information on liposuction

The amount of information about cosmetic surgery available today can be both a gift and a curse. There is no denying that the Internet can be a fantastic resource for prospective plastic surgery patients who want to learn more about how their respective procedure can help. However, it can be difficult to differentiate trustworthy information from something that is just plain wrong. This is especially true for a common cosmetic surgery topic like liposuction due to how much info there is about it online. So, to set the record straight, I wanted to discuss a few common misconceptions about liposuction to help patients understand what is true and what is false.

Myth #1: Liposuction is a Type of Weight Loss Surgery

This is probably the most common misconception about liposuction. Liposuction is NOT a weight loss surgery. Patients who expect liposuction to help them lose a considerable amount of weight will almost certainly come away from their procedure disappointed. The total amount of fat removed during liposuction will not ultimately weigh very much. This is why I advise patients to reach their ideal weight before undergoing liposuction.

Myth #2: A Compression Garment Can Help During Liposuction Recovery

This one is true. I recommend for liposuction patients to wear a compression garment on their treated area after their procedure. Compression garments can help minimize swelling after liposuction and speed up the recovery process. Additionally, wearing a compression garment can help shape and smooth the treated area after surgery, allowing your final liposuction results to reveal themselves in less time.

Myth #3: Liposuction Can Help Tighten Your Skin

This is unfortunately false. Liposuction is ideal for removing excess fat but will not be able to tighten the skin. This means that the degree of skin laxity (or looseness) you experience before liposuction will be the same after your surgery. Other body contouring procedures like tummy tuck surgery, thigh lifts, and arm lifts can help remove the loose, excess skin that causes sagging. These procedures can be safely paired with liposuction in many cases.

Knowledge can be a powerful tool in the world of cosmetic surgery. After more than three decades performing cosmetic procedures, I’m always happy to share what I have learned to help ensure that every patient has the best experience possible with their plastic surgery procedure. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, at Atlanta Plastic Surgery today. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional cosmetic surgery questions, tips, videos, and more.