$Unique_ID{BRK00991}
$Pretitle{Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue}
$Title{Is Liposuction the Way to Go for Weight Reduction?}
$Subject{weight surgery liposuction}
$Volume{L-23, L-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is Liposuction the Way to Go for Weight Reduction?


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QUESTION:  Faced with a life time of dieting just to keep a barely passable
figure, I am now thinking about surgery as a way to get the shape I want.  My
friends tell me that liposuction is the way to go, but I need more information
before I can gather enough courage to go to a doctor's office.  What can you
tell me?

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ANSWER:  It is as important to get your priorities straight as it is to gather
more information about this procedure.  Most experts agree that liposuction is
no replacement for a diet, and is not the way out of a weight reduction
program.  It is a good way to rid your self of an unwanted or unsightly lump
or two, but it won't help you shed pounds.  In fact surgeons usually don't
remove more than five or six pounds in one operation, and that won't change
your dress size.  It is clear that the procedure is not for everyone, but may
be the answer when there are fat deposits about the thighs, abdomen or hips
that do not fit in with an otherwise slim or trim figure.  It can also be used
for problems on the arms, knees, inner thighs neck and face.  The operation
may be performed under local anesthesia, as a hospital outpatient, or in a
doctors office.  A small cannula (a thin metal tube) attached to a vacuum
producing machine, is passed through small incisions in the skin, and suctions
away the unwanted fat.  A tight dressing is applied to the area after the
surgery, and there will be a period of swelling and bruising for as long as
three or four weeks, but then these conditions disappear.  Antibiotics are
prescribed to prevent infections.  Choose your surgeon carefully, seeking a
qualified specialist with appropriate credentials and board certification.  It
pays to check around, and your own family physician may be a fine source for a
recommendation.  It isn't cheap, either, with the cost of procedures running
from $1,000 to $3,000.  Hospital costs are extra, and few insurance companies
pay for this surgery, considered an elective procedure.  You may want to think
a second time about your diet and exercise program!
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
