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Plastic surgeon Dr Sherif Hendi of Ibn Al Rushd Clinic in Mahouz gives this advice to people considering liposuction as a means removing the flab.
LIPOSUCTION, also known as lipoplasty or 'fat modeling', liposculpture suction lipectomy or simply lipo or 'suction-assisted fat removal' is a cosmetic surgery operation that removes fat from many different sites on the human body.
Areas affected can range from the abdomen, thighs and buttocks, to the neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere.
Several factors limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session. Ultimately, the operating physician and the patient make the decision. There are negative aspects to removing too much fat. Unusual 'lumpiness' and/or 'dents' in the skin can be seen in those patients 'over-suctioned'.
Also, the more fat removed, the higher the surgical risk.
The procedure may be performed under general or local 'tumescent' anesthesia.
The safety of the technique relates not only to the amount of tissue removed, but to the choice of anesthetic and the patient's overall health. It is ideal for the patient to be as fit as possible before the procedure and not to have smoked for several months.
Technologies involving the use of laser tipped probes (which induce a thermal lipoysis) have been introduced in recent years, with less blood loss, less discomfort, and less risk. Recent developments suggest that the recovery period can be shortened as well.
In addition, fat can also be used as a natural filler. This is sometimes referred to as 'autologous fat transfer' and in general, for these procedures, fat is removed from one area of the patient's body (for example, the stomach), cleaned, and then re-injected into an area of the body where contouring is desired, for example, to reduce or eliminate wrinkles.
One non-surgical alternative that has gained in popularity is the use of shapewear garments. Although shapewear cannot provide patients with the same level of results as liposuction, body scans have shown that they can remove bulges and slim the waist, hips, and thighs.
Most shapewear products are similar to the post-surgical compression garments but unlike the post-surgical garments, shapewear is designed for long-term daily use.
Healthy eating habits combined with regular exercise have also been proven to cause weight loss.
