It is no secret that, among Americans, the rate of diabetes and heart disease is particularly high. Many people have heard from their doctor that they need to exercise and eat a more healthy diet in order to lose weight. However, this may be easier said than done. Patients may work out four times a week and stick to a low fat diet, yet still have difficulty losing weight. These patients may look toward liposuction as a means to lose stubborn excess fat to get their triglyceride (bad) fat and/or blood glucose under control. Until recently, research showed that liposuction was not a good option for patients with diabetes or heart disease. However, that seems to be changing for the better.

Liposuction Procedure

In a liposuction procedure, small incisions are made into the body at strategic locations where fat is to be removed. A thin tube is then inserted, and the fat is gently suctioned out of the body. In some cases, ultrasound or low-power lasers may be used first to heat up the body and melt the fat, making it easier to remove. In most cases, it can be done with either a local or general anesthesia and can take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the extent of fat to be removed.

Liposuction is only designed to remove fat from the body. It does not treat excess skin that may be left after sudden weight loss. However, it can be done in conjunction with a tummy tuck procedure, which does remove excess skin from the body.

Heart Disease

The big argument against liposuction for treating heart disease has always been that the procedure only removes subcutaneous fat, which is directly under the skin. The most harmful fat for heart disease is that which collects around the internal organs. However, a study presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons studied cholesterol and triglyceride levels of more than 300 patients who underwent a liposuction procedure. Patients had a 43 percent drop in their triglyceride levels after undergoing the procedure. Although the patients' cholesterol levels did not drop, there was a reduction in white blood cell counts, which could further lower patients' risks for heart disease.

Diabetes

In diabetes, the body does not properly regulate blood glucose levels on its own. This fact may lead to excess bleeding and/or poor wound healing following a liposuction procedure. Those patients with diabetes who wish to undergo a liposuction procedure should have their blood glucose levels under control. Dr. Pin suggests that patients with diabetes should first consult with their primary care physician in order to make certain that the diabetes is fully under control.

Although most cosmetic surgeons will stress that liposuction should not be considered as a primary means to control diabetes, a number of studies seem to show that the procedure may help at least a small amount in controlling blood glucose.

Overall, Dr. Pin still suggests exercise and a low-fat diet as the main ways to lose fat for patients with heart disease or diabetes. However, liposuction may be a viable option to help remove fat from those trouble spots.

Contact Dr. Paul Pin to schedule a liposuction consultation.