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Advatages & Disadvantages of Liposuction

Liposuction is a common cosmetic surgery procedure that is also often referred to as lipoplasty. Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing extra fat deposits. This enhances the proportion, overall shape and contours of the body. Liposuction is done to remove persistent fat that won't come off by regular weight loss, or to remove areas of saggy skin.

  1. Advantages

    • Liposuction, when done correctly, can do a lot to improve an individual's self confidence and self-image. It is a rapid way to eliminate redundant, persistent fat from the body, and is especially helpful for when a person only wants to lose weight from a specific area of the body.

    Temporary Disadvantages

    • There are also possible complications and negative side effects associated with having liposuction. These temporary factors include swelling (should go away in a month or two), painful bruising, pain (can be controlled by prescription or over-the-counter medication), numbness, limited mobility and allergic reaction.

    Longer Term Disadvantages

    • Some negative side effects from liposuction can last longer or, in some cases, even be fatal. These disadvantages include bacterial infection (caused by small puncture wounds made during liposuction), skin damage, skin necrosis (a very rare but fatal complication), nerve or skin burns, contour issues (bumpy or withered looking skin), disturbing the fluid balance of the body and Lidocaine toxicity poisoning (which in certain cases could lead to cardiac arrest).

    Scarring

    • One of the most permanent disadvantages to liposuction is post-operative liposuction scarring. Scarring results from the one or two small incisions that are made for insertion of the cannula. These scars are generally hidden in the belly button of natural creases of the skin, but if you want to minimize them more, you can massage them with scar creams such as Mederma or Cimeosil.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Liposuction should be done on individuals who have the lowest risk for complications. A healthy individual should look for an experienced surgeon who utilizes tumescent anesthesia in a proper outpatient setting. General anesthesia and extracting large amounts of fat can increase the risk for negative complications. The healthier a person is and the better trained the surgeon is, the higher the chance the individual will experience the advantages of liposuction.

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