According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon, liposuction was the second most popular plastic surgery in 2017.
Contrary to what many people believe, the demographics of people who undergo liposuction is quite varied.
Many use it as a way to eliminate pesky love handles and others as a way to tighten the contour of their bodies after significant weight loss.
Despite the stigma of plastic surgery, it continues to grow as an industry all across the United States.
It’s one of the very reasons that Scottsdale plastic surgeons are some of the most notorious and well-skilled in the country.
People travel from all across the country to hotspots like Scottsdale and LA for the best plastic surgeons.
But before you make the decision to undergo liposuction, know that there are some misconceptions out there that you should be aware of before attempting a procedure.
Liposuction is a Strictly Cosmetic Procedure
Perhaps the number one misconception about liposuction is that, it’s a convenient way to lose large amounts of weight.
In fact, most liposuction procedures only eliminate anywhere from a 1lb to 10 lbs.
Anything more comes with significant physical risks.
Another point of consideration is that liposuction only target one part of your body.
For example, if you are trying to get rid of your love handles, a single liposuction procedure will do nothing to address the excess fat on your arms or neck.
Liposuction is merely a procedure to adjust the shape and appearance of your body.
People who are a of healthier weight are actually better candidates for liposuction.
There are Several Types of Liposuction Tools
Depending on your surgeon, he or she may use different liposuction tools to accomplish the procedure.
The two most common are Suction Assisted Liposuction, which literally sucks out excess fat using vacuum tubes and the other is the Power Assisted Liposuction device that leverages a variety of tools to break up and remove fat.
Both are considered viable options and really should be up to the discretion of the surgeon.
Fat Does Not Move to Another Part of Your Body
One common question that many patients ask is whether or not fat can be transferred to another part of the body.
This is simply not true and when you lose fat in one part of your body, it’s not because it moved to another part.
There is a Short Period of Recovery Time
Recovery time can be anywhere from a few hours to a full day before you are released from the hospital.
In most cases, you should be able to return to work within two days to perform light duty.
Full duty and heavy lifting should be avoided for a few weeks, usually 2-3.
There are Risks
Finally, while liposuction is non-invasive and generally safe, any medical procedure will come with its own risks.
The most common side effects include bruising, allergic reactions, and some swelling and inflammation.
In rare cases, pulmonary edemas and even infections can occur.