5 Facts to Know Before Liposuction

Posted December 10, 2018 in Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most sought-out cosmetic procedures available on the market today. This minimally-invasive surgery removes unwanted diet-and-exercise-resistant pockets of fat by suctioning the fat cells from the body through a specially-designed tube known as a cannula. Although most individuals have heard of liposuction and understand its purpose, there are still many misconceptions about this surgery. For patients with frustrations that stem from their unwanted fat, liposuction can be an extremely rewarding procedure. However, it is essential to understand what liposuction can and cannot do.

1. The Fat is Gone for Good

A common misconception about liposuction is the idea that when fat is removed from one area, it will pop-up on another. This is not true. You are born with a defined number of fat cells in your body. The number of these cells will not increase during your lifetime. When you gain or lose weight naturally, you are affecting the size of these cells, not the number of them. Liposuction removes a certain amount of these fat cells in the targeted area. Once they are removed, they are gone for good. New fat cells cannot reproduce in the target (or any other) region. That said, just because the number of fat cells will not increase, does not mean that the remaining cells cannot grow in size. Liposuction will slim your body in the short-run, but it is up to you to make sure that those results are long lasting. The longevity of your liposuction relies solely on you and your dedication to maintaining your results.

2. You Won’t Lose Many Pounds

Many patients go into their liposuction consultation with the expectation that they are going to lose a significant amount of weight with liposuction. Liposuction tightens and sculpts the targeted treatment area. You will notice visible thinning and improvement, and you may experience a loss of a few inches, but this loss may not be very noticeable when you step on the scale. Liposuction patients generally lose somewhere between five and 10 pounds. However, this number is misleading because the visual results may make it appear as if more weight loss has occurred.

It is essential to understand that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and should not replace a lifestyle that consists of a proper diet and regular exercising. The patients that benefit the most from liposuction are near to their ideal weight and have good skin elasticity.

3. It Won’t Shrink Skin

Liposuction is very effective in removing unwanted fat cells from the body, but it does not affect the quality or the elasticity of your skin. If you are a patient that has a significant amount of excess fat or poor skin tone along the targeted area, you could be left with loose or sagging skin after your liposuction procedure. During your consultation, Dr. Cohn will examine the amount of fat to be removed as well as the elasticity of your skin to determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction alone.

4. It Can Be Applied Anywhere

Patients often assume that liposuction is only available to remove fat from the abdomen. While the stomach is a common region for liposuction, it is not the only area that can benefit from the procedure. Liposuction can be safely performed nearly anywhere on your body, including the hips, thighs, buttocks, back, knees, ankles, and under the chin.

5. It Requires Minimal Downtime

Any form of plastic surgery will require some downtime. This recovery period is partially due to the healing of any incisions. Fortunately, with liposuction, the incisions are so small that they require only a single stitch, allowing for minimal downtime. Some patients are even able to return to their normal routine within a day or two of the procedure. Patients are still recommended to take a few days off of work, and a few weeks off from strenuous exercise, but you will not be required to alter your lifestyle for an extended period.

If you think liposuction may be right for you, contact Dr. Cohn by calling (205) 590-9900 to set up a consultation.