March 21, 2011 | Plastic Surgery
3 minute read
Liposuction myths have been around for decades and can often be confusing to patients who don’t know what to expect from the procedure. To help set realistic expectations for his Eugene liposuction, Dr. Daniel discusses four common lipo myths.
Lipo Myth #1: Liposuction For Weight Loss
Because liposuction permanently reduces fatty tissue, many men and women mistakenly believe that liposuction can help them lose weight. Although liposuction does remove fat cells from targeted areas, helping you lose inches and slim your physique, it does not actually help with weight loss and will not cause a noticeable reduction in weight.
Liposuction is not an effective way to combat obesity. In fact, obese patients are often not good candidates for the procedure, as health problems caused by obesity can make elective surgery too risky. Surgical fat reduction with lipo is best for patients who follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen and simply want to improve body proportions and contours or get rid of stubborn fat deposits in particular body areas.
Lipo Myth #2: Liposuction Reduces Cellulite
To understand why liposuction does not help reduce the appearance of cellulite, it is important to understand that liposuction surgery removes fat in deeper tissue layers but does not affect superficial fat deposits that, in combination with loss of skin elasticity, cause cellulite.
Non-surgical skin tightening procedures may provide temporary cellulite reduction, but the best way to get rid of cellulite is with lifestyle changes that help you maintain well hydrated, collagen rich skin.
Lipo Myth #3: Non-Surgical Liposuction
No matter what the advertisements tell you, liposuction is a surgical procedure. There are some body slimming devices out there that claim to provide fat reduction without surgery, however these are often only mildly effective, if at all, and will not provide the guaranteed results possible with liposuction surgery.
Although liposuction is minimally invasive, it does still involve some sort of anesthesia and incisions needed to insert the suction tube, or cannula, that removes fat cells. So, very small, discreet liposuction scars will be present after the procedure, and patients will need to take at least a few days off work following liposuction.
Lipo Myth #4: Liposuction Gets Rid of Loose Skin
Liposuction is not an effective skin tightening treatment and cannot get rid of loose skin. However, liposuction is frequently performed in combination with procedures that address flab and excess skin such as tummy tuck.
Some laser liposuction devices claim to offer skin tightening benefits in addition to fat reduction, but any skin tightening achieved with lasers during liposuction is usually modest and ineffective for patients with more substantial skin laxity.