The best candidates for plastic surgery are those who are interested in living a healthy lifestyle and want to look and feel their best. This is fortunate, because while plastic surgery can do a lot of things, it cannot guarantee a reduction of your cholesterol levels, a dramatic amount of weight-loss or a removal of dangerous visceral fat that surrounds the organs. What it can do is help you achieve your aesthetic goals while you are on your way to a healthier body and future.
If you have made large gains in weight-loss, removing excess skin and fat can help you fully appreciate your new body and shape. Likewise, if you have had children or aging has emphasized areas that always carried a bit of extra weight, you can tighten and re-contour areas to help motivate you to stay in shape. Learn more about body contouring here.
Not all fat is the same
The worst fat out there is visceral fat. It wraps around the organs and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses. Subcutaneous fat lives directly under the skin and generally has less health implications than visceral. Liposuction breaks up and removes deep subcutaneous fat, avoiding the superficial layer of fat to prevent damaging the skin.
Location, location, location
Exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce both types of fat and increase health, but most people have at least one area where the fat is stubbornly resistant. Liposuction can reduce that stubborn fat. Most men will have deposits in their chest (gynecomastia) or waist area. Women will usually carry extra weight in their breasts, hips, waist and thighs. Liposuction can also treat smaller areas like the neck, arms and lower legs. Learn more about liposuction here.
Take a stand
Whether your problem with fat is deep or superficial, the best plan of attack begins with a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude. Weight-loss to reduce fat might involve the help of your primary care physician, a nutritionist, a fitness professional and lastly, your plastic surgeon. Knowing what your choices are and building a plan to achieve your goals is the first step.
