Liposuction is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic treatments, up there with breast augmentation and rhinoplasty surgery, (otherwise known as a nose job). Liposuction is not a treatment that will improve your health or well-being; it is a purely cosmetic procedure. Basically, it eliminates any pockets of fatty tissue from areas that prove difficult to move using any other methods, such as exercising and dieting. Liposuction is a treatment that will alter the way your body shape looks and is not to be thought of as a method of losing weight.

Anyone wanting to have liposuction has to be within 30% of their ideal weight, if you suffer from obesity a surgeon will not perform the treatment and is liable to ask you to lose weight before returning again.

To be eligible for liposuction, patients have to have a clean bill of health, both physically and mentally. Exercise and dieting is always a first option and doctors will encourage this rather than perform surgery. If after exercising, the excess fat cannot be removed then liposuction would be appropriate. If the skin on the area to be treated is too wrinkled or loose it might be deemed not acceptable for the treatment.

Liposuction is a fairly straight-forward technique. Small incisions are made in the skin where the excess fat is, and then a narrow tube known as a cannula is inserted into the incisions. The tubes are attached to a vacuum machine and the fat is, more or less, sucked out. You are usually given the option of a general or local anesthetic.

It is not always necessary to stay overnight at a hospital for this treatment. If a large excess of fat is to be removed then you may have to, but if it is a small area only, such as a double chin or knees, then it can be carried out quite easily in a properly equipped doctor's office or hospital.

Liposuction is able to be used on a number of areas. Men usually go for the treatment as they age and develop excess weight around their waists and stomachs, or fatty tissue forming a double chin. Some men also suffer from man breasts and seek help for this embarrassing problem. Women often have issues with the excess fat under their chin, on their upper arms or on their thighs, hips and waistline. Liposuction can help improve the body shape for both men and women. Becoming more common is liposuction on the knees and inner thighs. Women generally have this area treated and are pleased with the results as it can enhance the shape of their legs and make them look slimmer.

Fatty tissue can be removed from a number of areas. Fat around the eyes, on the cheeks and under the chin are all difficult places to get rid of and liposuction can deal easily with these problem areas. It can particularly help those who have undergone a breast reduction or men who are seeking a Gynecomastia reduction. The stomach and buttocks are other popular areas of the body that liposuction can help to remove excess fat and give a more defined look to your contour.

A common enough procedure, liposuction is seen as a safe method of removing fatty tissue. All surgery has its risks of course and you should always make sure you are aware of these before undergoing any treatment. Dimpling effects or a lumpiness in the skin are just some of the problems patients have suffered, whilst others have had a slight numbness in the treated area. Also scarring, discoloration or sagging skin can be side effects of the treatment. A good doctor will always make sure you are fully informed of any possible risks.