With the holidays behind us and good intentions from New Years resolutions failing to sustain our forward momentum, many of us are focused on losing weight. There are some people, however, who despite healthy, active lifestyles are still left with “trouble areas.” For these individuals, liposuction may be an option worth considering.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat from isolated areas of the body. It can help get rid of unwanted deposits on the thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen, back, chest, cheeks, calves or even ankles. It requires only small, inconspicuous incisions that are used to insert a cannula, or thin hollow tube. The cannula loosens the fat from the underlying tissue, and it is then removed.

Liposuction can help some people find the look they want, but it is not a substitute for weight loss. If a patient later gains weight following liposuction, fat may redeposit in these areas, and large quantities of fat cannot safely be removed via liposuction. In fact, it is only an appropriate solution for adults who are within a 30 percent range of their ideal weight.

Like any cosmetic procedure, realistic expectations are a must. There's a natural appeal to the quick fix—we all wish we could find one from time to time—but what's best isn't always what is easiest. When we see ads online touting miracle exercise equipment or fad diets with amazing results on television, we're naturally skeptical. Liposuction is not something to be skeptical about. It's a procedure that is a great option for many people, but it is not a one-stop-shop to a different body.

If you would like to transform your figure, the best place to start is still diet and exercise.  When these factors alone don’t meet your goals, then a plastic surgery consultation may be worthwhile.

Krystan Shimmel is a Physician Assistant at Mount Nittany Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgery. To contact the office, call 814.231.7878.