Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Doctors define a good candidate for liposuction as any person who has realistic expectations, is in good health and is likely to be happy with the results of liposuction. Liposuction is not a weight loss technique, or a solution for obesity. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite, a condition that gives your skin an uneven, dimpled appearance. However, liposuction is a good procedure for to reduce fat deposits in your problem areas.
Health and Mindset
In terms of health, doctors recommend that you are within 25 lbs of your ideal body weight. Patients that are physically fit and exercise regularly, but just can’t tone or reduce fat in a few problems areas are some of the best candidates for liposuction. Some bulges are simply exercise-resistant, and liposuction may provide a solution. It is not recommended for patients with significant medical problems such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, or poor circulation. These conditions can increase your risk for surgical complications.
Both men and women can be excellent candidates for liposuction. Approximately 75% of patients are female and they most commonly have liposuction performed on the belly, the buttocks and thighs. In men the most common location for liposuction in men are the “love handles”. While it is not age is not a major consideration, it is important for older patients to realize that because of diminished skin elasticity, they may not be able to achieve the same results as younger patients with tighter skin. Patients over 40 must recognize that skin contraction is less likely and loose skin can result.
Remember that liposuction should be used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise, not as a substitute for them. Liposuction, like other cosmetic surgery techniques, is a means to enhance body shape. But it cannot completely change your shape. You should have realistic expectations that liposuction may improve the appearance of the treated area, but may have no impact on other areas of your life.
Liposuction Ain’t Cheap
Liposuction can be a difficult surgery to estimate cost. It can be performed on different parts of the body, using different machines and by surgeons with varying degrees of skill and experience.
The average cost to have liposuction performed in one area of the body is close to ,000, in two to three areas up to ,000 to ,000 and in five areas is ,000 to ,000.The cost is higher for larger body areas. For example, the average cost for the abdomen is ,000 to ,000, but for the outer thigh is about half as much.
As with most plastic surgery liposuction cost comprises three fees: surgeon fees, anesthesia fees and facility fees. The anesthesia fees range can range 0 to ,000, depending on the number of areas treated. The facility fees also vary depending on the number of areas where liposuction is performed, ranging from 0 to ,200. The rest of the cost is the surgeon’s fee.
But don’t try to skimp on the surgeon’s fee by going with just anyone. It is important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, who has extensive liposuction experience, as well as expertise in all areas of plastic surgery. More highly, qualified, board-certified surgeons charge higher fees, but this also ensures you will see the best results using the most appropriate techniques and reduce the risk of complications. Although liposuction prices can be high, the costs to your health can be much greater, so be sure to ask your surgeon about surgical training and board certification.
Cosmetic surgery such as liposuction is never covered by insurance. But if the surgery is more than you can afford at one time, ask your plastic surgeon about payment plans. Most surgeons today offer financing.
Laser Liposuction-how it Works and Why the Laser Assisted Technique Improves Fat Removal, Skin Tightening, and Liposculpture
You are very lucky if you have waited until now to consider having liposuction, or liposculpture body contouring. The new laser liposuction techniques are a vast improvement over traditional methods. The new laser technology melts fat and tightens skin resulting in a much gentler liposculpture procedure and minimal loose hanging skin after liposuction.
Whether you have a double chin, tummy fat after childbirth, saddle bags, spare tire, or just little problem areas around the hips or thighs, the new laser assisted liposculpture and laser body contouring techniques may be what you are looking for.
Not all of the machines in use are the same. Some laser wavelengths, such as the 924nm and 924/975nm work much better than others. You need to understand which technology is best if you are considering laser liposuction.
Liposuction is the most commonly performed plastic surgery operation.
Problems Associated with Traditional Liposuction-Traditional liposuction is done by inserting a metal tube called a cannula beneath the skin into fat containing areas of the body. High pressure suction is applied and fat is suctioned out from under the skin. While the procedure works well, it is traumatic as the suction pulls out not only fat but also some of the connective tissue which holds the skin tight to the body. There are several problems which can occur after liposuction:
• Loose Skin After Liposuction
• Contour Deformities-Skin Irregularities
• Prolonged Bruising
• Difficult and Painful Recovery
How Laser Liposuction Works-During laser assisted liposuction, a very small laser fiber is inserted beneath the skin. Heat from the laser melts the fat into a thin liquid. The liquid fat is then more easily removed with very small cannulas usually only2-3 millimeters in diameter. The heat form the laser also tightens the skin, and closes many blood vessels, thus less bleeding.
Advantages of Laser Liposuction
• Skin Tightening!!!!!!!
• Liquefaction of Fat = Fewer Contour Deformities
• Uniform Skin Appearance after Liposuction
• Smaller Cannulae = Tiny Incision
• Much Less Traumatic
• Can Contour Visible Areas in Thinner Patients
• Excellent for Touch Ups after standard Liposuction
Which Laser is best for Liposuction?
There are several different machines available using several different laser wavelengths-the 924nm, combined 924/975nm, the 1064nm, and the 1308nm are the most popular.
I prefer the 924nm and combination 924/975nm laser because the 924nm is very selectively absorbed by fat tissue. The 924nm liquefies 3 times as much fat as some of the other wavelengths and is also more strongly absorbed by blood vessels, which helps reduce bleeding and bruising.
The 924nm and combined 924/975nm laser is used by the SlimLipo™ laser liposuction machine made by Palomar Medical™.
Are You A Candidate for Laser Liposuction?
If you are healthy, do not smoke, and have extra fat beneath your chin, around your tummy, on your hips, thighs, arms or knees, and are relatively fit and not obese, then you are likely an excellent candidate for laser liposuction. The younger you are the better your skin tightening will be after laser liposuction. I have, however, seen good skin tightening after laser liposuction in a 70 year old person-see photo below:
If you are obese and significantly over weight, you should lose weight first before liposuction.
For more information about laser liposuction with SlimLipo™ call 978-369-4499 or contact us by email.
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Dr. Seckel
Concord, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Read More about laser liposuction and laser body contouring techniques. Read our free newsletter to learn the latest techniques in aesthetics and plastic surgery. Read Save Your Face, Dr. Seckel’s book on how to prevent facial aging.
If you are looking for that dream body then liposuction can possibly help you achieve it. Even if you have been trying to lose excess weight and have slimmed down, there are always pockets of adipose tissue, otherwise known as fat, that are still hanging around under your skin. As techniques in modern cosmetic surgery have improved, the ability of surgeons to target smaller and tougher areas has improved as well. Many times these areas are on otherwise skinny people who either lost alot of weight or have always been skinny but gained a bit of poundage. For these types of patients, mini liposuction is performed.
Liposuction – What Is It?
Cosmetic surgery encompasses many different procedures in its pantheon. The best known procedure that has become synonymous to cosmetic surgery is liposuction. Liposuction is performed by a surgeon who uses a cannula (basically a long steel tube) to insert under the skin and then vacuum out fat deposits in the target areas. Patients with alot of fat to remove will undergo traditional liposuction. Those who only have minimal fat to remove are more likely to see the mini liposuction performed on them.
Mini liposuction takes less time and is a more scaled down version of liposuction. It is typically used for those patients who are generally regarded as thin and are close to their ideal body weight and just have a few areas to address. Where traditional liposuction sometimes uses general anesthesia, mini liposuction uses local anesthesia so you will be awake during the procedure.
Are You Eligible For Mini Liposuction?
If you are eighteen years or older then you are eligible for liposuction surgery. You must also be in good physical condition with no medical conditions that would preclude surgery being performed. Additionally, if you are smoker, you will need to refrain from smoking at least two weeks prior to the surgery being performed. This is because smoking constricts blood vessels and these blood vessels will be needed to bring blood and healing to the areas that were invaded by the cannula.
What Areas Of The Body Are Targeted With Mini Liposuction?
Mini liposuction can be performed anywhere on the body that accumulates fat under the skin. It is typically used on areas where the bone is close to the surface of the skin (such as the ankles or the neck). In these cases, a traditional cannula is too unweildy to use and as such a mini cannula is used (hence the name mini liposuction). Your surgeon will be able to tell you which type of liposuction you are a candidate for.
Consult Your Surgeon
A meeting with your surgeon before the surgery is always wise. This meeting is to establish your expectations and the surgeon’s assessment of your body’s ability to undergo invasive surgery. Medical issues that may cause complications during surgery must be disclosed so that nothing goes wrong during the surgery. You will go over your touble areas with the surgeon. Ask questions of the surgeon and be open to suggestions from them as well.
Mini liposuction and its traditiona cousin, liposuction, can help you get the body you’ve always wanted. If you do your research and work with your surgeon to establish a gameplan and expectations for a successful surgery, you will be happy with the outcome.
by Peter Hansen
Cost of liposculpture these days can average out well in the thousands of dollars in most surgical clinic’s, which is why some people may shy away from the procedure. However, Many positive responses from people across the United States who have had liposculpture prove that the cost is worth the payment.
Also, the average person does not have to get a complete work-over, but could instead opt for individual parts of his or her body. An effective, safe, and painless procedure, it’s perfect for trimming excess fat from areas such as the abdomen, hips, waist, thighs, buttocks, knees, arms, and the face and neck. Some may ask if they really need a liposculpture to help improve physical appearance. Many plastic surgeons agree that the process is quick and simple, yielding fast, and most importantly, noticeable, results.
The cost of maintaining a healthy diet, having a gym membership, probably even hiring a personal trainer can require a large time investment, and with unpredictable results, one never be sure if they will gain some kind of improvement. In the long run, this can add up to a hefty sum, most likely more than a quick and painless liposculpture. This is why this procedure is highly regarded as a more permanent and much more effective substitute for diet and exercise. It not only helps those who have trouble in the past losing weight, but also those who have had no time to take out of their busy lives to get into perfect shape.
Each plastic surgeon has a set standard of excellence that can be seen through their amazing results, year after year. Not only do they have years of experience, but their tools are state of the art. Technology is evolving rapidly, producing sophisticated machines capable of the most intricate and delicate operations, which is utilized in clinics all across America. An advanced technique called the topographic mapping technique is normally used prior to the procedure as a highly effective and accurate way of targeting the problem areas, making precision marking that garner visually pleasing results. liposculpture may not be too easy on the wallet, but as an investment, it is the only safe and secure procedure that is faster and more effective than traditional weight loss methods.
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