Welcome to Dr. Jack Peterson’s discussion on liposuction, one of the most sought-after body contouring techniques. In our medical practice in Topeka, Kansas, we’ve noticed an unwarranted misconception — many consider liposuction as a weight loss tool. However, liposuction is fundamentally a tool for body reshaping and contouring, not for weight loss.
This post delves into unraveling the true nature of liposuction and breaking the common misbelief surrounding its purpose and effects. If you have frustrating pockets of fat that diet and exercise can’t budge and you’re considering liposuction, it’s crucial to understand the true purpose of this procedure.
The Principle of Liposuction
Liposuction, as provided by Dr. Jack Peterson, is a body-sculpting procedure used to reshape specific areas of the body. To begin with, liposuction helps to eliminate stubborn fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Instead of losing weight, our patients experience a significant body reshaping and contouring effect after liposuction.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Liposuction?
A prospective liposuction candidate should be within their ideal weight range and healthy with firm, elastic skin. They should also have realistic expectations. The procedure is most effective on people with a consistent body weight who have isolated pockets of fat in specific areas.
Liposuction: The Process Explained
In our Topeka, Kansas clinic, Dr. Peterson uses a type of liposuction called tumescent liposuction. This method starts with injecting a large volume of diluted local anesthesia and epinephrine into the subcutaneous fat, causing it to become swollen and firm, or tumescent. Next, through small, inconspicuous incisions, a narrow tube called a cannula is inserted to loosen and suction out excess fat.
The Long-term Changes
After recovery, liposuction results, including enhancing the natural contours and reducing localized fat deposits of treated areas, are typically immediately evident. However, it might take a few months for final results to fully appear due to swelling.
The Misconception About Liposuction and Weight Loss
We cannot stress enough: liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Yes, patients lose some weight due to the fat removed, but the primary objective is to reshape the body, not to drop the numbers on your weighing scale.
Avoiding Weight Gain Post-Liposuction
Once fat cells are removed from an area, they never grow back. However, if a patient gains weight post-liposuction, the remaining fat cells in the body can enlarge, altering the patient’s body shape again.
Conclusion: Anything But a Weight Loss Tool
Dr. Jack Peterson focuses on patient education and setting realistic expectations. If you are considering liposuction and have a significant amount of weight to lose, Dr. Peterson might guide you to reduce weight first through a combination of diet and exercise or refer you to a weight loss specialist if needed. At Dr. Jack Peterson’s Topeka, Kansas clinic, liposuction is a tool for body reshaping and is not intended for weight loss.
