Liposuction is by far the most popular cosmetic procedure in the US. Over 500,000 procedures are performed each year and nearly $1.6 billion is spent on liposuction procedures. Yet there are still many huge misconceptions about who can get the procedure and what the potential results will be. Liposuction is becoming increasingly popular in Sri Lanka due to the new techniques offered by Dr Nimal Gamage with over 12000 procedures performed without any mortality or serious adverse reactions. The reasons for the rapid increase in liposuction popularity is quite simple: better results, quicker recovery, permanent change, and affordable prices. Despite a tepid economy, these drivers are leading people to feel better about themselves with body contouring.
Myth #1: Patients have to be within 10-15 pounds of your ideal weight.
Many liposuction surgeons tell their patients that they have to be within 10-15 pounds of their ideal weight for optimal results. While this may be true for optimal results, this by no means should exclude the rest of patients from having liposuction. In fact, the more fat you have, the bigger the change that can be accomplished. Despite not being the ideal candidate, one can accomplish life changing results with liposuction. The key to getting the results that you are looking for, is to have realistic expectations about what is possible given each individuals limitations. It is best to do the liposuction when you have realized that you want to look better and get healthy. When you do a diet and exercise you will only loosen the skin further which can only be fixed by cutting it off and stitching. Liposuction is your only hope of getting back in shape.
Myth #2: Liposuction is only for small localized areas.
There are countless patients that are told that liposuction is only for small localized areas. Again, this may be true for the “ideal candidate,” but it should not discourage those that have bigger problems to address. The truth is that liposuction is the removal of fat and can be performed on nearly any part of the body with an abundance of fat. This includes: Chin, neck, arms, upper back, breasts, underarms, full abdomen, love handles, hips, lower back, full thighs, pubic, butt, calves and ankles. The reason many doctors say a patient can not have liposuction in a particular area is likely due to their lack of experience working in that area.  Specially the plastic surgeons who perform liposuction under general anesthesia can not get the results which can only be obtained with tumescent local anesthesia and newer more advanced techniques. Therefore they discourage patients from liposuction and push patients towards tummy tucks which they do not need.
Myth #3: Once the fat is removed your skin will be left sagging.
This is a very common sales tactic that most plastic surgeons use so they can up sell patients to have a tummy tuck procedure. The truth is that once fat is removed from a given area, the skin normally will retract to similar tightness of the skin prior to liposuction, except the volume in the area will be much less. So if you have very tight skin prior to the procedure, your skin will be tight after the procedure as well. In contrast, if you have very loose skin before, then it will remain loose after. There are many people that are very happy with a significant reduction in size and happy to look better in their clothes. If you are concerned about loose skin, you can still do a liposuction and obtain a better result in your shape. Now the tummy-tuck has become an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia returning you to work next day.  You can do a tummy tuck without risking your life and suffering a great deal of pain  or cost with new liposuction abdominoplasty.
Myth #4: You will gain the weight back after liposuction.
Most studies agree that fat cells do not reproduce, rather they shrink or swell depending on a persons weight gain or loss. Since liposuction is the physical removal of fat cells, patients are left with about 80% reduction in the number of fat cells they have in a treated area. Because not all of the fat cells in a treated area are removed, there will still be some cells left that could get larger, but theoretically it will be much more difficult to gain weight in that area since there are significantly less fat cells. Most of our patients follow an improved diet and lifestyle and continue to lose weight.
Myth #5: Liposuction requires weeks of downtime.
This may have been true in the 80’s, but with current technologies and the use of the Tumescent Liposuction Technique, the recovery is very quick. In fact, most patients are able to return to a sedentary job within 1-3 days. While you will be sore after the procedure you will not be incapacitated and will definitely be able to work a desk job. Patients normally return to full activities including gym work outs within 2 weeks.
It may be true that “ideal candidates” for liposuction get ideal results, but it’s the other 98% of people that get liposuction who are the ones that are getting the dramatic, life changing results. If you have excess fat that is resistant to diet or exercise, then liposuction can likely help you attain the results you are looking for.
To find out if liposuction is right for you, call us at 0772300454 or email Dr Nimal Gamage at Nimal@lankacosmetic.com  You can see before and after pictures here.  What happens if you dont do liposuction and do diet and exercise to lose weight. Your skin will sag and you will not get the beautiful body you want. See pics here.