Treating Belly Fat With Liposuction

    PHOENIX, AZ, August 13, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the most common complaints women have about their bodies is the presence of "belly fat." Liposuction can be an effective way of removing this fat under certain conditions. However, patients should be aware that several other factors can contribute to the misshapen appearance of the abdominal area.

For example, after pregnancy or significant weight loss, many women have excess skin in their abdominal area that contributes to a protruding or sagging effect. Others might have a roundness in their abdomen due to the stretching or separation of the rectus muscles.

In both cases, you may wish to combine an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with liposuction in order to achieve the most dramatic results. Tummy tucks can remove excess skin and tighten the muscles in your abdominal area to produce a more toned appearance. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon can help you decide which treatment approach is right for you.

Abdominal Body Contouring

If the cause of your belly's shape is primarily excess fat, liposuction alone can produce excellent results - especially in patients with good skin elasticity. Modern liposuction technology and techniques can stimulate your skin as fat is removed, helping your abdominal skin retract and tighten over the treated area.

Older patients and smokers with less skin elasticity may have trouble with skin retraction after liposuction. Abstaining from smoking for a significant amount of time both before and after liposuction will help you achieve better-looking results. Be sure to address these issues with your plastic surgeon when formulating a treatment plan.

Liposuction: Not a Weight Loss Method

Another misguided assumption people make about liposuction is that it is an easy or efficient way of losing weight. In reality, liposuction is designed for patients who are already at or near their target weight, with the goal of sculpting and toning the body. Removing too much fat via liposuction can be dangerous, and often leads to gross irregularities of the skin. The goal of liposuction should always be achieving the best cosmetic results, never removing the maximum amount of fat.

Meanwhile, when liposuction is used to "touch up" the body after significant weight loss, it can be a valuable tool for many patients who struggle with eliminating small, resistant fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise.

If you live in the Phoenix or Glendale areas of Arizona and would like more information on liposuction, please visit the website of board-certified Phoenix plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Angelchik, MD at http://www.doctorangelchik.com.

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