Fat is not in, think slim

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When is Liposuction needed?

“Am I fat?” A question dreaded by husbands around the world and not just hubbies, but generally all men when asked by that special woman in their life. It strikes terror because an honest answer would mean a fortnight of explanations that what he said wasn’t what he meant or the other way round!

So what does one do when encountered with stubborn fat which refuses to melt away with 2 hours at the gym daily, restraining that urge to bite into even a teeny-weeny piece of chocolate at midnight, digging into that paratha, or tucking into just one spoon of rice.

Life can be cruel for those who often complain that they seem to put on weight even if they think about food. But help is at hand. A magic wand called liposuction.

What is Liposuction?

Imagine all that unwanted protruding fat from thighs, arms, chin simply sucked away with tiny little incisions exclusively made in those disturbing parts of the body, dislodged with a cannula and then through a process of suction tossed out of your body, like one would use a vaccum cleaner! Of course, it’s manna from heaven for those struggling with obesity but it is important to realize that like all other superficial methods which gloss over what society makes us believe as  ugliness, this too is merely a cosmetic tool. It does not go to the root of the problem. Very much like a quick fix, this 2-4 hour surgical treatment which involves large layers of fat and fluid being injected between fat and muscle, is also not viable for long-term or lasting results.

Weight loss is highly desirable and tops the list with tummy tucks; but first things first. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine what your ideal weight should be. Be warned, going under the knife is advised only if you can be categorized as obese or if you qualify in the morbid obesity category.

BMI	Category
<16.0	Extremely underweight
16.0 to 16.9	Severely underweight
17.0 to 18.4	Underweight
18.5 to 24.9	Normal weight
25.0 to 29.9	Overweight
30.0 to 34.9	Obesity (Class 1)
35.0 to 39.9	Obesity (Class 2)
>= 40	Morbid Obesity

Other surgeries as a substitute to Bariatric Surgery

While you wade through the pros and cons of the instant gratification surgery, liposuction you can compare it with bariatric surgery. The latter consists of procedures such as wearing a band, a sleeve, and a gastric bypass.

So while you keep a hawk’s eye on your diet and follow it to the hilt, you lower your stomach capacity and consequently food intake, by wearing a band. It is a form of laparoscopic surgery, but there is no stomach stapling, cutting or rerouting of the intestine. However, one must be ready for certain bumps along the way. Blood clots, food intolerance, and nausea to name a few. You also need to look out for pouch dilation and changes in bowel function.

The gastric bypass reduces the capacity of the stomach and by creating a smaller stomach makes all the food you consume bypass the small intestine. So quite like a natural method of weight loss and most importantly helps to control diabetes. However, incapacitating a part of the stomach means you are inviting trouble in the form of anemia, chronic diarrhea and ulcers.

Now the gastric bypass represses the hunger hormone known as ghrelin. This procedure significantly helps improve fertility and wipe out sleep apnea and migraines. It cuts down Type 2 diabetes and this could be one of its major advantages. But leaking and loose skin, blood clots and vomiting galore are the undesirable side effects.

When to go for bariatric surgery?

So while bariatric surgery tackles the core of the problem namely reducing the appetite and doesn’t let the fat pile on quickly again, it should be considered against certain parameters. Who is the surgeon and why is he or she is recommending you this type of surgery? Bariatric surgery has reduced mortality rates due to obesity. But doctors consider it as the last resort – when all else fails – diet, exercise…

Obesity not only has a negative effect on a person’s self-confidence but also has several health hazards. Contact your nearest bariatric surgeon today to know about how surgery can help you lose weight.