The liposuction diaries - Urgh freak out! - 1 February 2008

Posted by Felicity Quigley 1 comment

I wish I had legs like these...

This week, I’ve started my research into the actual visceral details of what happens during a liposuction procedure. Yesterday I nearly made myself physically sick by looking at photos of huge glass vats of fat and blood sitting alongside an unconscious patient in an operating theatre (sorry if you’re eating your lunch!). Because I’m a nice person, I’m not going to publish these pics for your, ahem, delectation, but if you really want to see for yourself, check this out. (Warning – this is not for those with a delicate constitution).

Anyway, having looked at this and nearly fainted, I checked out SmartLipo – which is a lot less invasive (but can be more expensive). The process for SmartLipo works like this: the surgeon inserts a small canula (tube) containing a laser into the skin and moves it back and forth. The laser’s energy breaks down the fat cells into an oily substance which is then sucked out via the same small incision. A local anaesthetic is required, rather than a general, and apparently it causes a lot less bleeding than garden-variety liposuction, as the laser also cauterizes the small capillaries that can be ruptured in the procedure. Recovery time is less too – it figures, since it’s less invasive. So far, so less scary.

The other thing I did this week in an unguarded moment was to watch “Secrets of Extreme Makeover” on TV. Although it’s an American production which is clearly pro-plastic surgery, there were some eye-opening moments, as well as a few interesting home truths about liposuction and SmartLipo. One of the interesting things the programme highlighted was the fact that once you have fat sucked out in this procedure, it stays away. That’s because the body produces your fat cells when you are born, which then expand as you get fatter. The other key thing that made me sit up and take notice was the fact that liposuction does not remove cellulite. In fact, it may even make it worse, because once those cushioning fat cells are gone, that orange peel has nothing to rest on.

So, at this present moment in time, there is no way I’m having liposuction. Call me a chicken, but I’m just not convinced, given the risks involved (loss of blood, general anesthesia). I am still, however, in two minds about the SmartLipo. I’ve also decided not to show you my saddlebags yet….not a cop out – I will reveal, I promise – but now is not the time.

My odyssey of fast fat removal discovery continues.

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