Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery employed to remove excess fat from body parts. It is also called lipoplasty, suction lipectomy, liposculpture or fat suction.

Generally the fat is removed from thighs, chin, buttocks, lovehandles (abdomen), ******* and stomach for women and chin, waist, ******* and buttocks for men.

This surgical procedure is not an alternative to exercise and dieting and should be used only to remove the stubborn fat that does not respond to exercises and diet.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method but a method to remove excess fat. 10-15 pounds of fat is removed generally. However, taking out of large amounts of fat can be dangerous at times.

There are many types of liposuction performed today like traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, superwet liposuction. All these methods employ a cannula (a blunt straw like tube) for suction of fat.

Saline water is injected into the space between muscle and fat to separate them. If the amount of saline water is less than the amount of fat to be removed it is called traditional liposuction.

If the saline water is 3 to 4 times the volume of fat to be removed it is called tumescent liposuction. Adding extra water assists the surgeon in moving the cannula back and forth to break up the fat cells. However excess water may affect the homeostasis of the body. In super wet liposuction the amount of saline water is the same as the amount of fat to be removed. This is the most popular surgical method used by surgeons.

In ultrasonic liposuction the fat is initially liquefied by ultrasound before being suctioned out. However, ultrasound methods are not popular as they sometime lead to necrosis (death of skin) and seromas (collection of yellow fluid in pockets).

In all types of liposuction either local anesthesia or general anesthesia is used. The usual anesthetic used is lidocaine. Epinephrine is also used in liposuction to reduce blood loss.

To perform liposuction the patient must be over 18 and in good health with elastic skin. If the skin is not sufficiently elastic the excess skin may have to be removed after liposuction. Generally the excess skin is removed from abdomen called abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. This leaves scar marks on the skin.

Diabetics and patients on antibiotics are advised not to undergo liposuction. Before operation the patient should not have taken any anticoagulants like warfarin, phenindione etc.

If general anesthesia is given the patient has to fast on the night before the operation. If local anesthesia is given there is no requirement of fasting. Smoking and drinking etc should be avoided.

The incisions are usually less than an inch. After operation the excess fluid takes days to weeks to drain out. During that time antibiotics and/or pain killers are prescribed.

Patient recovery varies from days to 2 months. As with all surgeries there are surgical risks in liposuction too. There are minor risk, up to 0.7%, of side effects like internal organs being scraped, seromas, necrosis, excessive bleeding etc.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method and the patient should expect realistic and not dramatic changes in appearance.



By: Keith George

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Even though liposuction is considered cosmetic surgery it still has some of the same risks as any other type of surgery. A good Manhattan liposuction specialist can make all the difference in the outcome of your liposuction procedure. You want the best results possible and here are some tips for choosing the right Manhattan plastic surgeon.

Where – Lipsuction can be done in a variety of places, from a cosmetic surgeons office up to a major hospital. The right setting is important, but not nearly as important as the cosmetic surgeon doing the procedure.

What Cosmetic Surgeon – Honestly any doctor can perform liposuction, so make sure you’re working with aboard certified plastic surgeon for the very best results. There are no laws regarding the type of training that needs to be done prior to performing liposuction. Do your research and make sure that your cosmetic surgeon is both trained and experienced. They should have the knowledge and skills to ensure that your liposuction is successful.

The Cosmetic Surgeons Role – The cosmetic surgeon should do a complete evaluation prior to agreeing to accept you as a patient. This should include a review of your general health as well as your reasons for having liposuction. The doctor should inquire about any past medical history as well as any medications you may be taking currently. Naturally he will evaluate your current body fat percentage as well as the elasticity of your skin. Your cosmetic surgeon should then be able to make a determination of your best liposuction technique to ensure great results.

What to do if you choose the wrong doctor – Mistakes do occur, even to the most vigilant of us. There are a very low percentage of liposuction patients who have serious complications, but if you choose the wrong doctor your chances of a poor surgery increase dramatically. Even if you don’t have complications there is an increased chance that you’ll have a result you didn’t want and aren’t happy with.

Choosing the right liposuction surgeon – These are my 4 tips to choosing the right liposuction surgeon.

Check out the facilities that your cosmetic surgeon will be using for the liposuction procedure. They should be in good repair, clean and sanitary. Ask for a tour prior to the surgery. Any good plastic surgeon will be happy to show you the facilities and answer any questions you might have.

Educate yourself about liposuction. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should have a basic understanding of the different types of liposuction and how it works. This will also aid you in asking the right questions when searching for a liposuction specialist.

Don’t just pick the first plastic surgeon you talk to, take the time to speak with several before making a decision. If there are people that you trust who’ve already had liposuction or another plastic surgery get their opinion. Your primary care physician could be another good source of information about good plastic surgeons.

Research the doctor’s background and history. Make sure they are well trained and experienced and hopefully board certified to practice liposuction.

New York is a large diverse city and finding a great liposuction doctor should be easy. Just take your time when choosing a Manhattan liposuction surgeon and you shouldn’t have any trouble. Just keep in mind that you’re dealing with your health and appearance and you should be able to make a good decision.



By: Steven Walters

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