MiddletownJournal.com

Liposuction is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery among both men and women in the U.S., with 372,831 procedures performed in 2002, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

The number of liposuction procedures performed increased 111 percent from 1997 to 2002, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Liposuction is an elective surgical procedure that contours the body.

Liposuction is not a weight-loss technique.

Body contour improvements produced by liposuction are permanent.

Each person has a set number of fat cells and, when weight is gained, the size of the fat cells increase, but not the number. Liposuction works by removing some of fat cells.

The best candidates for liposuction are healthy, fit people at normal body weight with elastic skin who have isolated areas of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise.

Irregularities in body contours and symmetry are possible common complications of liposuction that can require additional, touchup surgery. Experienced surgeons have revision rates ranging from two to six percent of patients. Various studies in the medical literature have reported revision rates ranging from five to 20 percent, depending on the type of patient, the number of areas treated at one time and how much fat was removed.

Like any surgery, liposuction does carry risks, including death. When performed by experienced, skilled surgeons, life-threatening complication are extremely rare. Other complications such as bleeding, excessive bruising, infection and pockets of fluid collection under the skin, occur in less than one percent of patients.

Liposuction surgery to remove 5 liters or more of fat in one procedure is considered too risky by most surgeons.