The thought of sucking excess fat deposits out of your body seems almost too easy to be true. What’s the underlying truth?

For those with extra pounds here and there, wouldn’t it be wonderful to cut them off to get a shapelier body? With technologies these days, it is virtually possible to do so. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that our body doesn’t work in a cut-and-paste way. It is way more complicated than that.

While people see liposuction as the preferred weight-loss method, it comes with limits. The reduction of weight is permanent only if the person stays in a healthy lifestyle that incorporates good food and regular exercise. What’s more, liposuction can only reduce fat at a certain area of the body.

There are two major types of liposuction - high water injection pressure liposuction (also known as wet liposuction) and laser assisted liposuction. In wet liposuction, a large dose of liquid is injected into the part of the body being treated. The added fluid forces the compartments of fat to swell and firm up, which lets the surgeon extract the unwanted fat more smoothly and with minimal bleeding.A laser-assisted liposuction helps to liquefy the fat in your body before it is removed. It is less invasive and damaging because lasers can be fine-tuned to deliver their energy beneath your skin.

Liposuction is a simple procedure performed as a day case and it usually take about 2 hours. Before the surgery, the surgeon will mark the treatment area on your body and show you the potential results of liposuction compared with your original appearance. If you are a smoker, you have to quit smoking as it might cause side effects.

First, local anesthesia is used, and then liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions. Next, a tube is inserted through these incisions to loosen excess fat which will be later suctioned out of the body.

After the surgery, there can be fluid retention and swelling. It may take several weeks to months for the swelling to fully dissipate. You will need to wear your elastic garment or bandages for two to three weeks to help reduce swelling while providing the area with support and shaping.

Prior to your decision, make sure you consult the surgeon to check if your body is fit for the surgery. You need to have elastic and healthy skin and within healthy weight range as liposuction is a body contouring process – not a weight loss process. Smokers are not encouraged to undergo liposuction. Also don’t forget to ask about risks and post-surgery complications to prepare yourself for the outcome. Side effects, although quite rare if performed well, might include infection, scarring, persisting swelling and fluid imbalance, all of which can be treated by your surgeon.

Another factor to keep in mind is your surgeon’s competence. He or she needs to be well trained and experienced in all kinds of liposuction techniques. Another point of interest is the surgery room and its hygienic conditions. You should check the certification of both the facility and the surgeon. Ask if they have the right equipment if any complications during the operation occur. The support staff should be experienced with aftercare so that they would know what you need and how to alleviate your uneasiness.

There have been attempts at “surgery-free liposuction” using ultrasound to break down the fat and the fat cells are eliminated through the body’s lymphatic system. However, these new technologies need to be carefully inspected and examined first. In the near future liposuction will be made easier and less painful.

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