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"Lipo" is a form of cosmetic surgery that involves the removal of excess body fat, with the primary aim to enhance a patient's overall image and appearance. This technique has experienced flourishing popularity over the past few years, and is typically performed on areas of the body where excess fat tends to collect, such as "love handles" on the stomach, sagging skin on the hips and thighs, and clumps of fat that accumulate on the buttocks. Whilst lipo is often regarded as a purely cosmetic procedure designed to aesthetically improve a person's image, Medical News Today suggests that there are medical benefits to be gained from undergoing the process, such as removal of Lipomas, relief from Gynecomastia, and also treatment for Lipodystrophy syndrome.
Lipo is a surgical procedure that requires a patient to go under anaesthesia, which may be local or general depending on the amount of fat that is being removed. Once the patient is placed under anaesthetic, a high-pressure vacuum is applied to a steel instrument called a cannula - a tube which is carefully inserted into areas of the body to aid the removal of fatty deposits. The suction from the vacuum forces any excess fat to be drawn out of the body, leaving behind a lean area of skin. Typically, lipo surgery is usually performed using two main techniques known as Tumescent Lipo and Ultra-sound Assisted Lipo. The first involves the injection of a saline solution that contracts the blood vessels - reducing blood loss and providing pain relief for the patient. The second method uses ultrasonic energy to turn the fat into liquid, thus making it easier to remove.
Lipo has the ability to considerably trim a person's overall frame, allowing them to take pride in their image, appear healthy, and have more confidence in themselves as a result. The procedure is ideal for anyone in good health who wishes to have certain fatty deposits removed from particular areas of their body. Contrary to popular belief, lipo is not a way to resolve the issue of obesity, and is more suited to individuals who are looking to remove hanging fat and excess skin from an otherwise slim frame.
Any areas of the body from which fat has been removed may be subject to a certain degree of leakage in the days following lipo surgery, and in certain cases surgeons will insert a drainage tube to help minimise this excess fluid seeping from the fat removal sites. Recovery time varies from patient to patient, and doctors will prescribe a detailed course of action that may involve compression garments to keep the skin tight, antibiotics to help ease any discomfort, and measures that can be taken to help reduce any swelling. According to MedicineNet, lipo usually takes around two weeks to fully heal following enactment of the procedure:
