One of the most commonly known cosmetic procedures that can be performed to enhance your body is liposuction. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that over 200,000 men and women underwent liposuction in 2020 alone, making it the third most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. However, despite the popularity of liposuction, many people do not fully understand the limits and benefits of the procedure. Being aware of the possibilities of liposuction – as well as the limitations – can help you determine if liposuction does work for you.
Exploring the Liposuction Benefits
Although you may be doing everything right in terms of trying to lose weight, we unfortunately cannot control where that weight loss comes from in the areas of our body. Liposuction benefits include the ability for your surgeon to target the areas of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise, allowing you to get the results that you need.
When you initially think of liposuction, you might think of fat removal from the abdomen because it’s the most common area that people want to target. Does liposuction work on other areas of the body? Yes! Liposuction can be used virtually anywhere on the body, allowing for more versatility.
Due to its versatility, liposuction allows you to get specific and tailored results. For example, if you want to keep the same volume in your abdomen but slim down your thighs, liposuction offers the control that is necessary to get this type of result.
Understanding the Limitations of Liposuction
While the goal of liposuction is to remove fat to produce a more contoured look, it shouldn’t be thought of as a replacement for weight loss. Liposuction is meant to remove a small amount of fat cells, so it is best that you are relatively close to your goal weight before you begin your procedure. By doing this, you can enjoy the liposuction benefits longer.
Additionally, liposuction will not prevent you from gaining weight after your procedure. Once you are fully healed, it is important for you to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to ensure that weight gain does not happen.
While liposuction benefits include treating the fat underneath the skin, it does nothing for the skin itself. This is important to keep in mind if you have cellulite, stretch marks, or sagging skin, as liposuction will not help with these. However, many people choose to get a tummy tuck procedure done in addition to a liposuction to assist with these issues.
Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
