Liposuction: What it Can & Cannot Do
It’s important for a patient to go into their cosmetic surgery procedure with a positive mindset and realistic expectations. And one of the best ways we work to establish realistic, measured expectations is to educate our patients on their specific procedures and the results that each procedure (can and cannot) help them achieve. Liposuction is an outstanding procedure that can help patients remove small amounts of unwanted fat from areas all over the body. However, that doesn’t mean that it is a one-size-fits-all way to treat any body contouring concern. Keep reading for more information on liposuction and what it is capable of.
Liposuction can help both male and female patients. In fact, according to the annual statistical report collected by the Aesthetic Society, liposuction was the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure for men and the second most commonly performed for women in the US last year. Some areas of the face and body that are most in-demand with both male and female patients include the upper arms, back, abdomen, and neck (to treat “double-chin”).
Liposuction cannot be used to replace breast reduction surgery. For women who wish to reduce the size and volume of their breasts, liposuction can only help so much. While it’s true that fat is often removed during breast reduction, excess tissue and skin will also need to be removed in order to achieve the results that breast reduction patients expect. In some cases, liposuction of the chest can help some men treat male breast enlargement, but male breast reduction will be required to treat true gynecomastia.
Liposuction can create useful fat for fat transfer injections. Fat transfer involves purifying the fat that is removed during liposuction and safely re-injecting it to add volume to a different area of the patient’s face or body. This procedure is commonly performed to help rejuvenate lost volume in the cheek area of the face, buttocks (this is known as the Brazilian Butt Lift), as well as the breasts to create a modest, subtle increase in breast volume.
Liposuction cannot be replicated with diet and exercise. Eating right and working out regularly can definitely help shed unwanted fat, but in many cases, the fat removed during liposuction is stubborn and may not respond to even the healthiest habits. Liposuction is a safe and proven method to remove small patches of diet-resistant fat once and for all.
If you are interested in liposuction and think that you might be a good candidate for this procedure, please don’t hesitate to contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation at one of our Atlanta area locations today. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.
