Dr. Ayman Shahine Liposuction: Uses, Risks and Benefits

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, liposculpture suction lipectomy or lipo, is a type of cosmetic surgery which breaks up and "sucks" fat from various possible parts of the body, most commonly the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, chin, upper and backs of the arms, calves and back.

During liposuction, the fat is removed through a hollow instrument - a cannula - which is inserted under the skin. A powerful, high-pressure vacuum is applied to the cannula.

Liposuction is the most common cosmetic operation in America and the United Kingdom. Over 400,000 procedures are carried out in the US each year.

Here are some key points about liposuction. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

§ Liposuction involves sucking fat from various parts of the body

§ The operation is normally carried out under general anaesthetic

§ Liposuction is not a weight-loss tool, it is purely cosmetic and its effects are subtle

§ Over 400,000 liposuction procedures are carried out yearly

§ There are a number of associated risks including infection and scarring

§ Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity

§ Areas that can be treated with liposuction include the thighs, stomach, neckline and upper arms

§ If a patient's skin is not elastic, they might be left with baggy areas of skin

§ Procedures vary and include dry, wet and super-wet liposuction.

Medical conditions that may benefit from liposuction include:

§  Lipomas - benign fatty tumors

§  Gynecomastia - where fatty breast tissue has developed in men

§  Lipodystrophy syndrome - a lipid (fat) metabolism disturbance in which there is too much fat in some parts of the body and partial or total absence of fat in other parts. Sometimes a side effect of some HIV medications.

What are the uses of liposuction?

Liposuction is mainly used to improve how a person looks, rather than providing any physical health benefits. In many cases, the patient would probably achieve the same results, and sometimes better ones if they adopted a healthy lifestyle - good diet, regular exercise and a good night's sleep every night.

Experts say that liposuction should ideally only be used if the individual did not achieve the desired results with a lifestyle change. For example, if some obstinate areas of fat that are resistant to exercise and diet.

When you gain weight each fat cell increases in size and volume. Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in isolated areas.

How much is removed from a specific area depends on its appearance and the volume of fat. Contour changes resulting from liposuction can be long-lasting, as long as the patient's weight does not increase.

Liposuction is only done in relatively small areas of the human body, and is in no way a treatment for obesity or long-term weight loss. It should not be used if the person wants to get rid of stretch marks, cellulite, dimpling, or other skin surface irregularities.

Patients should discuss the pros and cons of liposuction with their GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) before deciding on whether to proceed. If the individual still wants to go ahead, they should talk to their surgeon sincerely about why they want to do it, what they hope to gain out of it personally, and what their expectations are.

Liposuction should only be carried out after a lot of thought. Results are never dramatic; they are subtle.