With the growing obesity epidemic and the current obsession with body image and aesthetic perfection, fat removal techniques have become popular. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that allows a patient to have fat sucked out of certain body areas. It is also known as body contouring procedure, lipoplasty, and suction lipectomy. MayoClinic.com asserts that liposuction is not primarily a weight loss procedure, since the maximum volume of fat tissue to be removed is around 3 liters. Patients who undergo liposuction usually seek aesthetic improvements that can complement a proper weight loss plan.
Fat Loss
According to MayoClinic.com, liposuction surgery involves the suction of a varying amount of fat tissue. This will result in fat loss from the areas that have undergone the liposuction. This decrease in fat will make the area appear leaner. This fat loss can be permanent if the patient's weight remains constant. In that sense, liposuction can be the answer to the "spot reduction" hopes of many men and women.
Cosmetic Skin Effects
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons mentions that liposuction does not affect or enhance skin elasticity. This means that whether or not the patient achieves a toned look will depend on their skin's natural elasticity. Actually, liposuction in areas with inelastic skin tends to worsen the appearance of this loose skin. Areas notorious for this, like the abdomen, can be treated with a skin tightening procedure in which the excess skin is excised after the liposuction. Also, liposuction in an area that is heavily dimpled with cellulite will not improve the condition and may make it worse.
Effects of the Metabolism
A study published in the August 2002 issue of the journal "Hormone and Metabolic Research" indicates that obese women who undergo the liposuction of large volume of fat can expect to see some improvements in their metabolic profile. They will have a better utilization of glucose, better insulin sensitivity, and a decrease in uric acid concentrations.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Liposuction
- "Hormone and Metabolic Research"; The effects of surgically removing subcutaneous fat on the metabolic profile and insulin sensitivity in obese women after large-volume liposuction treatment; M. Gonzalez-Ortez et. al.; August 2002
- The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons: Liposuction
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