Liposuction Can Do More Than You Think
When you think of liposuction, you might imagine it helping a few common areas—the belly, the thighs, the butt—but many people don’t realize that liposuction can treat more localized areas of concern. It can be a great tool for shaping and toning places on the body that diet and exercise have little or no effect on. A common misconception about weight loss is that exercising specific areas will reduce fat in those areas. However, you can’t choose where extra fat will settle on your body, and likewise, you can’t choose which areas will slim down most quickly and easily through exercise. When you lose weight through diet and exercise, the order in which your body sheds fat may not be ideal for your goals. If you get down to your target weight and size, you may find that you still have an area or two of fat where liposuction may be an ideal solution:
Neck or Jowl
Often forming what’s referred to as a “double chin,” excess fat around the neck area affects many overweight people, but it can also affect people of normal weight. Liposuction can add definition to the transition between the chin and the neck, but depending on how much fat is removed, some extra skin may be left behind. In this case, a neck lift can further improve definition in the neck.
Knees
Genetics, age, and overall excess weight can cause fat to settle in the thighs, especially in women. Sometimes, a person whose weight is otherwise normal may collect fat around the knees, causing the legs to look disproportionate and the knees themselves to look large and unshapely. By removing what’s usually a small amount of fat from around the knees, liposuction can improve the appearance of the entire lower half of the body.
Ankles
When too much fat accumulates in the lower legs, many people find themselves with “cankles.” This phenomenon results from a lack of definition between the calves and ankles and can be very difficult to address through diet and exercise. Once they’ve tried nonsurgical methods of eliminating this fat, many people turn to liposuction to help redefine their calves and ankles.
Axilla or Underarm Fat
The axilla is an area between the underarm and the breast that can grow pudgy for many people. It can be especially troublesome for women, as fat in this area isn’t exactly flattered by bra straps. This common zone of especially stubborn fat is frequently treated with liposuction, and patients are often surprised to see the difference something so seemingly minor can make. A method called tumescent liposuction is commonly used to treat this issue. If you think you’ve reached your ideal overall size but still have stubborn fat between the chest and underarm, liposuction may be the perfect choice.
Breast-like Tissue in Men (Gynecomastia)
Occasionally, a man finds himself with extra tissue in his chest that makes it appear as through he has breasts. Sometimes referred to as “man boobs,” gynecomastia is probably more common and treatable than you think. If excess fat is the primary cause of one’s gynecomastia, liposuction alone may be able to sufficiently address the issue. However, in some cases, the tissue may need to be removed through surgical means.
Liposuction can be performed virtually anywhere on the body, and depending on factors unique to you, it could be a fantastic solution to your aesthetic issues. If you have stubborn fat that diet or exercise can’t seem to handle, or if you’re interested in any of the other plastic-surgery procedures we offer, please contact one of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery locations to schedule a consultation today. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest plastic surgery news and updates.
