Like other medical and cosmetic surgery procedures, liposuction has come a long way. Developments in techniques have allowed doctors to remove excess fat more efficiently and safely shape the body through fat removal.
Now, a new study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal examines what works and what doesn’t.
Over the last three decades or so, technologies and tools used in liposuctions have drastically improved. To see what’s improved and what still needs improving, an analysis of 26,000 liposuction procedures over a period of 25 years was conducted by a team of four plastic surgeons in Cali, Colombia.
These surgeons found that tumescent liposuction and laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) techniques have drastically improved the safety of undergoing a liposuction, mainly by reducing the risk of anemia, while still providing the best aesthetic results.
As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are still some risks. Tumescent liposuctions for example have been shown to increase post- operative seromas – a mass or swelling caused by the localized accumulation of serum (a yellowish fluid) within a tissue or organ.
The surgeons’ survey and study found that while 90% of patients reported post-operative pain, 82% of them were generally satisfied with the results of their procedure…results were similar for the other liposuction procedures covered in the review.
As always, discuss all options with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon before making any decisions. While safety has improved dramatically, there is still some risk of complication but with the right planning and information, you can be assured it’s safe to undergo a liposuction.