Exercise and diet can help make you healthy, as well as help you look
lean and muscular. For some individuals, however, it does not always
remove those stubborn LFD's (localized fat deposits). Every individual's
fat distribution and body shape is genetically determined. What this
means is that often no amount of diet and exercise will remove these
stubborn fat deposits. Even if the individual is at an adequate body
weight, they will still posses areas of excess fat. Liposuction is
a procedure that can remove fat and fat cells, thus sculpting the
body and doing what diet and exercise alone could not. Liposuction
is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United
States today. However, even though liposuction is designed to remove
fat, it does not replace or serve as a substitute for good diet and
exercise.
Lipoplasty, commonly known as liposuction, is a common surgical procedure
that removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of the body,
face or neck. Liposuction can be used to slim the hips, thighs, flatten
the tummy, shape the calves and ankles or eliminate a double chin.
The best candidates for Liposuction are:
• Men and women of normal weight whom mainly want to improve
their body shape and contours.
• People with fat deposits that are "trouble areas",
where exercise and diet seem not to have any effect
• People with good elasticity in their skin, so when the fat
is removed, they will achieve a smooth appearance
The areas that liposuction can have the greatest effect on are the
abdomen and waist area, the arms, back chin, neck, hips, buttocks,
thigh ankles, calves and inner knees.
Patients of any age can undergo the procedure, but those who have
greater skin elasticity will achieve the smoothest end result.
During the liposuction procedure, one or more incisions are made near
the area to be treated. When possible, the incisions are made within
the fold or natural creases in skin. Your doctor will then insert
a small hollow tube called a cannula through the incision where he
will then penetrate the underlying fat. The cannula is connected to
a flexible tubing and suction pump. Your doctor then moves the cannula
back and forth thought the fat, vacuuming the fat out through the
tube.
The Procedure is very common with thousands of patients undergoing
the procedure each year with no major complications. However the possibility
of risk occurring is always associated with surgery. In rare cases
the liposuction procedure has caused severe trauma, particularly when
multiple or very extensive areas are suctioned at one time. Other
possible complications include fluid accumulation and injury to the
skin. Sometimes asymmetry or unevenness may require further treatment.
There are various fat removal techniques available. There is the tumescent
technique, in which the fat is pre-injected with a solution of salt
water, local anesthetic and small amounts of adrenaline. Another type
of procedure is the Ultrasound assisted Lipoplasty, UAL. This is a
two-step procedure that uses ultra sound waves for energy, and liquefies
the fat, which is then suctioned out. There are more techniques available,
during your consultation, be sure to ask your doctor for more information
about the various fat removal techniques.
A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure in which excess skin
and fat are removed from the lower abdomen and the muscles of the
abdomen wall are tightened. This procedure can drastically reduce
the appearance of a protruding abdomen. The procedure is particularly
helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies have stretched
their abdomen so far that it does not return to it's normal shape.
A tummy tuck is also helpful for those who have lost a significant
amount of weight but still possess loose, sagging skin. Tummy tucks
are often performed in conjunction with liposuction.
The best candidates for an abdominoplasty are men or women in good
health and relatively good shape, but are bothered by a large fat
deposit or loose abdominal skin that does not respond to diet or
exercise. Those who are considering losing a significant amount
of weight, or women still planning future pregnancies, may want
to consider waiting before undergoing the tummy tuck procedure.
During the tummy tuck procedure a horizontal incision is made just
above the pubic area and excess skin and fat is removed from the
abdomen. Skin is separated from the abdominal wall. The underlying
muscles of the abdominal wall are then tightened. The abdominal
skin is then drawn downward and the excess is removed. Some of these
risks of tummy tucks include infection and blood clots. These can
be treated easily and are rare. Tummy Tucks can improve abdominal
appearance, however the procedure has been known to leave scarring.
Some scarring can be severe and may require a second operation.
There are other alternatives to the tummy tuck procedure. A mini
tummy tuck can be performed, in which only improves the appearance
of the abdomen below the navel. During a mini tummy tuck, only a
short horizontal incision is made and the skin is separated only
between the incision line and the navel. Another alternative is
undergoing liposuction in order to remove the abdominal fat. Liposuction
can also be performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck.
Please consult Dr. Schulman as to which procedure will best meet
your needs.
Body lift, or body contouring, is a procedure designed to remove
excess skin from various parts of the body. Many people undergo
gastric bypass surgery in order to lose tremendous amounts of weight.
Some are able to remove weight through dieting exercise and determination.
However many do not realize that losing the weight is only the first
step. The skin has been stretched to such a point, that when the
patients do lose weight, loose skin still remains. Unfortunately
diet and exercise cannot remove this excess skin. A body lift does
offer patients a solution. However this is a very extensive surgical
procedure and it is important for patients to understand there are
risks involved. Those considering a body lift should first consult
with their surgeon to gain more thorough understanding of the procedure.
A body lift does result in a healthier, tighter figure. Not only
are patients in better shape, but also a few more pounds are lost
with the removal of excess skin.
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