Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries around the world today, with millions of patients going under the knife to change the look of their bodies and gain a renewed sense of confidence. But when it comes down to it, there are a large number of misconceptions about exactly what liposuction surgery actually is.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that is used to combat and remove stubborn built up deposits of fat on a selection of areas around the body (such as the stomach, hips, bum and chest) to give results that are quite often considered to be lifechanging. However, it’s not just a procedure that you can use to lose weight at the drop of a hat or to be performed to support an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, it’s the complete opposite of that, liposuction is something that can aid you in achieving the dream results for your body when all other options have been unsuccessful in any way.
So, we’re going to break down some of the most common misconceptions that we hear most often from people and give you the real facts about them instead;
Liposuction can help to treat cellulite
Cellulite is something that affects the vast majority of people around the world. Although it is technically a fatty deposit beneath the skin, it’s not the same kind of fatty deposit that would be affected via liposuction. Cellulite occurs when the subcutaneous fat beneath the skin pushes onto tissue bands which causes the characteristic visible lumps and bumps. Liposuction is designed to remove soft, fatty tissue, so the areas causing cellulite would not be affected.
Liposuction surgery isn’t for somebody who is considered “older”
As long as you’re in good health and have passed a medical examination before undergoing surgery, anyone is eligible to undergo liposuction surgery. Whilst it is true that the older you get, the firmness and elasticity within the skin will decrease with age which in turn could compromise the skin’s ability to effectively adjust to the new contours, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible for an “older” patient.
Liposuction is a dangerous procedure
Whilst every single surgical procedure has an element of risk associated with it, liposuction technology has steadily advanced over time and is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. When performed by a registered aesthetic surgeon, liposuction is no more dangerous than any other form of surgery.
Liposuction can provide you with an “easy way out”
We touched on this right at the start, but liposuction should never be considered as an easy way out or method of weight loss. It is a surgical procedure that is designed to be considered as the last possible option to provide targeted fat removal, ideally for a patient who is within a weight range considered to be healthy for them. It’s also incredibly important to note that maintaining the results after a surgery requires you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Your fat will return after the surgery
Liposuction is considered to be a permanent surgical procedure and once the fat cells have been removed, they are not capable of growing back. However, it is possible that the remaining fat cells are capable of growing in size and taking the place of those which were removed if the patient in question has an excessive calorie intake. This points back to the previous point and it’s important that you lead an active and healthy lifestyle both before and after the surgery.
You can fix lax/loose skin with liposuction
Having a double chin or an overhanging tummy may not be down to fat alone and instead could also be caused by having skin with reduced elasticity. Liposuction, while it is capable of removing the fat, is not capable of tightening loose skin or removing any excess and can end up providing you with a “deflated” appearance. In such cases, your surgeon will often recommend a skin tightening procedure in addition to liposuction.
You will be able to go straight back to your normal routine afterwards
While liposuction is considered to be safe and is frequently performed on an outpatient basis, as with any other surgical procedure it does come with a recovery period. The most commonly seen after effects are some swelling, bruising and soreness around the treated areas. Although every patient has a different healing process and rate, we advise most patients take at least one week off work to recover, and it may take between 4-6 weeks for the body to heal enough for you to resume any form of strenuous activity or exercise.
Liposuction is a surgery for women only
This is completely untrue and men often request consultations to undergo liposuction, most commonly in the abdomen, hips (love handles) and chest areas.
Liposuction is the answer to getting rid of belly fat
Liposuction is used to target subcutaneous fat, the kind of fat that is found beneath the skin but above the muscle. If your abdomen is protruding due to fat beneath the muscle (also known as visceral fat), then you will not be able to improve the appearance of the abdomen with liposuction. Diet and exercise are the only way to go when it comes to this kind of fat.
Liposuction will help you to lose weight
While this one is technically true (which is why we’ve saved it until last), it’s not considered to be a treatment that is particularly good at helping patients to lose weight. The reality is that most patients actually lose around 5lbs in total so, whilst it’s not completely a misconception, it isn’t 100% correct either.
Those are some of the most commonly seen misconceptions around liposuction surgery and how it can affect the body. While the number one misconception will always be that it is a “miracle cure” to help you lose weight quickly, it’s actually a lot different and when you come to book a consultation, a good surgeon would always tell you that in advance, and advise on the best possible surgical procedure for you, whether that is liposuction alone or in conjunction with some form of skin tightening treatment.