Is it possible that liposuction may have greater health benefits than just helping to sculpt your body? Recent studies suggest that when the level of triglycerides in the body is lowered, as happens after liposuction, your body benefits in ways other than simply looking better.

Health Benefits of Lipo

Triglycerides are the fats in blood, and a high level of them indicates an increased risk for heart disease. According to a report presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, triglyceride levels drop an average of 43 percent after liposuction is performed. Even more surprising, 78 percent of the patients who participated in this study were of healthy, average weight, yet still showed the heart benefits of liposuction. The white blood cell count also lowered following the procedure, indicating that fat removal also reduces inflammation, another potential factor in heart disease. Although we think of liposuction as primarily a cosmetic procedure, it’s good to know that there may be the added benefit of improving our heart health. It’s very common that liposuction from our Tampa clinic, along with other body sculpting procedures, helps to reinforce patients’ healthy habits such as sticking with an exercise program and eating right. Self-esteem often gets a boost following liposuction as well.

The Future of Liposuction

Although more studies need to be done before we have a clear idea of how exactly lipo might benefit complex body processes such as heart health or metabolism, one thing is clear: the impact to our patients is definitely very significant, very personal and goes far beyond basic body measurements.

Are you feeling unsure where to turn when looking for the right cosmetic surgeon in Tampa? Cosmetic surgery is yet another branch of medicine where the individual surgeon plays a huge role in the overall results. This specialization requires a unique skill set that you shouldn’t assume is common among all medical professionals offering cosmetic procedures.

Defining the Specialty

Unfortunately, aesthetic treatments can be performed by any surgeon or medical doctor, even those who have not had specialized cosmetic surgery training. To the outside observer, it may seem like all those extra certifications aren’t really necessary anyway, especially for a relatively simple procedure. But a lot more goes into a successful cosmetic procedure than you might realize. Let’s use liposuction as an example. This is not a procedure requiring years of training, and it may seem like any doctor could perform this treatment. From a purely technical standpoint, this may be true. The real difference, though, lies in the most important factor of the procedure: the results. While most doctors would be able to make an incision, insert the cannula (surgical wand), and remove fat cells, not every doctor is able to grasp exactly how the results will look later on. An experienced cosmetic surgeon who has undergone postdoctoral training in cosmetic surgery procedures understands the way the body will heal, and is able to adjust their technique accordingly. This means accounting for many factors which non-specialized surgeons simply haven’t considered.

Experience and Training

There are plenty of practices in Tampa offering cosmetic surgery, and even more offices which perform cosmetic procedures yet lack the specialized training. Although some common cosmetic treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic can be performed by doctors who are not cosmetic surgeons, are you willing to take that chance with your body and your health? Find a surgeon with both training and skills. The results will be well worth it.

Of course, we all want to look younger, but when is it time to move on from anti-wrinkle treatments and commit to a facelift? Tampa residents will find there are lots of tried-and-true ways to avoid wrinkles or minimize their appearance. Examples include wearing sunscreen and staying out of the sun, using a good moisturizer, eating right, exercising and drinking lots of water. No matter how hard we try, though, we can’t stop aging completely. Here are some signs to watch for which may mean it’s time to start thinking about a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure.

• Nothing Is Working You’re doing everything right: the sunscreen, the water, the medical-grade wrinkle creams...none of it seems to be working anymore. While prevention is the best cure, there comes a time where you need to move on to actual treatments.
• You Live at the MedSpa If you’ve discovered the genius of outpatient medspa treatments such as laser skin resurfacing, injectables and chemical peels, you know first-hand how great the results can be. However, they’re not permanent. If you find you’re at the medspa more frequently in an attempt to keep wrinkles at bay and they’re still getting more pronounced, it may be time to invest in a facelift instead.
• You Think You Look Too Old If you’re discouraged at your appearance every time you look in the mirror, and feel years younger than your reflection would indicate, maybe it’s time for a facelift. Tampa locals especially, with all our southern sun exposure, can see early signs of facial aging like sun damage, age spots, and premature wrinkles. If those fine lines are evolving into deep grooves and you’re not happy about it, come in and see me for a consultation.

Although it’s a good idea to prepare before your procedure by doing a little homework, you should also prepare ahead of time for your recovery from abdominoplasty. Tampa patients who spend time and energy focusing on the healing process have an easier, healthier recovery.

Taking It Easy

In our society, there’s a lot of pressure to be constantly doing things and being productive. When something comes up, like recovering from an abdominoplasty, most Tampa locals feel like they should be up and about as soon as possible. The truth is, forcing your body to be active before it’s ready is a really bad idea. Your body needs time to just rest in order to heal properly. Surgery, and especially a fairly involved surgery like a tummy tuck, is a lot for your body to handle. Muscles have been stitched together, skin has been sutured or stapled, and fat has been removed. All of these things take some getting used to, and your body needs time to adapt.

Taking Time

In fact, time is the best healing agent around. Instead of pushing yourself to get better faster, instead try just relaxing and giving your body what it needs: time to rest, time to heal, and a lot of time to catch up on your sleep. By getting enough down time, your body will recover much more quickly than if you force yourself to get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. Just remember, your body’s been through a lot with this surgery. Give yourself a break, and just get better.