By Linda Howard


Tummy tuck and liposuction are the two most commonly performed (and most effective) methods of dealing with obesity. Obesity is not only a cause of undesirable body shape but is also a predisposing factor for cardiovascular diseases. The two procedures, which are often performed simultaneously, can help one lose abdominal wall fat (as well as fat in other areas) in a short period of time. There are a number of important aspects on liposuction Michigan patients should know.

Liposuction is also popularly called liposculpture because of its use in altering the body shape. This is achieved by removing unwanted fat from some areas of the body and implanting it in areas where more fat is desirable or discarding it. The areas from which fat is commonly harvested include the buttocks, the hips, thighs and the abdominal wall (also known as tummy tuck). The procedure is considered to be largely cosmetic rather than therapeutic.

Although liposculpture may be considered as an option for weight loss, it should only be used as a last resort. Persons that are likely to benefit from liposuction for weight loss are those that have a BMI of at least 40. For persons with or at risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, lower BMI values of 35 are acceptable. When such persons undergo the surgery, the progression of their illness is slowed down.

Once all the criteria have been met, one has to undergo preoperative workup. Part of the workup includes undergoing a number of blood tests that helps determine whether or not one is physically fit to undergo the surgery. Examples include tests such as liver function tests, renal function tests and hemoglobin. Counseling on the benefits and the risks of this operation is also done at this time.

The surgery is conducted under general or regional anesthesia depending on the extent of fat removal. Local anesthesia may be used in rare circumstances. The area of interest is exposed using a surgical incision (cut) to make the fat accessible. A high frequency vibrator helps to break down the fat tissue through a process termed lipolysis. This makes it easy to remove the fat by a suctioning machine.

The next step is to close the incisions using sutures and dressing them with a tight bandage. This helps to minimize inflammation which is tends to occur a few days later. For the minor cases (especially those in which local or regional anesthesia has been used) patients are discharged from hospital within a few hours. When, general anesthesia is used, on the other hand, there is a need for one to be observed in the ward for at least 24 hours.

There are a number of complications that may occur as a result of liposculpture. The probability of suffering these complications increases with an increasing number of procedures on the same patient. It is also higher in persons in whom a lot of fat is removed in one operation. Some of them include bleeding during the surgery, infections and scar formation.

The results of liposuction are acceptable in a majority of cases. In a few situations, however, additional fine-tuning procedures may be needed. One must remember that the results will vary from one person to another depending on factors that relate to both the surgeon and the patient. It is important to make lifestyle changes that will help in weight loss so as to optimize on the benefits of the operation.




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