Spending hours at the gym and counting and cutting calories can be exhausting. This is true for everyone but for some people it is even worse. They find that no matter how hard they work and how healthily they eat they just cannot seem to lose the last few stubborn pounds. Often this weight is carried in their stomachs or backs making all of their fitness seem futile.
There is no reason to give up though. In fact there is a surgical option that frees patients from the endless cycle of diet and exercise. The procedure is called liposuction and it can be the solution to many people’s weight loss problems. It is a major medical operation, however, and as such should not be done lightly. There are several complications and concerns to be aware of before undertaking surgery.
The primary concern is that as with any surgery, liposuction has risks associated with the procedure. There is always a chance of a negative reaction to the anesthetic. In order to minimize these risks it is crucial that you make a list of all of the medications you take. Also, if you use alcohol or tobacco or abuse illicit drugs be honest with your doctor. They will probably admonish you but by letting them know you can spare yourself the risk of death.
Also, when they say do not eat for 12 hours before the procedure they mean it. Any liquid or food in your body can be regurgitated and aspirated and you may asphyxiate. There is also a small amount of risk associated with the anesthesia itself, for some people they have an allergic reaction, for others it causes a dangerous change in blood pressure leading to heart attack or stroke. The best way to reduce all of these complications is to talk with your doctor.
After liposuction there is a major concern about swelling. The cannula that they use to remove the fat can be fairly traumatic to the tissue and often there is a large amount of bruising and swelling. The best thing to do is to expect this and be prepared. Gently massaging the areas will help the fluids drain. Also getting up and walking around will circulate the blood and help with healing and reduce complications. Often the most painful part is the bruising and numbness. These will fade with time but are something to be aware of and prepared for.
One final concern of liposuction is wrinkling and pocketing of the skin afterwards. This is hard to avoid because some people, especially older people, have less elasticity. When you remove all of that fat it leaves the skin loose. For some people the wrinkles and sagging will naturally be reabsorbed into the body. For others this may never happen.
Liposuction is an amazing surgical option for people struggling to reach their weight loss goals. It is a major operation however and should be undergone with full knowledge of the dangers and concerns. The best way to minimize these problems is to know about them.