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Buying a Better Body
Is Liposuction Right for You? By Carma Haley Shoemaker
During the last 10 years, liposuction techniques have changed significantly. The days of patients being left with major skin irregularities and contour deformities are long gone. However, this does not mean that the procedure is a miracle cure-all for anyone with extra weight. Risks, complications, cost and lifestyle changes are all factors weighing in on whether liposuction can be a complete success.
Introduced in the United States in the early 1980s, liposuction – also called liposculpture, lipoplasty or suction lipectomy – is a cosmetic surgery technique developed to remove stubborn fat deposits that don't respond to dieting and exercise.
"The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is close to her ideal weight, but experiencing fat bulges or problem areas," says Dr. Nikolas Chugay, a plastic surgeon from Long Beach, Calif. "These fatty bulges are most commonly found in the thighs, hips, abdomen, buttocks, knees, ankles, calves and arms. They are also found in the facial areas such as the chin, cheeks, jowls and neck. A typical procedure will only result in a few pounds lost. However, it almost always leads to a drop in a few clothing sizes."
"Liposuction can create an improved overall contour and bring a patient's body back into appropriate, symmetrical proportions," says Dr. Douglas L.. Forman, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Md. "When patients undergo liposuction, they should expect to achieve an improved appearance with minimal telltale signs of ever having had liposuction. One of the most common comments patients have following surgery is that their clothes fit better, and they can wear clothes that they never dreamed of prior to surgery."
There are two distinct situations in which liposuction can and does help a person with their body shape and size. According to Dr. Forman, either situation can respond well and with dramatic results. "When a person loses excess weight with exercise and proper diet, they can then use liposuction to further improve their appearance by treating their problem or resistant areas," says Dr. Forman. "On the other hand, some patients have tried all methods to improve their contouring but have reached a plateau, no matter how hard they work out or diet. These patients can often 'jump start' progress with liposuction. Then, following surgery, they continue to improve dramatically, partially inspired by their new appearance."
