Liposuction has become the most popular type of plastic surgery in recent years, and it is largely due to the improvements in available technology. A relatively new technique called "tumescent liposuction," a more streamlined version of the old technique using smaller incisions, is a big part of the reason.

Liposuction can help you lose weight, and the operation lasts only an hour or two. But, is it right for you? It's not a good idea for everyone. Liposuction is ideal for those who have fatty deposits here and there in certain parts of their bodies, not for those who suffer from obesity or have excess weight for other reasons.

First, you should consider your overall health. Surgery produces the best results for those who have muscle tone and are within 25% or so of their ideal weight. Liposuction removes fatty deposits rather than simply taking off weight everywhere.

Lifestyle is a major factor in whether fat removals are successful or not. Many patients who select this surgery end up going back at a future date because they simply put on the weight again afterwards. If you are not committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including sufficient exercise and good eating habits, surgery won't do much good.

When considering this operation, you should be realistic. Plastic surgery is effective for removing excess fat from various spots instead of overall fat. If you know what to expect going into the procedure, you won't be disappointed by the outcome.

Most of us have some general idea of how this process works. A tube is inserted into a deposit on a person's body. For women, this often means thighs, hips, buttocks, arms, legs, under the chin and sometimes the back. For men, it's most often the "love handles," although men are increasingly using liposuction to get rid of excess fat around the chest area. Depending on the type of surgery (and there are several slightly different techniques), a pump sucks the fat out gradually. In some techniques, a gel or hardener is applied first, making it easier to pull the fat out.

Usually a light anesthetic is used that will not quite put you out of it, but you'll be far enough out in space to not really care about what is going on. The operation takes anywhere from 1-3 hours, with a few hours of recovery time. Almost all patients go home the same day, although some who have had large deposits removed have a longer recovery time.

The consultation is the most important part of the procedure. First off, the doctor will have to assess whether liposuction will work for you. The next step is to figure out how much to take off. Most procedures remove between 2 and 6 liters. Removing too much fat at once can be uncomfortable for the patient and unhealthy. There is a standard maximum set by the plastic surgery industry.

The most important thing for candidates to realize is that the entire process is about body shaping; it is not an alternative to dieting and healthy living. If you suffer from obesity, it is much better to make some lifestyle changes such as develop an exercise routine or diet than to get plastic surgery.

Liposuction helps thousands each year get rid of those minor deposits. Talk to your plastic surgeon today to see if liposuction is a good option for you.