For many Americans, weight loss can seem like a lost cause, especially when diet and exercise fall short of helping them achieve their ideal physique. No matter how hard they try, sometimes certain problem areas just won’t go away. Fortunately for people with these stubborn areas, tumescent liposuction provides a safe and effective solution to the bulge battle.
Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s (Academy) Derm Update 2004, dermatologist Naomi Lawrence, M.D., associate professor of medicine and head of procedural dermatology with Cooper University Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, discussed liposuction and some of the reasons it is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.S. today.
Developed by dermatologic surgeons in 1985, tumescent liposuction is performed under local anesthesia, offering patients lower risk and faster recovery. “The local anesthetic technique is so safe and effective that it makes general anesthesia for liposuction virtually obsolete,” Dr. Lawrence explained before dispelling some myths about excess fat and liposuction.
Myth: “If I could just be motivated to diet and exercise, I could lose this fat deposit on my…”
Diet and exercise are important aspects in achieving a healthy body. A well-balanced diet is essential for building and maintaining overall health, while regular exercise is excellent for increasing muscle tone and improving cardiovascular health. Although diet can produce moderate weight loss results over an extended period of time, neither diet nor exercise is effective for spot reduction.
“Diets have a relapse rate of about 85 percent,” said Dr. Lawrence. “And contrary to popular belief, ‘spot’ exercise does not reduce localized fat deposits. For example, abdominal crunches will not get rid of stomach fat. The best way to remove these trouble spots is with liposuction.”
In addition to the stomach, another common trouble spot for women is the posterior waist and hips. Particularly noticeable after menopause, this “back fat” can cause obvious and unattractive ripples in clothing, which can be successfully smoothed by liposuction.
Myth: “Since my stomach hangs after pregnancy, I must need a tummy tuck.”
According to Dr. Lawrence, “Most women with the lower abdomen ‘roll’ don’t need a tummy tuck – even if they have stretch marks and poor elasticity.” Rather than undergoing a surgical tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), liposuction provides women with a safer alternative. As opposed to invasive surgical procedures, tumescent liposuction removes the fat gently and relatively pain-free. The procedure causes the skin to retract, reducing the stomach’s prominence.
Myth: “If my breasts are too large, my only choice for reduction is surgical mammoplasty.”