The Skinny On Liposuction

By guest blogger Michelle Copeland, D.M.D, M.D

(Part 1 of a 3-part series)

Know whether this is the right treatment for you or if there are other options out there.

Are your workouts not working out? Imperfections and excess fat have everything to do with DNA or hormones, and not with some innate lack of character or hard work. Big thighs, bulging tummy, love handles – if one of these trouble zones is in your genetic cards, then all of your good intentions, diet and exercise won’t help. Fat deposits are a hereditable predisposition just as the texture of your hair or your eye color. So don’t blame yourself.

Are you a good candidate for liposuction? The best lipo candidates have good skin tone and good elasticity, which provides a smoother contour after the fat is removed. Therefore, age is a consideration, but I have had great success with patients of all ages. Liposuction is not a solution to a chronic weight problem and cannot help an obese person become svelte. It works best on patients who are of relatively average weight but need help with a problem area or have ten pounds that they are constantly losing and gaining.

So what is Lipo? Liposuction modifies volume and contour by sculpting and sucking out fat that collects in certain areas. Typical treatment areas include the tummy,  lovehandles, hips,  calves and ankles, buttocks, enlarged breasts on men (Gynecomastia) or double chins. Liposuction is by far the most popular procedure I perform and the most requested type of cosmetic surgery in the U.S. The techniques are used in most cosmetic procedures and have revolutionized the field of plastic surgery.

How is it performed? The image of liposuction that most people have is of a vacuum sucking out fat. While that is true, the procedure has become much more refined over the years.  Traditional liposuction employs a narrow, rigid, hollow tube called a cannula that is inserted in a small incision near the problem area. To break up fat, the surgeon manipulates the cannula, which is attached to a large syringe or vacuum pump. As fat is broken up and siphoned, the area diminishes in size. This where the surgeon’s artistry comes in to make the fat-reduced area as smooth and symmetrical as possible. The incision is then closed and that area will probably never be a problem again since the fat cells have been removed. The skin around that area will gradually tighten as it redrapes around the newly contoured area. Liposuction will stimulate skin tightening, and I advise my patients to use a skin care regimen and light exercise to help rejuvenate and tighten.

Lipo or not to Lipo? That is the question… New techniques in liposuction and lifting and tucking have made it possible to transform a body’s shape with less visible, and in some cases, no scarring. In turn, the lives of millions of men and women who were formerly self-conscious about their excess fat, sagging skin, and stretch marks, have been improved because they no longer are burdened with this troublesome area and can wear certain articles of clothing with confidence.

Reshaping your body is not as simple as visiting a beauty salon. Surgery is never 100 per cent risk-free, and for many procedures, the healing process takes patience and determination. My job is to help you determine which procedures will give you the results you want, and make you proud to show the world your arms, thighs, stomachs or hips, perhaps for the first time in your life.

Next: Liposuction options – different techniques for different needs. And the lowdown on recovery time and choosing a doctor.

World-renowned, Harvard-trained plastic surgeon, biochemist, and best-selling author, Dr. Michelle Copeland has been sharing her skin care secrets with celebrities for years.  After graduating first in her class at Harvard University, she became the first female plastic surgeon in the United States to hold combined doctorate in dentistry and medicine.  Dr. Copeland practices plastic and reconstructive surgery in New York City.  Learn more at www.DrCopeland.com and www.DrCopelandSkinCare.com