3 Misconceptions about Liposuction

First Misconception: Is liposuction a method of weight reduction?

The answer is no. Liposuction will not reduce weight and if any, it’s only marginal.

While it is an established fact that Liposuction can effectively sculpt areas that are out of proportion or are not in harmony with the rest of the body, a common misconception about liposuction is that it can also help the patient to lose weight.

According to Dr David Loh, “The only way to lose weight is with determination and with help from a dietitian, a gym-trainer and occasionally, if the obesity is severe, a bariatric surgeon.” A bariatric surgeon specialises in surgery to treat pathological obesity.

“Liposuction is best used to sculpt areas that are out of proportion with the rest of the body.” Dr David Loh stresses.

Liposuction is a procedure where fat deposits directly under the skin are extracted through a small incision in the skin. Fats wrapped around organs, which are called visceral fats, are not dealt with during liposuction.

The arms, chest, breasts, waist, thighs, calves, ankles and the area under the chin can be sculpted. These areas can be difficult to tone with just just exercise and diet, and liposuction offers a helpful option.

Dr Loh stressed that patient selection and education are important for the long-term success of the procedure.

Second Misconception: Can we do a full body liposuction?

“We cannot do ‘whole body liposuction’ for the obese. It will not succeed. Nope, liposuction is not for weight reduction.” he said.

Patients need to understand that they must continue to exercise and diet in order to maintain good long-term results. Areas that have been treated will not accumulate fat again. If the patient puts on weight after liposuction, other areas will take over the task of storing fat. This can cause a distortion of the overall figure. Visceral fat can also  accumulate faster around the organs during periods of drastic weight gain. This is unhealthy.

So, it is of utmost importance that patients understand that must not to allow any weight gain after liposuction. “If you maintain your weight within a plus-minus 1-2 kg band, you will be fine.”

Third Misconception: Vaser is the best form of Liposuction.

Liposuction can be done with the help of assisting devices. Dr David Loh uses Vaser Liposelection. But regardless of which assisted form of liposuction, it is essentially the experience and the skill of the liposuction surgeon which will determine results and the outcome of the surgery, not the tools. Dr David Loh also performs High Definition Vaser (Vaser HD).

Dr Loh also performs autologous fat-transfer to the face and breasts. This is where a person’s own fat is transplanted to the face for greater support of the skin or to the breasts for a slight enhancement. For the face, Nanofats can be grafted to do the work of fillers.

If cellulite is is caused by some degree of lipoedema, then Liposuction can be one of a range of tools to correct it.

Liposuction is performed in a Day Surgery OT and Dr David Loh works with anaesthetists to provide greater comfort and safety to his patients.

Here’s a piece written by Dr David Loh explaining what is Liposuction.