Exercising and dieting have been the usual solutions to losing weight and achieving an ideal physique. It is thought that, if you pump iron rigorously or run enough miles, the necessary amount of body fat will be lost and the desired toning effect will be achieved. This is, however, only true for some individuals. There are genetically blessed people gifted with high metabolism and a propensity for staying slim. They only need consistent maintenance to obtain a well-toned, definitive body. For most other individuals, no matter how much they exercise, there will always be persistent remaining lumps and bumps of fat that will not go away. The premier method of getting rid of fat surgically has been liposuction, but its invasiveness and prolonged recovery time have discouraged people from undergoing the procedure. Fortunately, leaps and bounds in medical research have advanced the development of liposuction through the years, and now a sleeker alternative has emerged, which has come to be known as liposculpture.

Liposculpture is a more advanced form of liposuction. It is similar since fat is also being removed, but improvements in the process make it much more appealing to the average patient. In the past, patients would undergo some discomfort during the procedure and healing would take much longer. Also, removing the fat did nothing to improve the appearance of the remaining skin, which may have lost its elasticity, creating unsightly, sagging folds. With liposculpture, the fat is more precisely removed, vastly improving the contouring of the area. Several body parts may be targeted, in any assortment of the abdominals, love handles, buttocks, thighs, arms, face, neck, and knees. Men with gynecomastia may undergo liposculpture for breast reduction.

Patients will be asked to take antibiotics an hour before the surgery. The discussed areas will then be marked for the procedure. Compared to the liposuction of old, modern surgical instruments, such as endoscopic devices, allow for smaller incisions. Current methods have also dropped general anesthesia and adopted the tumescent formula, which applies a local anesthetic combined with lidocaine and epinephrine directly on the fat, making the experience virtually painless with none of the complications associated with general anesthesia. The cannula is then inserted to disrupt and remove the unwanted fat. A relatively small amount of fat is removed, but the remaining skin is adjusted and sculpted by the surgeon in such a manner as to create the impression that much more fat has been siphoned out of the body.

Not all people can avail of this medical procedure. Removing more than 10 to 15 pounds of body fat at one time can end up becoming injurious to a person’s health. If persistent amounts of fat still remain after much exercise and healthy dieting then you will be considered a good candidate for the operation. It must be emphasized that liposculpture is not a weight loss tool, but more of an aesthetic enhancer.

The procedure takes less than an hour to complete, after which one can already move around normally, but it will still take two to three days before a treated patient can return to work. Some can even drive home, but due to the drugs, it is advised that someone accompany them and take them home instead. Minor bruising and swelling is to be expected, and compression garments or dressing may be used on the treated areas to minimize such side effects. Pain may be managed with standard medication. Total healing is projected at two to four weeks, after which the patient will be advised to eat a proper diet and exercise regularly in order to maintain the effects of the procedure.