Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures available. Used mainly by women for a long period of time, the number of males having the procedure is growing rapidly. Liposuction can be a very effective way of removing fatty deposits from troublesome areas.
While it is important to note that liposuction is not a cure for obesity or to be used in place of diet and exercise, it provides many benefits. Whether you are a man who has a natural build-up of fatty tissues in certain areas of the body despite toning or have lost weight and now experience disproportionate amounts of body fat, liposuction can be helpful.
Liposuction is usually performed under general anaesthesia, though some cases may be performed using local anaesthesia and mild sedation. Male liposuction is performed using a procedure called tumescent liposuction, which uses a solution of anaesthetic and epinephrine to aid in the removal of large amounts of fatty tissue. The tissue is removed using very fine tubes called cannulas that are inserted into small incisions and attached to suction pumps.
Many areas of the body are commonly operated on during male liposuction treatment, depending on the placement of fatty deposits. Commonly operated on areas include the face and neck, thighs, hips, calves, ankles, knees, arms, breasts, abdomen, and back. Before operating, your surgeon will conduct a thorough physical examination including blood work to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Post operation, you will need to wear a girdle for approximately two weeks and will have to undergo ultrasound treatments and courses of massage. These procedures should help to reduce the time needed to recover. Patients can return to work after a couple of days, however it is a must that you wait two weeks before beginning even a light exercise routine.
Side effects of liposuction include swelling, bruising, numbness and pain. Swelling may take up to three months to improve, and the full results may take up to a year to be visible. Doctors typically prescribe moderate to strong painkillers to alleviate postoperative pain. Complications of male liposuction are rare but can include blood clots, infections, and allergic reactions. Telling your doctor of any medications or supplements you take prior to surgery can help reduce this risk. As with all surgical procedures, it is imperative that you choose a licensed cosmetic surgeon with experience with the procedure to reduce risks of side effects and complications.
About the Author:
Leonard Dawson is a freelance article writer who writes for
Cosmetic Surgery Guru about current issues, technology and news within the cosmetic surgery market.
by Barry Leotard
Due to the seriousness of any cosmetic surgery procedure, liposuction treatment should not be taken lightly. Health experts have made it clear that liposuction is not a solution for weight loss and even as technological advancements have made liposuction a very safe procedure, surgery must be preceded carefully. The patient must be aware of the risks involved, precautionary practices, and the possible complications that come with liposuction.
Some of the most common undesired side effects of liposuction surgery include skin irregularities, hematomas and seromas, and hyper-pigmentations. These are are very possible consequences that patients need to be aware of.
Skin irregularities are the resulting loss of smoothness in the skin due to excessive amounts of fat cells removed. The body naturally has fat stores that help give the area its form and removing too many fat cells from one area leaves visible dimples and grooves in the skin. It’s always better for the surgeon to remove too few fat cells and do follow up sessions to remove more since the removal is permanent.
Hematomas and seromas is the visible discoloration of the skin caused by pooling of red blood cells near the surface. When blood vessels get damaged by the surgery and the area is inadequately drained, the blood will pool or the patient may experience hyper-pigmentation around the area of incision. For severe cases it can last for several years, but milder cases will last less than four to six months.
Another complication, also the result of inadequate drainage during the surgery, is blood tinged drainage and can cause the legs and ankles to swell after major areas have been treated. Sometimes, after major work to the abdomen this will cause bruising to the genitals. Proper post-surgery procedures such as adequate drainage will do wonders to help the recovery process.
The use of epinephrine in local anesthetic solutions sometimes causes the heart rate to elevate during or after surgery and patients are encouraged to avoid caffeine or pinephrine-like drugs such as cold medications before liposuction procedure.
There are very real possibilities of major complications although rare. Some of the more serious surgical risks are excessive blood loss, injury to internal organs, and risk of blood clots. Drug related complications comes from the use of anesthesia and can be anything from allergic reactions to cardiac arrhythmias to brain damage from the lack of oxygen.
Potential patients considering liposuction or any cosmetic surgery should learn the risks involved and find a surgeon with adequate recommendations. It’s never a good idea to let yourself get sold to some cheap gimmicky surgeon whose priority is anything but his patient.