Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the US, and sculpts the body by removing undesirable areas of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise. This procedure may be used on the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, chin, cheeks, arms and more, and helps contour the body for an overall slimmer appearance. Dr. Mark Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures, including liposuction, and body contouring and tummy tucks- as well as many others.
What is Liposuction?
The concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat from deposits located between the skin and muscle. Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula (from the Latin word for reed, tube, cane). The cannula is connected to a powerful suction pump and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. Fat removal is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After surgery, these tiny tunnels collapse and thus result in an improved body contour.
Have you looked at your figure and wondered whether you could benefit from liposuction? Here are a few things to think about when considering liposuction.
Fine-Tuning, Not a Complete Overhaul
Liposuction is not a weight loss solution. Before getting liposuction, you should be at or close to your ideal weight. Liposuction is for those who exercise, eat a balanced diet, and are in good overall health but need help eliminating deposits of stubborn fat in specific areas.
Does Liposuction Produce Permanent Results?
After liposuction, the new body’s shape is more or less permanent. If a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. If the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, then the new more pleasing silhouette is permanent. Of course after liposuction, the clock keeps ticking, and advancing age will produce the usual changes in the shape of the body associated with the aging process. Nevertheless, the benefits of liposuction will always be apparent.
If you have excessive amounts of fat and loose skin in these areas, you may require a more comprehensive procedures such as a tummy tuck or other body contouring procedure.
What Happens if I Gain Weight After Liposuction?
The more weight a patient gains after liposuction, the less dramatic the results of liposuction will be. Ideally a patient should weigh less after liposuction by an amount equal to the weight of the removed fat. Thus, after 150 pound woman has two liposuction surgeries, where each surgery removes 4 pounds of fat (total of 8 pounds, equal one gallon), she should ideally keep her weight at or below 142 pounds. However, if she gains 8 pounds and thus weighs 150 pounds six months after liposuction, then the cosmetic results will still be pleasing but not optimal. And if she were to weigh 160 pounds after liposuction, then she would still look better than if she had not had liposuction, and her clothes might fit better, but her results would be less than ideal.
If I Do Not Gain Weight, Does Fat Come Back in the Treated Areas?
If a patient does not gain weight after liposuction, then fat does not come back in the treated areas. However liposuction does not stop the aging process. It is natural for the size and location of the body’s fat deposits to change gradually with increasing age. Despite expected changes with aging, the results of a successful liposuction should always be apparent.
Dr. Mark Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bishara, please contact our office directly at (817) 473-2120.
