Can Liposuction Help Me Lose My Pregnancy Weight?

As society continues to indoctrinate its members in the "thinner is better" philosophy, more and more women-especially those who have borne children and may still be carrying some of their pregnancy weight-are looking to surgical solutions like liposuction to help them get the body they want. In some cases, they want to reclaim their pre-baby figure; in others, they want to surpass it. If you are one of these women, before you get your heart set on liposuction you should know that not all abdominal fat can be removed through surgical means.

If you are considering liposuction and/or a tummy tuck to remove some leftover baby weight, you should know that there is more than one kind of abdominal fat. Some fat acts much like fat other places, such, as the hips and thighs, in that it is fairly close the surface, often right beneath the skin. This kind of fat can safely be removed through liposuction. However, some fat can be deposited in an areas known as the "omentum". This area is very close to the vital organs of the abdominal cavity. Because of this proximity and the risk of damaging the organs, most surgeons will not operate on that area unless it is a matter of life or death. In addition, the fat stored in the omentum is frequently used to fuel organs such as the liver. Without some fat in the omentum, the liver and other organs may not function correctly, and you levels of some hormones that fight stress and inflammation can drop drastically.

If you are absolutely determined to remove fat from your omentum and you shop around long enough, you may be able to find an unscrupulous surgeon to perform the procedure for you, but this is almost always a bad idea. The health risks are too great, the chances of successfully completing the procedure are low. Women who store the majority of their abdominal fat in the omentum are much better served to look at non-surgical solutions such as diet and exercise to combat their weight gain.

If you are considering abdominal liposuction but are unsure where the majority of your fat is stored, you can call around to various cosmetic surgeons in your area and ask them if they offer free consultations to prospective patients. Such consultations are very common in the plastic surgery industry, and they will give you a chance to explain your concerns to the surgeon. Together, the two of can work to determine where you fat deposits are and whether or not they can be safely operated on.