Liposuction is Not a Weight Loss Procedure
Dr. Alan Durkin debunks a common misconception about liposuction.
Liposuction
Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Despite more media attention, many people still view liposuction as a durable method for weight loss. While this may seem tantalizing, it is unfortunately false.
Liposuction has always been, and always will be, a contouring procedure. It is designed to improve pre-existing contours, not create them from nothing. As well, it is not designed to markedly reduce overall body weight. In addition, many people who seek out liposuction as an individual procedure are not good candidates for the procedure.
Good candidates for liposuction are only are men or women with good skin elasticity that are near (within 10-15%) or at their appropriate body weight. With these patients, there are a multitude of liposuction techniques available, such as the laser liposuction (SmartLipo), Ultrasonic liposuction (Lysonix), and Power Assisted Liposuction (Microaire). I personally employ all of these different liposuction modalities as there are advantages and disadvantages to each method.
My most common use of liposuction is in conjunction with other contouring plastic surgery procedures. For example, liposuction and liposculpture can be used with both full abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck), and limited incision abdominoplasty (mini tummy-tuck). In this setting, liposuction is easily employed in almost all patients with outstanding results, regardless of preoperative skin elasticity. This is an important concept, because liposuction alone cannot tighten loose skin, but liposuction with a skin tightening procedure like tummy-tuck can produce excellent and profound results in patients of all ages and sizes.
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