What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a form of cosmetic surgery that removes fat from various locations on the human body. Commonly targeted areas for liposuction include the stomach, sides, back, buttocks, thighs and the back of the arms. The procedure itself involves inserting a tube (cannula) into areas that contain fat and using a suction device (aspirator) to draw the fat out of the body through the tube. Most often, liposuction also involves injecting fluids into the area where fat is removed, to loosen the fat cells and provide salts and localized anesthesia to reduce internal strain.
Liposuction is Not a Weight-Loss Substitute
Liposuction is commonly misconceived as an easy, yet expensive, alternative weight-loss method. Since obese people have large amounts of fat, it is believed that liposuction can suck out the majority of that fat, transforming them into relatively skinny people. In reality, liposuction usually takes out less than 10 lbs. of fat, and the procedure is recommended for patients that are in good physical shape and have tried other weight-loss methods but cannot rid themselves of fat accumulation in certain problem areas. Removing too much fat at once can pose serious health risks; liposuction should be viewed strictly as a vanity procedure.
Risks Often Outweigh Benefits
Although liposuction holds a relatively small risk of extremely serious, life-threatening complications, the negative aspects of the procedure often outweigh the benefits. For instance, the more fat that is removed through liposuction, the greater the chance that the skin will become malformed or lumpy--the opposite of what is desired of a cosmetic surgery. The procedure also produces swelling, bruising and scars where tubes are inserted into the body. (Insertions are usually made in places that make them more difficult to see.) Occasionally, more serious complications develop, such as fluid imbalances, skin damage or damage to an internal organ. This can lead to blood clotting and, in rare cases, death. The procedure is also fairly expensive, usually ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the number of sites from which fat will be taken.
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