Myth 1: Liposuction Will Make Me Thin
If you are overweight, liposuction is not the solution. It is also not a substitute for exercise and a healthy diet. In fact, it is important that you give diet and exercise a chance before you consider the procedure. Overweight patients should be within 20 pounds of recommended weight.
Liposuction is ideal for those areas of the body that seem immune to traditional lifestyle approaches. If you exercise regularly and lose weight through a balanced diet and still retain excess fat in the hips or thighs, liposuction may be an appropriate option.
Myth 2: Liposuction Eliminates Skin Imperfections
If skin is already sagging or loose in a certain area, liposuction will not improve its appearance. Cellulite and stretch marks are also not likely to improve significantly, although there may be a slight smoothing of the area, depending on the firmness of your skin.
The elasticity of a patient’s skin is a key factor in how the skin will look after the procedure.
If skin is elastic and muscle tone is good, the skin will conform well to the new body shape. With skin that has been stretched and is less elastic, folds of skin may be apparent after removal of fat.
Myth 3: The Fat Will Eventually Return
There is indeed a chance that pockets of fat could become plump again, but it is definitely not inevitable. If you change the behavior that led to obesity, you will not need to worry about significant amounts of fat returning. The cells that were removed during liposuction are gone, and will never grow back. But if your weight begins to rise again, adjoining fat cells will expand to store the excess caloric intake.
Myth 4: Liposuction Surgery Is My Only Choice
There are a variety of noninvasive body sculpting alternatives that have become available in recent years. These include SculpSure and CoolSculpting, as well as radiofrequency treatments such as BodyTite.
SculpSure uses laser-generated heat to disrupt fat cells. CoolSculpting works by freezing cells in the flabby “pinchable” areas of body fat. BodyTite targets fat with streams of radiofrequency energy. It is more likely to be used in a radiofrequency-assisted liposuction procedure for a more dramatic reduction in fat pockets, especially on the abdomen and thighs.
To learn more about liposuction, schedule a personal consultation with one of the experienced plastic surgeons of Atlanta Plastic & Reconstructive Specialists. Call our Northside office at (404) 255-2975 or our Piedmont office at (404) 343-0897 today.