Weight Loss
Liposuction Basics
This past Christmas, a seven-year-old received a liposuction voucher from her mother, Sarah Burge, also known as the “Human Barbie.” Claiming that liposuction is a tool that will “always come in handy,” Burge defended her stocking stuffer as a necessity. Burge’s case may be unique in that she freely hands out plastic surgery to her daughters, but regardless of the morality behind the decision, liposuction is commonly used as a cosmetic surgery to quickly lose weight.
The first liposuction procedure was performed by a French physician, Charles Dujarier, in the early 20th century. After several successful operations, Dujarier made a mistake while operating on a supermodel, which caused her to lose her leg. Becoming exponentially safer over the years, the procedure has become another way to reshape the body for either health or purely cosmetic purposes.
Also known as lipoplasty, liposculpture lipectomy, or simply lipo, liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that removes fat from a designated area of the body. Typical areas of reduction include the thighs, inner knee, arms, neck, stomach, and buttocks. The removed fat can also be transferred to other areas of the body that may need it (such as lips for the aesthetic “pucker”), though this is not a necessary part of lipo.
The procedure is performed with a cannula that resembles a long, thick needle. The needle is connected to an aspirator, which acts as a suction and storage device. To remove the fat, the cannula is inserted into the fatty tissue layer. It is then removed and reinserted to break up the fat layer into smaller sections, which is easier to suction out.
A variety of different liposuction procedures exist. The differences mostly depend on the type of cannula and the type of fluid injected into the fatty layer. Options include suction-assisted liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, twin-cannula liposuction, external ultrasound –assisted liposuction, and water-assisted liposuction.
Some common side effects of lipo surgery include bruising and swelling in the area of the needle’s insertion. Also, if the doctor removes more fat than is necessary, there is a danger of “over-suctioning” the patient. This results in the remaining fatty cells becoming lumpy and dented. After the operation is completed, it is possible to gain back the weight.
Overall, liposuction is not a permanent solution for weight loss, and it should never be used as part of an overarching need to change all aspects of a person’s life. After receiving liposuction, doctors recommend keeping the weight off with a balanced, calorie-restricted diet and a regimented exercise schedule. And, as always, speak to your health care professional before embarking on surgery or undergoing a new health plan.
Sources:
Lorens, I. (2012, January 4). Sarah Burge, ‘Human Barbie’, gives liposuction voucher to 7-year-old daughter for Christmas. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/sarah-burge-human-barbie-liposuction-voucher-poppy_n_1183510.html?ref=mostpopular
By Natalia Evdokimova