3 minute read
Eat All You Want: Dr. Sanderson Will Just Suck It Out
by Dr. Sanderson | photos courtesy of Dr. Sanderson
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At Flower Mound Plastic Surgery and Live Young Wellness Spa, we truly have the best clients and patients. To show their appreciation for us, often times our clients kindly bring us treats like bundt cakes or warm chocolate chip cookies.
My team members rarely hesitate to take a quick break from their laser work or injecting to enjoy one of those delicious desserts. Recently, we had a new staff member who is very health focused join our team. One day when we were gifted with some treats, she expressed concern about her diet and did not want to partake in the high-calorie dessert sitting on the table. One of the more experienced team members at the office smirked and said, “Don’t worry about it. Eat all you want, Sanderson can suck it out.” She was jokingly (at least I think) referring to liposuction. I thought this Dining and Entertainment issue was a perfect time to dispel some of the myths surrounding all of the modalities for removing unwanted fat.
First, we will address the modality of liposuction. When non-medical professionals watch a liposuction procedure, it is usually met with mixed emotions. Disgust is usually the first emotion as they see the liposuction cannula moving rapidly back and forth under the skin, but then intrigue sets in when they see the yellow, greasy fat moving out of the body into a sterile canister, and that area of the body begins to slowly deflate. I often get questions like, “Does it hurt?” or “Does the fat grow somewhere else after it is removed there?” First, let me say, excluding diet and exercise, liposuction is still the gold standard for localized fat reduction. It is not a good diet plan, but it works perfectly on stubborn areas of fat that will not seem to go away regardless of the amount of exercise. The pain is minimal to moderate, and I think this is somewhat surgeon specific. It is not uncommon for my patients to go back to work on Monday after having a liposuction on the previous Thursday — requiring only one or two days off of work. I remind everyone that you
BEFORE AFTER
can still gain weight or get heavier, but the area we treat will always be smaller than what it would have been if we had not treated it. Liposuction can be done under local or general anesthesia. We can only do one area at a time under local simply due to the amount of the numbing medicine required. One area includes both sides of the body. For example, both love-handles are considered one area. I am a huge fan of doing liposuction under local anesthesia for those who are candidates. It is cheaper and more convenient. The average amount of pain during or after the procedure is 3/10.
Next, there are several fat freezing modalities on the market now; I would happily purchase one of these devices if I felt like they were effective enough to justify the cost to my patients. I ask all of my clients who have had the fat freezing procedures what their experience was, and only one in 20 or so say they felt like it was worth the money spent. Furthermore, a small percentage of people will actually get paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia is a fancy way of saying the fat increases in size and amount after attempting to freeze it and make it go away. I have seen a few clients in my clinic seeking liposuction after this unwanted effect. This is a really rare, but well described event.
Finally, the best fat reduction modality is diet and exercise. Nothing works better than the difficult, but effective, method that your mom and dad encouraged. We offer nutrition and hormone services if the more natural route is preferred. We have also teamed up with some great local gyms and fitness places. After getting to know you, we can easily refer you to an exercise location where you will feel welcome and at home.
Either way, if you find yourself enjoying a little too much apple pie this holiday season and need help getting back on track, give our team at Flower Mound Plastic Surgery and Live Young Wellness Spa a call.
