Liposuction

Each year, millions of men and women attempt to lose weight through diets, exercise and weight-loss supplements. Unfortunately, for the majority of those who succeed, the loss is often only temporary. And of those who manage to keep the weight of many still complain of problem areas they simply can't reduce.

Liposuction is a safe, effective procedure for removing specific areas of unwanted fat cells that remain despite regular exercise and good nutrition.

Often combined with other cosmetic procedures, liposuction can improve the contour of your body and help you feel more confident when wearing certain types of clothing.

What it can improve

When we're young, our body fat tends to be distributed evenly and our skin is highly elastic.

As we age, however, that fat begins to redistribute itself, skin becomes less resilient, and muscle mass disappears. This can result in a buildup of fat cells. In women, the fat is likely to accumulate in the hips, thighs and buttocks. In men, it's frequently seen in the abdomen, to the sides of the waist ("love handles") and in the chin. Stubborn fat cells can be an inherited trait. It's not uncommon to see a child with the same weight distribution as one of his or her parents or other relatives. Clearly, this would help explain why certain areas of fat in your body may seem to be immune to various attempts at weight loss.

It wasn't until the introduction of liposuction into the United States in the 1980's that doctors could effectively treat this problem. Using advanced surgical equipment and techniques, the surgeon can suction out localized fatty deposits in a variety of areas, including the chin breasts, stomach, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees and ankles.

Despite its effectiveness, however, it is important to keep in mind that liposuction is not intended as a means of weight reduction that can be accomplished through proper diet and exercise.