Lipo Surgery Information

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What Is Lipo?

Lipo is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world.

Simply put, Lipo (also known as lipoplasty and suction lipectomy) is a surgery that removes fat from a specific location in the body. Although the word "Lipo" literally means the suction of fat, there are many Lipo techniques available today, including a few which do not require suction of any kind.

In most cases, Lipo is considered an elective cosmetic procedure, meaning it is voluntary rather than medically necessary, and performed for the sake of improving the appearance. Because of this, most insurance companies will refuse to cover even a portion of the cost of Lipo, meaning that prospective patients will need to be able to pay for their Lipo on their own, whether in one lump sum or in a series of payments arranged by the clinic.

Occasionally Lipo may be considered medically necessary, as when it is used as part of a reconstructive surgery, such as breast reconstruction after a full or partial mastectomy. There is also some evidence Lipo may reduce the impact of certain weight-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome or type II diabetes. However, Lipo cannot remove large amounts of fat at a time, so it cannot help much with general obesity. In these cases, several Lipo treatments may be needed in order to achieve the desired results.

How Does Lipo Work?

In a typical case, a prospective Lipo patient will meet with his or her surgeon for an initial consultation weeks or even months before the actual Lipo procedure will be performed.

During this consultation, they decide on a specific target area (or a few areas) from which the patient would like to have fat removed. On the day of surgery, the patient comes in and gets the target area numbed, usually through local anesthetic.

During the Lipo surgery, the Lipo surgeon makes small incisions in the skin overlying the target area. Then he or she inserts a sort of special hollow tube called a cannula. In most types of Lipo the cannula is vacuum powered, and it suctions fat from the body as the Lipo surgeon moves it back and forth through the fatty tissue.

The exact particulars of the Lipo surgery and recovery depend somewhat on the technique which the operating surgeon chooses to use. The most common Lipo technique is called the tumescent method. The tumescent Lipo method was developed during the mid 80's, and it is performed by injecting large amounts of fluids into the target area. These fluids include anesthetic and medicines that help to reduce blood loss. The insertion of these fluids causes the fatty tissue to "tumesce" or become firm and swollen. After the Lipo surgery, these fluids gradually drain from the body over the course of a few to several days.

A number of other Lipo techniques have been developed in the relatively recent past, each using a different form of technology to assist in the removal of fat. Laser lipolysis uses surgical lasers to melt fat, making it easier to suction out. Ultrasonic assisted Lipo (UAL) uses ultrasonic waves to achieve a similar effect; however, many Lipo doctors now feel that UAL is unsafe because it can cause burns. Power assisted Lipo uses a special cannula that moves on its own, which saves effort for the surgeon. Some of the most recent advances include water assisted Lipo (WAL), which uses jets of water to loosen fatty tissue, and the custom acoustic method, which uses infrasonic waves to break up fat. All of these Lipo techniques have pros and cons, and many of them are discussed in further depth on other pages of this site.

Do I Need Lipo?

Although many advertisements try to convince their audiences otherwise, the truth is very few people actually need Lipo for medical reasons-that's why it's classified as an elective procedure.

However, many people can receive aesthetic benefits from Lipo. For many of these people, Lipo gives benefits of comfort and improved appearance. In some cases, this improved appearance and increased degree of comfort after a Lipo procedure substantially improve the quality of one's life.

Although much of the advertising targets the female demographic, most people-men and women--will have one or two areas treated with Lipo where they store a little more fat than they want, even if they lead relatively healthy lifestyles. Because men's bodies are different from women's, the most commonly treated body areas are different for men and women. The most popular target areas for Lipo among women are the abdomen, breasts, hips and thighs. Most men, on the other hand, are genetically predisposed to carry excess weight around their waists in "love handles", or on their necks, chins, and jowls, or on their chests, resulting in the infamous "man boobs".

For these people, Lipo can be a good choice, because it is frequently very effective in targeting those specific areas, along with others which are usually hard to entirely reshape through healthy living.

Lipo is less well suited for total body weight loss, though, because safety reasons make it difficult for a surgeon to remove more than ten pounds total at any one time.

One of the few times when Lipo is actually medically advisable comes when a woman has excessively large breasts. If a woman has extremely large and heavy breasts and if she cannot lose weight in them through diet and exercise, then the weight of them can sometimes lead to pain in the neck, shoulders and back. In these circumstances, even insurance companies frequently agree that a Lipo is worthwhile.

Lipo: Taking The Next Step

If you are considering Lipo, you should know that nearly every clinic or doctor offers the first consultation for free, without any obligation to continue with Lipo treatment thereafter.

Scheduling a few of these free Lipo consultations for yourself with clinics in your area can be a good way to familiarize yourself with the procedures, ask any questions you may have, and compare Lipo prices.

The Lipo consultation also gives you a chance to meet with your Lipo surgeon and his team face to face and learn more about their qualifications. To find a qualified Lipo doctor in your area, use our Lipo doctor locator.

Each Lipo doctor has its own preferences about the Lipo method to be used and also, the Lipo doctor's skills and experience can vary greatly from one to another. It is recommended to request to see some Lipo before and after pictures to make sure the quality of their work is up to your standards. Additionally, make sure that you meet your Lipo doctor during your initial consultation and ask him or her about the number of Lipo procedures that they have performed; or for how many years they have been performing Lipo.

Remember that as the patient, it is your right to ensure you're getting the best Lipo treatment possible. It is also very important to make sure that you feel comfortable with your Lipo doctor and that you are able to speak with him or her about your questions, expectations and concerns before getting Lipo.

Finding the right Lipo doctor for you can greatly improve your changes of a successful outcome and smooth recovery after getting Lipo.