No one can deny the popularity of cosmetic surgeries. More and more people are deciding to use different forms of surgery in order to improve the appearance of their body and boost their self-confidence. In the year 2017, almost 18 million procedures were performed in order to help individuals who had something about their appearance they did not like and wanted to correct it. In that number, a significant amount of surgeries were performed in order to help individuals to remove unwanted fat. In fact, liposuction represents about a fourth of the cosmetic procedures that were performed in 2017.
This fat removal procedure has advanced a lot over the years. When it first got it start, it definitely did the job of removing unwanted fat from the body. Nowadays, though, it is so much less invasive. In fact, people usually only need a short recovery time before they are able to get back to normal life and enjoy the way their body has been sculpted.
The procedure is designed to break down and remove the fat that is just right under the skin. It is able to be used on almost any part of the body to help people who have lumps and bumps that make them feel self-conscious and unattractive. It can be used to remove fat on the back of the neck, on the bra strap area, on the abdomen, and under the chin. It can remove fat from both male and female breasts. It can also be used on the upper arms and almost any place where a person has stubborn pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.
Who Is a Good Candidate for liposuction?
It is good to mention that this is not a procedure that is designed to help a person lose weight. An individual who has a significant amount of weight to lose should use diet and exercise to get closer to their weight. An individual who has not been able to achieve these goals on their own may want to seek professional help by visiting a weight loss clinic or even seeking information about weight loss surgery.
This is not to be viewed as a weight loss procedure because only small amounts of fat are removed. Realistically, a person is only likely to lose a few pounds after the procedure is done. When a person loses weight, their fat cells will shrink. When a person goes through liposuction, fat cells are actually removed. The idea is to sculpt the body and allow a person to enjoy a more attractive physique. An additional benefit is that a person will be more resistant to gaining weight in particular areas after the procedure is performed. Of course, fat cells will be left in areas where the procedure is not performed, which means that it is necessary to live a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain the results.
An individual who is interested in fat removal procedures should not be a smoker. If this is something that you are thinking about and you smoke, now would be a good time to stop. Our main priority is your health. Individuals who smoke are not putting their body in a good position to heal after surgery. You will need to stop smoking several weeks before the procedure and will need to avoid smoking for several weeks afterward.
A person who is interested in having liposuction performed would be someone who has stubborn subcutaneous fat. This is the type of fat that is often right under the skin. It usually resides between the skin and the muscle. This is easier to remove by making just a small incision in the skin. An individual who is interested in removing visceral fat should use diet and exercise to get rid of this fat. This is the fat that is usually between the muscles and the abdominal organs.
Before it is decided that this fat removal procedure is for you, you will need to go through a consultation with our team. Our doctor will evaluate your overall health and your skin before recommending the procedure for you. You need to have good skin quality in order to enjoy the best results after the procedure. Some forms of this procedure include the use of heat or other methods in order to provide the benefit of tightening the skin in addition to removing fat. We can discuss these different forms of the procedure with you in order to help you get the best results possible. We want your skin to look smooth and free of dimples after you have gone through the healing process.
How Liposuction Is Performed
There are a variety of methods that can be used to help you get rid of unwanted fat using this surgical procedure. In most cases, a small incision is made in the skin in an area where you have unwanted fat. For example, small incisions may be made in the abdominal area if you want to get rid of belly fat. After the incision is made, a cannula is inserted into the incision. This is a long and thin tube. This tool is able to break up the fat and suction it out.
Some individuals are put under general anesthesia before having the procedure performed. We can discuss the best method to use for you when you visit us for your initial consultation. In the vast majority of cases our clients are able to go home on the same day that they have their surgery performed.
As we mentioned above, different forms of the surgery can be used in order to achieve additional results that you may be seeking, like skin tightening. The procedure may involve heating the fat before removing it. This causes less trauma and better results afterward. Heat will cause the collagen in the skin to contract. This will have the immediate benefit of tightening the skin. The heat will also cause your skin to produce more collagen, which will be beneficial in having skin that looks tight, smooth, and free of dimples.
It is good to mention that liposuction is not the solution for cellulite. It may be able to reduce cellulite, but it is not going to completely remove it. Some individuals have the idea that if you get rid of fat in specific areas, you get rid of cellulite. However, effectively treating cellulite involves improving the condition of a person’s skin as well as reducing fat. If cellulite is one of your main concerns, mention this to the doctor during your initial consultation to discuss your options, as we offer other treatments, like Avéli, that are better suited for cellulite reduction.
Recovery after Liposuction
Most of our clients are able to resume normal activities just a few days after their procedure has been performed. Of course, there are a lot of factors that are involved that will play a part in determining how long a person will take to recover. This includes a person’s age, where the procedure was performed, and how much fat was removed. Most people can get back to more strenuous activities, like vigorous exercise, about a month after the procedure. When you visit us for the first time, we will be able to give you a good idea of how long the procedure will take and how long you should expect to spend recovering.
There are certain things that you can do to speed up the healing process. It is good to make sure that you get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. You may want to ask a family member or friend to stay with you for the first 24 hours to help with things around the house. You will likely need to wear compression garments for at least a couple of weeks in order to reduce strain.
Results after Liposuction
One of the concerns that many of our clients have has to do with scarring. While they do not like the unwanted fat on their body, they may feel that it would be even worse to deal with unwanted scars. The incisions that are made with modern liposuction procedures are very small. The cannula that is used is a small instrument. This means that the scars are going to be small. Over time, the scars will also fade. When you visit with our surgeon, we can discuss where the incisions will be made and determine ways that they can be minimized or hidden.
The great thing about having this procedure done is that the results are immediate. As the surgeon is performing the procedure, he or she will be able to sculpt the area and give you a body that you can feel proud of. This is one of the greatest benefits that this surgical procedure has in comparison to non-invasive body sculpting procedures. You get the results right away, and you get the results that you want.
Preparing for Your First Visit
There are several things that you will want to keep in mind when you visit us for your initial consultation. This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the procedure and to have all of your questions answered. Please feel free to ask the surgeon as many questions as you would like. Ask about the experience he or she has and the type of training he or she has gone through.
The individuals who get the best results from liposuction and any other cosmetic procedure are those who have realistic expectations. They are individuals who have done research on the procedure they request and have a good idea of the type of results that it can produce. When you visit us for the first time, speak with the surgeon at length about the type of results that you should see and when you will be most likely to see them. You want to fully understand how much fat will be removed, how much skin tightening you can expect, when the swelling will go down, and when the scars will fade. The surgeon will be able to explain in detail how the procedure will be done and will serve as your guide through the entire process.
You also may be interested in finding out about other types of procedures that can be done in combination with liposuction in order to help you meet your goals. For example, many individuals combine fat removal with a tummy tuck in order to enjoy an abdominal area that looks more attractive and tight. Men and women who have lost a lot of weight are often dealing with unwanted fat and skin in the abdominal area. They can benefit from this combination of procedures.
Schedule your consultation with Dr. Katerina Gallus in San Diego
We invite you to schedule your consultation with San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus at Restore SD Plastic Surgery if you are interested in learning more about why people love liposuction and to find out if it is right for you. Call 858-224-2281 or contact us online today to schedule your consultation!
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