Contrary to conventional wisdom, liposuction isn’t an end-all-be-all or fast-fix to weight loss, but rather a highly specialized cosmetic procedure.
WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION?
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or suction-assisted lipectomy, surgically removes deposits of excess/stubborn fat from specific areas of the body using a suctioning instrument. The areas most requested for liposuction surgery are the hips, buttocks, arms, backs of thighs, abs, and even the face and neck in some instances. The procedure aims to sculpt, shape, and contour the abs and slim the ankles and calves.
ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR LIPOSUCTION?
If you’ve been considering undergoing liposuction, but don’t know if you’re a good candidate for the procedure to be effective and yield desired results, here is what you need to know. A good candidate for liposuction possesses the following attributes:
- Good, strong muscle tone
- Firm, elastic skin tone
- Is within 30% of their ideal weight range
- Has no life-threatening illnesses/diseases
- Has a healthy body image and realistic expectations of liposuction
- Has excess fat deposits anywhere on the body that simply won’t respond to a healthy diet and regular exercise
Essentially, liposuction is the last-ditch effort to rid specific areas of the body of stubborn, hard-to-budge fat. It’s like a “finishing touch” to your body goals. You eat right, get in your sweat sessions, yet that bit of jiggle just won’t wiggle! If this is you, then you’re possibly a great candidate for a liposuction procedure. Ironically, liposuction isn’t well-suited for those who:
- Are excessively overweight
- Don’t lead a healthy lifestyle
- Smoke
- Make poor dietary choices
- Have unrealistic, unhealthy expectations for their body
Also, you don’t qualify for liposuction surgery if you have an underlying medical condition or infection that could impede the body’s healing process, have poor skin elasticity or “bounce back," or are battling an unhealthy body image. Again, liposuction isn’t a fast-fix, weight loss mechanism, but rather a fine-tuning tool for those who are literally inches away from their ideal weight and shape. Liposuction is that extra nudge to budge the bulge. Also, it needs to be noted that the results of liposuction aren’t exactly 100% perfect and are a fat removal procedure, NOT a weight loss treatment tool.
CAN LIPOSUCTION MELT AWAY MY CELLULITE?
A common misconception is that liposuction will permanently eliminate the dreaded dimpling or orange peel look commonly found on the backs of thighs, arms, buttocks, and/or tummies of over 91% of all women. Even attention-grabbing, A-listers, and angel wing-wearing supermodels are plagued with annoying cellulite. While the procedure will greatly reduce much of a patient’s unsightly cellulite since it removes pocketed portions of fat, there is no guarantee there will be smooth sailing ahead. Unfortunately, there is currently no long-term, permanent solution to melting away the cottage cheese dilemma, however, there are easy, lifestyle choices you can make that can significantly reduce its unwanted appearance, such as:
- Staying hydrated to optimally flush out toxins that can become trapped between muscle fibers
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Avoiding processed foods and refined sugars
- Eating a diet rich in protein, veggies, and fresh fruits
- Engaging in strength-training to maximize muscle and diminish dimpling
If you’ve still got questions or would like to have a consultation with Dr. Jaime regarding your body goals and to see if liposuction is the solution for you, please reach out to our office to speak with any one of our highly trained team members.
