Those last five pounds might not be so hard to lose thanks to a new surgical procedure called various, precision or micro liposuction. The procedure isn’t actually all that new, doctors began performing the surgeries about 10 years ago, but it is gaining more popularity among patients and doctors — I think largely due to America’s obsession with perfection. Areas such as the kneecaps, ankles, back rolls and inner thighs are now able to be reached with the tools used during micro liposuction, whereas they would previously go untouched.
In an article in Thursday's New York Times, Dr. Peter B. Fodor, a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles says that because of new types of ultrasound machines, which can be used to break up fat before it is extracted, and daintier cannulae, the blunt-tipped hollow tubes used to dislodge and suck out fat, have made it easier for doctors to fine-tune liposuction.
This procedure is most fit for those on the thinner side that just can’t seem to lose their love handles or “bra muscle” and have gone to great lengths to get rid of them. Liposuction generally is not recommended for those in the obese category and any reputable doctor will suggest a diet and exercise program before putting you under the knife.
New procedures like micro liposuction and genital reconstruction rise the issue of boundaries – when will we ever look good enough? Are procedures such as the latter just mere vanity or are they stepping stones to self confidence? I guess it’s just a case by case situation, but for now I’m happy with using a pair of Spanx and some concealer.
