For many men and women, liposuction is a dream come true. Liposuction is the removal of unwanted lumps, bulges, and areas of fat using thin suction tubes (cannulae) that are placed into the body fat through small incisions. A vacuum is applied through a hose attached to the cannula. This draws fat out of the body. Liposuction is usually not intended as a weight-loss technique.
However, liposuction is commonly used to remove stubborn, diet- and exercise-resistant fat deposits and to sculpt the body into a slimmer profile. Resistant fat deposits may be an inherited problem, so do not blame yourself for their presence.
In women and men, fat deposits may be formed beneath the chin and on the flanks, hips, abdomen, inner and outer thighs, knees, and lower legs. These are some of the areas where body contouring with liposuction produces impressive results. The most frequently treated areas in women are the abdomen, hips, thighs, and knees. In men, the love handles, abdomen, and enlarged male breasts (gynecomastia) are most often treated. Other areas treated in men include the arms, neck, and face. Interestingly, sweat glands in the underarm can be removed by liposuction to reduce excessive sweating without affecting the body’s overall ability to cool itself.
Nowadays, there are many types of liposuction and facts regarding liposuction. As was mentioned before, not only are all patients different, but there are many different forms of liposuction. There are many different tools with which liposuction can be performed. Also, there are many different ways to calm or rest the patient during surgery. The more combinations of these different factors, the more unique each liposuction

Side Effects

As with any surgical procedure, liposuction is associated with possible side effects, such as bruising, swelling, temporary numbness, and discomfort in the surgically treated areas. Although irregularities of the skin are possible following liposuction, this side effect is greatly minimized by the use of small-diameter cannulae and the tumescent technique. Swelling usually gradually improves within one to three months after surgery, with optimum results being apparent in about six to twelve months. Bruising varies from person to person, although noticeable bruising is usually gone within a couple of weeks. Because the tumescent technique usually minimizes the soreness that follows surgery, simple pain relievers such as Tylenol® are usually all that are required. In some instances, Tylenol® with Codeine or stronger pain-relief medication is necessary. As judged by current worldwide experience, liposuction using the tumescent technique is amazingly safe. Serious complications, such as blood clots, infection, or allergic reactions, are extremely rare. Of course, prior to surgery, your doctor should discuss possible side effects with you.

KNOW YOUR DOCTOR

Sometimes getting to know your surgeon can be a very difficult task. We recommend that patients seek several opinions prior to having liposuction. When some new twist sounds too good to be true, run it by a couple of doctors who are proficient in the field and ask them their opinions. Unfortunately, some surgeons don't tell patients all the risks they are facing. Sometimes the most dangerous of all surgeons is the one who is overconfident and who tells the patient that there is absolutely no risk. A good surgeon will truthfully let the patient know the risks and will provide his own complication rates to the patient so that he/she may make his/her own decision when comparing surgeons. Sometimes in this electronic age it is easier to know a doctor who is 2,000 miles away than to know the doctor next door.
One thing that you should look for in a doctor is whether or not he/she has trained at a reputable U.S. medical school. Unfortunately, many doctors train in exotic places; for example, Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Additionally, one should look for proper residency training, which takes place in a hospital in which the doctor learns under the tutelage of other prominent doctors. Sadly, many doctors have undergone their residency training in private doctors' offices. This does not allow for much standardization of learning, and one cannot be sure that the doctor is properly trained under these circumstances. Additionally, some of the best doctors tend to lecture and publish. If other doctors want to hear a given doctor is saying, it is likely that that doctor may have some good ideas. Unfortunately, lecturing does not guarantee that the doctor is a good surgeon. A person who can tell a good story does not necessarily have to be adept with his/her hands. Additionally, many doctors are like politicians, buying and selling favors and friendships to be invited to give lectures.
Look for hobbies that indicate that the doctor has some level of skill or coordination. Unfortunately, these days almost every doctor who is involved in plastic surgery likes to call himself/herself an "artist." Ask the surgeon to show you some of the actual art that he/she has drawn or created. This will indicate the surgeon's level of skill. Ask the surgeon if he/she has won any art contests; this may also indicate the level of skill in artistry. Most artists tend to wish to have their work shown in galleries as well.
It may also be worthwhile to see whether or not your surgeon is proficient at some kind of sport. This may indicate a significant level of hand-eye coordination. There are plenty of board-certified plastic surgeons who have passed tests and who have unfortunately crawled to the top of the political ladder (residency training pyramid) in order to gain their positions; yet, these doctors may be relatively unskilled when it comes to sewing, cutting or handling a patient's tissue.
Next, ask if any of the staff has had a surgical procedure performed by the doctor in whose services you are interested. Most staff will not allow an incompetent doctor to work on them and choose instead to merely assist and watch the other patients have their surgeries. As well, especially in Florida, we believe it is important to look up the malpractice history of the doctor in question. There are several web sites in Florida that will allow you to gain access to the insurance files of plastic surgeons. (Go to www.doi.state.fl.us and follow the link for "malpractice complaints" to search for claims paid by the surgeon's malpractice insurance.) It is worthwhile to note that some surgeons who tout their wares heavily on TV and in the media are not so busy from patient referrals because they have been sued several times. Since plastic surgeons do not testify much against each other and because it is very difficult for attorneys to bring suit against them, the presence of even a single suit as a board-certified plastic surgeon may be indicative of a lack of skill.
Once you have made all of these comparisons, you might prepare a table with the "high points" and "low points" associated with each doctor. It is important that you pick a doctor with no low points.