BC

• Published:January 27th, 2010
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• Category:Health

Liposuction, otherwise known as lipoplasty, liposculpture suction lipectomy or simply lipo is a process by which fat is removed from different sites of the body through a suctioning process. Among the areas commonly affected are the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, under the chin, back of the arms and elsewhere. It is important to note that liposuction is not an alternative for weight loss but instead a procedure for sculpting and reshaping the body’s contours.

Nowadays, a number of new techniques have been developed to help cosmetic surgeons to provide patients with more accurate results and faster recovery times. Such techniques include power-assisted lipoplasty (PAL), ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), suction-assisted liposuction (SAL), water-assisted liposuction (WAL), twin-cannula liposuction (TCL), VASER, the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique.

Liposuction can be performed on patients of any age, however, the best results are seen in patients who have skin that has not lost its elasticity. In all, a good candidate is one who is over the age of 18 and in good general health. The patient must have tried diet and exercise yet 10 to 15 pounds remain in certain parts of the body. Diabetics and individuals with a history of cardiac or circulatory disorders are generally restricted to undergo the procedure.

Overall, liposuction is a relatively safe procedure which can be done under general anesthesia or sedation anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts for an hour, but it could take longer depending on the number of areas being treated. In terms of recovery period, patients are normally able to return to work or school between two days and two weeks.