Mar 21, 2005 9:41 am US/Central
(WCCO) To get rid of the bulges that just won't budge, some people are turning to the latest trend in cosmetic surgery: micro-liposuction.
Dr. Boris Ackerman, a plastic surgeon, said micro-liposuction is for people who are already in good shape who just need to get rid of a small area of fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.
"In the past, we would say, 'Well, you look great already.' Now we can push the envelope," Ackerman said.
Dr. Darrick Antell, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said more and more people are choosing "micro-lipo" because it's less invasive and has a quicker recovery time than the traditional liposuction procedure.
"Micro-liposuction allows us to refine liposuction so that we can use smaller instruments and treat smaller areas," Antell said. "People will have it done on, say, a Wednesday, and they'll return to an office job on a Monday with very little visible signs."
Kim D'Andrea had micro-lipo not to get rid of fat, but to get rid of an unattractive bump on her upper back.
"The downtime is very minimal," D'Andrea said. "Instead of the large, unsightly scar I was afraid of, I have two little (scars that) look like mosquito bites."
D'Andrea said she would definitely consider micro-liposuction to help get rid of fat.
Not everyone is sold on micro-lipo. Body image expert Cynthia Bulik said the procedure feeds people's self-doubt in a society that bombards people with images of perfection.
"There's always one more procedure and one more change that will get us closer to that perfectionistic goal rather than just letting us be proud and happy with our bodies as they are," Bulik said.
"No one needs these operations, ultimately," plastic surgeon Antell said, "but it does make people feel better about themselves. It gives them more confidence."
One 26-year-old woman complained that she could not get those "last 10 pounds" to come off, even though she ate right and worked out regularly.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, tried micro-liposuction, which helped her drop 15 pounds and two dress sizes. She said she felt great.
"I highly recommend it," the woman said. "It's God's answer."
Depending on what a patient has done micro-liposuction can require either full or local anesthesia and can cost between $2,000 and $5,000.
http://wcco.com/health/local_story_080104430.html
