective in the short term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fat do you lose from lipo?
Lipo can remove about 1 to 2 pounds of fat per session. This doesn’t mean that you’ll lose the same amount of weight; it just means that your body can metabolize that much fat at once.
How painful is liposuction?
The procedure itself is usually not very painful. You may experience some soreness and swelling after the surgery, but this is generally not severe enough to interfere with your daily activities. Lipo can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt. The discomfort comes from the suction used during surgery or pressure on certain nerves in your body.
Why is my stomach still fat after lipo?
It could be that the fat was not completely removed. Fatty tissue is more elastic than other tissue types, so it can slip back into place after removal. Another possibility is that there were too many layers of fat to remove in one surgery session. The best way to get rid of stubborn belly fat is by combining diet and exercise, which will take several months to see results. You may have to have additional liposuction procedures before you achieve your desired look.
Does fat come back after liposuction?
Yes. The removed fat will grow back if you do not make a lifestyle change, such as losing weight and exercising regularly.
What are the 3 types of liposuction?
There are three types of liposuction: SmartLipo, laser liposuction, and traditional liposuction. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks.
How many times can you get liposuction?
Liposuction is a form of cosmetic surgery, so you can get it as many times as you want. However, recovery time will increase after each procedure. If you are considering getting several treatments in a short period of time, talk with your surgeon about how much downtime he or she recommends between procedures.
Does lipo leave scars?
Liposuction is a form of cosmetic surgery, so it does leave scars. Your surgeon will use his or her best judgment to try and minimize scarring; however, there are no guarantees that you won’t have any visible signs of your procedure.
What are the side effects of liposuction?
Side effects of liposuction include bruising, swelling, and numbness in the area where you had surgery. You may also experience discomfort when you bend over or lift heavy objects. These symptoms usually subside within a few days after your procedure.
Should you lose weight before lipo?
If you’re overweight, you should try to lose some weight before undergoing liposuction. This will reduce the amount of fat that needs to be removed and may help you achieve more natural-looking results. If your body mass index is 30 or greater, talk with your doctor about how much weight loss is recommended before surgery.
Conclusion
While liposuction is not an easy, low-cost fix for weight loss issues, it does offer a solution for fat that must be removed. It is often associated with celebrities but can become a reality for the everyday person who seeks it out properly.
A healthy diet and regular exercise are still essential parts of your overall weight loss plan, but liposuction might be just the boost you need to get that bodacious body you crave. In essence, liposuction makes you smaller in specific areas.
For those who’ve considered liposuction but aren’t quite sure if it’s the right choice for them, the information here might help you decide whether this surgery is right for you.
