Fun fact: Liposuction is one of the most *popular* cosmetic surgeries all over the world. Although it's been around for decades, there are still a lot of misconceptions about this fat-removal procedure. (For one, it isn't a substitute to weight loss.) So to set things straight, we spoke with Dr. Eloisa Buse—Belo Medical Group's in-house surgeon whose celebrity clients include Dani Barretto and Janella Salvador—to give us the lowdown on liposuction. From the initial consultation to the recovery process, here's what to expect when getting this body-contouring surgery.
Q: What is liposuction exactly and how does it work?
"Liposuction is a surgical procedure," Dr. Buse said. "Your fat is the third layer of your skin. So to be able to get through the fat, you have to poke a hole to insert the cannula, [a.k.a. a thin tube that's used to suction the fat out]." She added, "For me, it's a minor [surgical procedure] because we're only running parallel to the skin with the instrument. We don't dive down."
During the initial constulation, "ang una naming tinitignan is the [client's] height and weight," she explained. According to her, the ideal canditate for liposuction would be someone who's "close to their ideal body weight". The goal is to redefine certain areas of the body that don't respond well to diet and exercise.
Q: What body areas are commonly treated with liposuction?
- Arms
- Back
- Waist
- Upper abdomen
- Lower abdomen
- Chin
Q: What are the most *common* misconceptions about liposuction?
"Yung misconception na akala nila pag na-lipo sila, hindi na sila tataba," Dr. Buse said. "So I always tell the patients, you know, lipo is a push start to your diet," she added, stressing the importance of staying healthy to maintain the results of the cosmetic surgery.
Now, getting a liposuction may seem terrifying for some people. But according to the surgeon, you won't feel any pain during the surgery. "It's not painful because we give [patients] light sedation," she explained.
During the recovery period, though, you may feel some soreness. "It feels like you tried boxing, and you don't box. And then on the fifth day, your muscle aches," she noted. "The swelling usually lasts for around two weeks."
Q: What should someone expect during the liposuction procedure?
"You'll have some drainage," Dr. Buse pointed out. As mentioned earlier, the surgeon will poke a tiny hole in your skin to fit the cannula. "The holes will look like you had a mole excision done lang when it's all healed, but you'll leak the remaining anesthetic fluid. So the only thing that [might stop you] from going back to work right away is the drainage," she said.
On a brighter note, she shared: "After mga two days, pwede nang maglakwatsa. You can have lunch with your friends. The only thing you're not allowed to do is immerse yourself in water while you're healing."
Q: Are there any risks or potential complications associated with liposuction, and how are they managed?
Over the years, Dr. Buse have noticed that the most common complication is a wound infection. "[Some of my patients] got so excited to exercise, but their wounds weren't that dry yet," she recounted. Remember, "sweat has bacteria." But after taking some oral antibiotics, she assured, "they got well again. Plus, we don't [perform liposuction on the] whole body in one go, so that's for your safety."
Q: What lifestyle changes or precautions should individuals take before and after liposuction to maintain the results?
Dr. Buse shared how she's always glad to see patients who have switched to a healthier diet and have started exercising after getting liposuction. "It comes after na eh, parang na-encourage na sila, eh. So sometimes, they don't even have to come back to me for the other areas. They naturally lose the weight in the other areas na."
Q: Liposuction is often criticized for promoting unrealistic beauty standards. What are your thoughts on this, and how do you address patient expectations during consultations?
"I think that only happens when they think that they're [fully] relying on liposuction. They don't know that liposuction is only 20% of the [result], and the [remaining] 80% is up to them," she stressed. "Kailangan din nila tulungan sarili nila."
If you have more Liposuction-related questions or is interested to finally try it, you visit the Belo Medical Group website for more details.
