The Skinny on Liposuction Procedures and Abdominoplasty

Overview

In the field of physics matter cannot be created nor destroyed and if that’s true, why is it that Fat seems to be created all the time? While physicists work on the theory of matter, plastic surgeons have already solved the complexities of stubborn fat deposits in the body, the answer, Liposuction. Read the blog below for more information on liposuction.

The best way to explain how the human body gains or loses weight is in the following equation: Caloric intake versus Caloric burn. If you’re consuming more calories than burning, you’re going to gain weight. If you’re burning more calories than consuming, you’re going to lose weight. Simply, you need to have a deficit in calories to lose weight. If it really is this simple, why are people spending billions of dollars a year on weight loss fads? The real problem is sticking to that formula long enough to get the desired results. In many cases, even if you’re consistent with weight loss, you may not be happy with where the weight comes off. This is where genetics comes into play.

Genetics determines how many fat cells you are born with. After the age of 14 the number of fat cells in your body remains consistent, they just increase or decrease in size depending on your diet. As we get older our metabolic rate naturally decreases so we don’t need to eat as much food as we used to. Our activity level also decreases. We no longer play as many sports or expend energy as we did when we were younger. As metabolic and activity level decreases, we don’t necessarily decrease the amount of food we eat, which leads to weight gain. This weight gain is not evenly deposited in the body:

• For men excess fat accumulates in the chest and abdomen area
• For women excess fat accumulates in the abdomen, hips and thighs

Once again, body weight can be controlled by caloric burn versus caloric intake but to overcome genetics the fat cells have to be removed. The only way to remove the fat cells is by liposuction or excising the fat surgically. That’s why you’ll notice that some people always have problem areas of fat deposits even though they adhere to strict diets and exercising regiments. This is one of the reasons patients seek procedures like abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction as a solution to rid problem areas of fat. You can’t use liposuction as a weight loss strategy or solution; the average amount of fat removed is between 5-10 pounds and is ideally for people in good health.

Globally, liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed and the methodology has been advancing for the last 20 years. The advancements include the use of ultrasonic energy, which not only yields greater results but also reduces risks. A patient is commonly under general anesthesia for liposuction on a day care basis. There is no lengthy recovery period and patients can easily change dressings on incision sites.

Bottom Line

Liposuction can help people that live a healthy and active lifestyle but still can’t get rid of fat deposits in problem areas like the abdomen, hips or thighs (just to name a few). In some cases a person that has lost weight will have issues with excess skin that is hanging over their stomach. In this case, abdominoplasty combined with liposuction results in a flatter and smoother contoured abdomen. A consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Peterson will give a perspective patient all the information needed to decide if liposuction is a viable option.

For more information on Liposuction, Abdominoplasty, or any cosmetic surgery procedure, contact Dr. Peterson in Kelowna, Okanagan, today on (250) 868-9099 or 1-888-505-8895.