According to Statista, over 45 percent of men and women are willing to undergo plastic surgery in Singapore. One of the most popular treatments is liposuction.
If you’re one of these people, however, you may have many questions about the procedure if you’re considering liposuction. What is it? How does it work? What are the benefits and drawbacks? This blog post will answer all of your questions and help you decide if liposuction is right for you!
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is the surgical removal of fat from specific areas of your body to create a more sculpted look. Usually, cosmetic surgeons do it in any part that has excess fat or cellulite, such as stomachs, thighs, buttocks, and arms. People who have undergone the procedure will often get tummy tucks or facelifts to complete the transformation.
People undergo the procedure for many reasons:
- Remove stubborn areas of fat that don’t seem to disappear with diet or exercise
- Improve their self-image and confidence
- Prepare for a special event
How Does Liposuction Work?
Doctors can perform the procedure under local anesthesia with sedation, general anesthesia (putting you in a deep sleep), or even intravenous sedation where an injection is given through your veins while awake.
The surgeon makes small incisions at strategic locations around your problem area and then inserts tiny tubes called cannulas. The cannulas then break up and suction out the fat cells. Surgery time ranges from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on how much fat needs to be removed.
What Are the Benefits of Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the world because of its benefits:
- Sculpts your body into a more attractive shape
- Boosts your self-image and confidence by helping you feel better about yourself. You may even see improvements in other areas of life, such as work performance or social relationships!
- Deals with stubborn fat
- Lets you achieve a leaner frame in a significantly shorter period
Like any surgical procedure, though, liposuction involves some risks. These include:
- Seroma: A collection of serous fluid that accumulates under the skin and can cause pain, infection, or wound breakdown.
- Infection: After surgery, your body will be healing from multiple incisions made by doctors during liposuction procedures, making you susceptible to bacterial infections.
- Contour Irregularities: Small differences in fat removal can cause lumps or bumps that you might see through clothes, making it challenging to wear form-fitting clothing.
- Excessive bleeding leading up to death in rare cases
These risks are not necessarily common, but they do exist. Consult with your surgeon before making any decisions about liposuction procedures.
Liposuction is also not a weight-loss procedure, and the surgeon will deny you the procedure if you’re morbidly obese or overweight because of the possible complications.
Alternatives to Liposuction
If you aren’t sure if you want liposuction, or if the surgeon thinks you’re not an ideal candidate, you can consider other options. One of these is a fat freeze treatment or cool sculpting.
In this process, a device is used to freeze and destroy fat cells. The body then eliminates the dead fat cells as waste products within a few weeks.
It is non-invasive, so the doctors don’t need to make any incisions or insert needles. It doesn’t damage the skin or increase the risk of infection. With this procedure, you won’t experience any downtime either. You can get back to your normal activities as soon as it is over.
Depending on the amount of fat to remove and the body part, the treatment plan may take between one and three sessions, but you will likely see a significant difference after the first. Each treatment lasts for about 35 minutes.
Besides this, you can also embrace a healthier lifestyle. You may not see results as quickly, but they will be permanent. It also improves your overall health, helping you avoid lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
For example, you might want to limit your sugar intake since sugar can increase your appetite and make it harder to lose weight. Instead, increase your consumption of food high in fiber to control your cravings, improve your gut, and keep you fuller for longer.
You should also avoid processed foods because they are high in unhealthy fats and sugar. Design your meals around whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources like turkey or chicken breasts (white meat). Also include healthy fats such as nuts and fish oil supplements.
Take the time to move your body. Exercise releases endorphins, which make you feel good. Not only that, but it can help burn calories and fat. Vary your routine to keep things exciting and avoid getting bored.
Liposuction is an effective technique to help you get rid of the stubborn fat that won’t go away despite all your efforts. It’s not a weight-loss solution, but it can significantly improve your self-esteem and confidence levels if you’re unhappy with how you look.
However, it is not for everyone. If you are not a suitable candidate, consider other alternatives to losing stubborn fat.
