Liposuction is a surgical technique that may be applied to any of several parts of the body. Its purpose is to safely remove excess fat tissue that exists in those areas, leaving only small, inconspicuous, scars afterward.
Stemming from work done in the 1970's by a French plastic surgeon (Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz), liposuction as we know it today, using a blunt tipped suction tube (cannula), has flourished to become one of the most frequent aesthetic surgical techniques. The public is often led to believe that liposuction can solve almost any obesity problem, and many are disappointed to learn of its limitations. However, there is no question about the ability of liposuction to effectively remove unwanted fat deposits from various areas of the body such as the neck, arms, abdomen, hips, breasts, flanks, thighs and knees:
The limitation of liposuction is frequently imposed by the skin overlying the liposuction area and whether it's tight enough to resist unsightly folds or indentations following removal of the offending amounts of underlying fat. This is a decision that should only be made by an experienced plastic surgeon who can offer a reliable opinion only after following a consultation and examination.
Due to the popularity of liposuction as a means of removing fat bulges, the market for this technique has become extremely competitive. There are now liposuction techniques that incorporate laser or ultrasonic dissolution of fat as part of the process. Even following years of heavy marketing and using catchy terms such as "SmartLipo®” or "VASER Lipo®,” the advantage of these methods over conventional liposuction technique is yet to be convincingly demonstrated. If nothing else, these heavily marketed variants do result in increased costs
Regardless of the liposuction method chosen, the procedure is usually performed as an outpatient and most frequently under general anesthesia (most comfortable). Recovery is relatively quick, with return to work or school mostly dependent upon the amount of liposuction performed.
