Top 5 Liposuction Myths
Liposuction is ranked number one or two in cosmetic surgery popularity each year. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the procedure has grown by more than 50% over the past five years, with more than 300,000 people choosing it in 2017.
Despite those impressive numbers, we bet there are still a few things you don’t know about the procedure. When patients consult us about liposuction in New York, we often find they have a few misconceptions. Here are some top myths we would like to put to rest:
Liposuction is typically used for the hips, thighs and abdomen.
Actually, we use liposuction in our New York practice in places you might not think of. One good example is the so-called “bra roll;” another is the inner knees. Patients often come in with a primary target area in mind, and are surprised when we point out other stray bulges we can banish with the cannula.
You also may not know that liposuction is one technique appropriate for many of our gynecomastia patients. In fact, we use the cannula with suction on and off depending on the unique needs of each guy with man boobs. In addition, liposuction can be used on flabby arms and even the neck.
The bulges don’t ever come back.
To have the best chance of experiencing lasting results, it’s good to know a bit about fat cells and liposuction. Experienced liposuction specialists will remove most of the fat cells in a troublesome area, but not all. Some fat must remain in order for the skin to lie smooth and to avoid problems like a sunken look or lumps. The fat cells that are removed can never come back, but those that are left can become enlarged if the patient gains weight.
If you’re thinking of investing in liposuction, just maintain a healthy weight afterward and the results will indeed be permanent.
It’s a good tool for getting rid of abdominal fat.
Yes, liposuction is very often used to eliminate tummy pooches and love handles. The key here is that this kind of fat is subcutaneous, or just under the skin. Fat that’s located deep inside the abdominal cavity—called visceral fat—is beyond the reach of the cannula.
Not only is visceral fat an inappropriate target for liposuction, it poses a number of health risks as well. Harvard Health Publishing offers a comprehensive article on visceral belly fat, including tips for identifying it and losing it. Find it here.
Skin will always bounce back.
Most often, skin will bounce back into place following liposuction. To ensure this happens, it’s important to follow your cosmetic surgeon’s instructions for wearing compression garments and bandages.
For some older patients and people who have lost a significant amount of weight, and for many women having tummy tuck/liposuction following pregnancy, the skin may have lost the elasticity required to shrink back in place. Fortunately, we can make a good forecast about this for our New York liposuction patients prior to surgery and adjust the surgical plan to deal with excess skin.
Just about any cosmetic surgeon can give you good results.
Since liposuction is so ubiquitous these days, it’s tempting to think that you can go to any nearby doctor to get the outcome you have in mind. It’s just not so! It takes a good deal of practice to know just how much fat to remove (and how much to leave), and how to sculpt smooth, natural curves and contours.
And, did you know that male and female fat tends to be a little different? It takes experience to know how to work with both men and women seeking to banish stubborn fat pockets.
Finally, be aware that some doctors decide to offer this popular procedure without much more training than weekend courses. That’s right, there are no specific rules or requirements about who can add liposuction to their menu of treatment options—all you have to be is a medical doctor. You probably don’t want your dermatologist or gynecologist using a cannula on you, just as you wouldn’t want us to do your pelvic exam!
If you’re thinking of having liposuction in New York, we would be very pleased to work with you. We use the procedure almost every day we perform surgery, and our team has decades of experience. Read more here, then give us a call at 212-570-6080 today.
