Things You Ought To Know First Before Undergoing Liposuction Surgery

According to the medical dictionary of Medline Plus, liposuction is the removal of excess body fat by suction with specialized surgical equipments, typically performed by a plastic surgeon.

With the removal of excess body fat, the body appearance improves and evens out distorted body parts. Breasts, buttocks, abdomen, and the face area are some of the most popular body parts that undergo liposuction.

Foremost reason why people resort to liposuction is for cosmetic reasons. They want to eradicate "love handles", unsightly fat bulges, an abnormal chin line, etc.

Liposuction also helps improve sexual function by reducing fat deposits on the inner thighs, thus allowing easier access to the vagina.

Another reason for undergoing liposuction is body shaping that cannot be achieved by diet and/or exercise.

A note of caution, liposuction is not a cure for generalized obesity.

Liposuction is not as easy as just going to the doctor and telling him or her, "I want a liposuction right now." People who want to have liposuction must meet certain criteria:

1) There should be a preliminary consultation. This includes history of the patient, a comprehensive physical examination, and a psychological health examination;

2) There should be a second consultation to give time for the patient to think over the planned liposuction surgery;

3) If the patient is married, the spouse's presence may be required during the consultation;

4) The patient should ask questions about liposuction, express the reasons for the consultation, and must feel satisfied with the answers to their questions;

5) The patient must fully understand the pre-operative liposuction preparations, the liposuction procedures, and the precise post-operative liposuction care to avoid lethal complications;

6) The patient must have realistic expectations. Liposuction enhances the body appearance and boost self-confidence but it will never result to a perfect body.

Because liposuction is a medical procedure, there are risks involved. Some of the complications that may happen upon having liposuction are:

* Fluid imbalance due to the removal of a lot of liquid during liposuction and/or injection of large amounts of liquid during liposuction which can result to shock, heart problems, or kidney problems.

* Infections happen after any surgery and some physicians prescribe an antibiotic to patients having liposuction so it is important to keep the wound clean. Infections may be life threatening such as necrotizing fasciitis (bacteria eating away the tissue) or the toxic shock syndrome caused by bacteria associated with surgery.

* Embolism occurs when tiny globules of fat trapped in the blood stream blocks the blood flow to the tissue. This may cause permanent disability. Signs of pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing.

* Drug reactions or overdose from lidocaine is fatal. Lidocaine is a drug that numbs the skin and large doses of this is used during liposuction. The effects of lidocaine are lightheadedness, restlessness, drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle twitching, and convulsions. Overdose of this drug may cause the heart to stop which is naturally fatal.

* Burns caused by the ultrasound probe during ultrasound assisted liposuction.

* Visceral perforations or puncture wounds in the organs may require another surgery and can be fatal. During liposuction, the physician does not see where the probe (canula) is, so it is possible to harm internal organs.

* Skin death (skin necrosis) occurs when skin changes color and fall off. This may also cause infection.

* Paresthesias is an altered sensation at the site of liposuction. This may be in the form of increased sensitivity in the area or loss of feeling. Some cases of this are permanent.

* Swelling

* Death

Given that the surgery had no major complications, recovery from liposuction can still be difficult.

The liposuctioned area appears larger than before because of swelling.

Special compression garments must be worn for two to three weeks to reduce swelling, bleeding, and to help contour the new body. The patient starts to feel better after a week or two after liposuction.

Walking is recommended after liposuction to prevent blood clots forming in the legs. Finally, exercise and diet will help keep your new shape.

-------------------------
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
-------------------------

ŠCharlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about liposuction, please go to: http://liposuction.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Coming Clean: The Truth About Soap
What Is Soap?Soap is the oldest cleanser around. It is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye.

Safety With Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly fragrant, volatile oils that are extracted from the flowers, leaves and other parts of plants. Essential oils generally go by the name of the plant from which they were extracted.

10 Important Sunless Tanning Safety Tips
If you are a sunless tanner, your skin's health is very important to you. Here are some tips for you to review at your leisure and share with your friends and family.

What is Botox and Whats the Use
Botox is an injectable substance that is a medical grade form of the botulinum toxin, most often used to soften and relax forehead/scowl lines as well as crows feet around the eye area.Botulin toxin or botox is the toxic compound produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Yet More Care Hair Myths - The Truth And The Lies
Those hair care myths just keep coming! In this third of 3 articles, we examine some of the most widely known myths - and dig out the truth?1. Hair should be washed every dayFALSE: There is no correct schedule for washing hair.

Do-It-Yourself Manicure
Your hands are as obvious as any part of your body; you use them to emphasize points in a conversation and to do daily tasks, therefore they should look as well groomed as the rest of you. A good manicure is important to your appearance.

The Benefits of Human Hair Extensions
Several different types of hair extensions are available, including those made from human hair, animal hair, and synthetic fibers. Most experts agree that human hair extensions are the best and most natural looking.

The Best Tan is a Sunless Tan!
Never used a sunless tanner? Don't sweat it?it's a no brainer. These products are available in the local pharmacy, department store and/or from your local beauty consultant.

Are Herbs Weeds or Treasures?
Many herbs have been introduced into Australia and because they are not native plants, they have often few competitors for resources such as water, soil nutrients and light and have few predators. Subsequently, these plants can grow and spread unchecked, endangering native vegetation and even various animal species such as birds and insects.

Petroleum and Cosmetics: What are the Potential Health Risks?
What is petroleum?Crude oil, sometimes called petroleum, is a fossil fuel that was produced deep in the earth through a process that took millions of years to complete.Millions of years later, almost all of us come into contact with a derivative of petroleum every day.

Whats Up With Botox?
BOTOXŽ is part of a family of drugs called "botulinum toxins". Specifically, it is the Registered Trademark and brand name for "botulinum toxin type A" which is manufactured by a company called "Allergan".

Mini Dental Implants in the U.S.
The concept of mini dental implants is a revolutionary method for supporting replacement teeth that used very small titanium alloy implant screws that would function free standing or in combination with natural tooth supports. The concept was pioneered over 20 years ago by a Dr.

How To Give A Manicure
This guide will give you the basic directions for nail care, however, it cannot provide the same direction and hands-on experience offered by a Professional School of Cosmetology.SUPPLIES: 1 - Nail scissors2 - Small tray, about the size of a soap dish3 - Gentle dishwashing detergent or other skin softening, bubbly liquid (such as some bubble bath products)4 - Warm water5 - Two to three hand towels6 - Moisturizer or Hand Lotion with Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter or similar ingredient to condition skin7 - Clear Base Coat Nail Polish8 - Colored Nail Polish9 - Top Coat Nail Polish10 - Small lamp or other radiant source of light11 - Table or desk so that, when seated, your arms can easily extend across from the relaxed position of a comfortable chair12 - Hair dryer or similar device (not required)13 - Cotton swabsSTEPS: 1 - Fill tray with warm water and sudsy liquid (the trick is to add water at just the right temperature so it will soften skin without being too hot to the touch)2 - Place one hand in tray and let it soak for several minutes3 - If you're giving someone else a manicure, you can use oil or moisturizer to massage one hand while the other one is soaking4 - Remove soaking hand and pat dry with hand towel5 - Place other hand in tray to soak for several minutes6 - While the second hand is soaking, you should carefully begin trimming cuticles that form around the edges of the nail itself (NOTE: Pay close attention to what you're doing, so you don't cut too close and end up causing skin to bleed.

What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants offer many advantages over traditional tooth replacement procedures. Gone are the days when patients were forced to simply wear unsightly or uncomfortable caps, crowns or dentures.

Are Tanning Beds Worth Your Time
There is no denying that we live in a world of convenience. Our daily lives depend on gadgets and devices such as the ubiquitous mobile phone, the trustworthy PDA, and our cars that we cannot live without.

Wheres The Plastic In Plastic Surgery?
Don't be looking for the Dupont Company sales rep the next time you visit a Plastic Surgeon's office because, despite popular belief, there's no "Plastic" in Plastic Surgery. The name is taken from the Greek word "plastikos" which means to "mold or shape.

The Facts About Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is big business now, the advances of science and technology meaning it has become more affordable and much more accessible for anyone to consider it. Far from breast enhancements being the only option anymore, there are operations that can be done on virtually any part of your body to aesthetically enhance your appearance.

Natural Skin Care Tips: 10 Skin Care Tips Women Must Know (Part 2)
Right eating habits and the right natural care can do wonders for your looks and health. Here are some precious natural skin care tips which will make your skin glow round the clock.

Gray Hair Shampoo: The Best Treatment for Your Hair
Just because you have Gray hair doesn't mean you should use any old shampoo. When your hair goes Gray it's a sign that it needs special treatment as the vital nutrients that produce the pigment for your hair color are now no longer as healthy as they use to be.

Effective Make-up and Beauty Tips and Products: Dos and Donts, Avoid These Most Common Mistakes!
With the amount of importance given to make-up these days, many women just tend to do a bit too much. Getting the right make-up for the particular occasion is the call of the entire womanhood.