TL;DR:
- Liposuction is for body contouring, not weight loss; it removes localized fat but doesn't replace diet or exercise.
- It is not non-invasive; recovery involves bruising, swelling, compression garments for 3 weeks, and possible vacuum massage.
- Results are not permanent; fat can return with an unhealthy lifestyle.
- Scars are minimal with modern techniques like ultrasonic liposuction.
- Liposuction is not for everyone; contraindications include excess skin, stretch marks, and some medical conditions.
- It can be combined with treatments like breast augmentation with fat, body contouring, or plastic surgery (e.g., abdominoplasty).
- Consult an experienced surgeon to achieve desired and realistic outcomes safely.
Liposuction is an increasingly popular procedure to get rid of excess fat and feel comfortable in your body again. Despite the popularity of liposuction, there are still many myths circulating about it. Today we have collected 5 of them, which you may encounter really often.
Myth 1: Liposuction is a method of weight loss.
Many people think that liposuction is a quick way to lose weight and reduce body weight. This seems to be a very tempting proposition, because for a procedure such as liposuction, price is usually in the range of 6,000 to 30,000 if the area is more and the procedure is large. Many people are willing to invest such funds to enjoy the figure of their dreams. However, the truth is that liposuction is not designed for weight loss. It is a procedure aimed at body contouring by removing excess fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, hips or arms. Liposuction does not affect overall weight loss and does not replace a healthy diet and physical activity. It is often performed after weight loss if resistant fat remains on the abdomen or thighs, for example.
Myth 2: Liposuction is non-invasive and requires no recovery.
You will often hear that liposuction is a downright trivial procedure, after which you can immediately return to normal activities. However, it is worth remembering that any plastic surgery procedure should be approached with caution and left only to surgeons with experience. At our clinic, we perform ultrasonic liposuction, during which we separate the fatty tissue from the surrounding tissues. This minimizes damage and facilitates recovery, but it is worth realizing that side effects cannot be ruled out. During recovery, bruising or swelling are natural. It is also worth opting for vacuum massage to prevent uneven fat distribution. For 3 weeks after the procedure, you also need to wear a special compression garment.
Myth 3: Liposuction is a permanent solution.
One of the biggest myths about liposuction is the belief that it is a permanent solution and once performed, the procedure ensures the loss of unnecessary fat forever. Unfortunately, this is not true. Liposuction removes excess fat from an area, but does not prevent it from accumulating again in that and other areas. To maintain the effects of liposuction, it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity and a balanced diet. The procedure is not a remedy for excess fat – with an unhealthy lifestyle, fat will reaccumulate and the effects of liposuction will no longer be visible.
Myth 4: After liposuction, scars remain.
Many people are afraid of plastic surgery procedures because they do not want to have scars on their bodies. However, it is worth remembering that newer and newer methods of surgery are being used, so it is possible to avoid strenuous convalescence and extensive, visible scars. The same is true in the case of liposuction, as small incisions are sufficient for ultrasonic liposuction. So you don't have to worry that the procedure will leave permanent, conspicuous marks.
Myth 5: Liposuction is for everyone.
Before any procedure, it is crucial to consult a plastic surgeon, as we need to rule out contraindications. Liposuction should not be performed on people who have large excess skin or extensive stretch marks at the treatment site. Sometimes it is necessary to perform a procedure such as abdominoplasty to deal with sagging skin left behind after pregnancy or weight loss. Not only is it important to have no serious medical conditions preventing the procedure under general anesthesia, but also to have realistic expectations about the results of liposuction.
What treatments can be combined with liposuction?
Ultrasonic liposuction can also be combined with other treatments. In addition to plastic surgery, which is the removal of excess flabby skin from a specific area, breast augmentation with fat, also known as breast lipofilling, is often performed. Breast augmentation with one's own fat involves taking fat tissue via liposuction from one part of the body and then transplanting it into the breasts to increase their volume and improve their shape. It is an attractive option for people who want the natural effect of breast augmentation while reducing excess fat in other areas of the body. The procedure is extremely safe, as no foreign body is implanted – no allergic reactions occur, as the body does not reject its own tissues. Another procedure that can be combined with liposuction is body contouring. Liposuction allows you to remove excess fat from specific areas, such as the abdomen, hips or thighs, and then use that fat to fill in other areas of the body, such as the buttocks, hands, breasts or even the face. By combining the treatments, you can improve the proportions of your figure or make signs of aging less visible. In addition, liposuction can be combined with plastic surgery. After the removal of excess fat, sometimes an amount of loose, sagging skin remains. In such situations, it is worth considering procedures such as abdominoplasty or arm or thigh plasty. By doing so, you can achieve an even better aesthetic result, as simply removing excess fat does not give such spectacular results if the problem of loose skin remains. It is important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon, who will evaluate the achievable and results and find the best way to give the patient the figure of his dreams. Liposuction or plastic surgery need not be feared, as long as you put yourself in the hands of a professional and follow instructions.
Conclusion
Liposuction is not a fix-all for weight loss or fat control. It helps reshape targeted areas but requires healthy habits to maintain results. While modern techniques reduce scarring and improve recovery, the procedure still demands a proper consultation with a skilled surgeon. Liposuction can also pair with other treatments, like contouring or skin-tightening, for better results. Ultimately, it’s a useful tool for refining your figure, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Trust the process, understand its limits, and always prioritize expert care.
