To Book an Appointment

What is Liposuction: Mastering Its Art, Science, and Success

By Dr. Sunil Choudhary in Aesthetic And Reconstructive Surgery

Jul 29 , 2024 | 2 min read

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ survey of popular aesthetic plastic surgery procedures is out with its 2023 statistics, and the ever-popular procedure of liposuction is once again the Numero Uno – striking a hat-trick for three consecutive years! Liposuction can help eliminate the stubborn fat that diet and exercise can’t eliminate to give a better body shape and contour in areas such as the tummy, arms, thighs, and hips. It can be transformational for the right candidate, provided some rules are followed.

Understanding the Role of Fat

Fat is essential to our body, giving it support, warmth, and shape. But no one likes its excess deposition! With age and weight gain, fat cells increase in size and distort body shape, making one conscious of appearance and affecting self-esteem and confidence. Losing weight with exercise and diet, or even bariatric surgery, has great health benefits but fails to remove fat from the most desirable areas. This is where liposuction works brilliantly.

Liposuction is neither a tool for weight reduction nor a recipe for obesity. It is a tool for body contouring and spot reduction. Liposuction is best suited for people within 30% of their ideal body weight. One must have realistic expectations and be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet if contemplating liposuction for a fulfilling and long-lasting result.

Prioritize Safety

The advent of advanced liposuction technologies like Ultrasonic Liposuction and Power-assisted Liposuction have made this procedure more refined and safer. Plastic surgeons can use these tools with more finesse to sculpt your body while decreasing complications like blood loss and anaemia.

Liposuction is also offered to people after massive weight loss in combination with other body-lift procedures. Fat is a rich source of stem cells and is capable of volume enhancement and regeneration. Liposuction is being used to harvest fat, which can be used for fat grafting in areas such as breasts for augmentation instead of implants.

Safety is a non-negotiable element in all aesthetic surgeries. Keeping liposuction within the safe limit of 4-5L and getting procedures done by a board-certified plastic surgeon in nationally accredited surgical facilities can be a great safety shield for all patients.

It cannot be overemphasized that patients should be reasonably medically fit. Uncontrolled diabetes (HB1Ac > 6.5%), heart disease, hypertension, anaemia, immunodeficiencies, past history of thrombosis, and mental disorders are all considered relative contraindications for liposuction. Smoking must be quit well in advance of the procedure, and any vitamin and health supplements being taken must be disclosed to your surgeon, as many of them can cause increased bleeding.

All patients are advised to wear a customized pressure garment for a few weeks to aid in skin shrinkage and prevent complications like fluid collection, oedema, and hematoma.

Choose Wisely

Regular individuals want to look good as it can make them feel good. Advanced technologies and safety guidelines have made liposuction a great aid to getting a good body shape in suitable candidates. It can bring about a balance in body contour and motivate and inspire many people to improve their lifestyles even further. If you think you can benefit from liposuction, don’t hesitate to consult a qualified plastic surgeon, and always look for surgeons who are full members of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI).

Happy Plastic Surgery Day!