Yes but it doesn't help me

Christopher L. Hess, MD answers: Liposuction alternatives - what are the options?

I was thinking about getting lipo done on my stomach and back, but I made the mistake of watching a liposuction procedure on one of those educational TV shows, and now I'm scared.  All that hacking around and suctioning under the skin looked really risky and painful.  Are there any alternatives to liposuction that will help me get rid of fat in those tricky areas?


Christopher L. Hess, MD
7 months ago

Liposuction and all cosmetic procedures should be reserved for areas/issues that cannot be resolved by any other method.  Unfortunately, there is another alternative for you and that is weight loss.  Of course these are two words plastic surgeons never want to say because we make our livings doing procedures like liposuction.

Liposuction IN THE RIGHT HANDS is very safe.  Don't get caught up in how it's done in the operating room.   Yes it may appear somewhat rough and violent but in the right hands it's actually the same as a sculptor with his hammer and chisel.  It's art in motion.  Only see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon because anyone is allowed to do liposuction but only Plastic Surgeons have been extensively trained in it.

Often we seem like we can never lose the weight.  Personal example: I'm 5'8" and was 185 for many years.  No one, not even my wife, said I looked over weight.  Only the numbers at my doctors office did.  Then I set out to lose 5 lbs for a karate competition.  It was hard at first but then the weight came off.  I stuck with my diet 1400 cal /day and ended up back at the weight I used to dance at (I was a professional ballet dancer) of 150.  So weight loss can happen

Trust me I was about to get lipo done as well.

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