Going the route of surgery for the purpose of losing weight is not the preferred method that one should seek as there are side effects and, as with any surgery, risks associated with the procedures. One must also remember that it is still going to take a change in lifestyle and eating habits to maintain a healthy weight on a long term basis.

Tummy Tucks

      The true purpose of a tummy tuck is not actually intended as a way for one to lose weight, it was actual developed as a way for people to get rid of excess or sagging skin and is cosmetic in nature. In fact, it has been noted that several people are often turned away from this procedure if they are extremely overweight and are advised that the must first lose a certain amount of weight before actually qualifying for the procedure. However, tummy tucks are often used along with liposuction to firm up their bellies.

      There are complications and risks that you should know about before undergoing this invasive surgical procedure. You may experience pain and tenderness in the abdominal area and be extremely uncomfortable for weeks following the surgery. It is possible that you will experience swelling of the abdominal and surrounding areas of the body for a month or even longer. Excessive bleeding which may build up in the abdominal region (technically known as hematoma) has also been known to occur creating the need for a further procedure to remove the excess fluid and if enough blood is lost, a blood transfusion will be necessary.

      Another issue that has been noted as is something called fat necrosis, which basically means that fat cells have been deprived of blood and caused to turn into liquid which afterwards hardens under the skin.

      Experts say that the risk of any of the above complications happening following this procedure is rare, nonetheless they are a possibility. Again, this can’t be emphasized enough, a tummy tuck alone will not provide the lasting results of a healthy and physically fit body.

Liposuction

      Liposuction is a procedure that involves removing excess fat through a suction technique and there are many complications or unwanted results that can arise that you should know about. Some of these complication are cosmetic in nature while others are more severe and even life threatening.

      Some of the cosmetic side effects are loose skin, contour irregularities, and scarring. If you are having a large amount of fat cells removed at once you may have a lot of loose skin follow the liposuction procedure. If your skin is not supple you may end up with stretch marks and simply put skin that is just hanging there. In some cases the surgeon may remove the excess skin during the procedure or you may have to go back in to have it removed. This, as you can imagine will be painful.

      Another common, but non-severe occurrence is contour irregularities – this is where lumps and bumps materialize or where your body is left looking uneven. Scarring from liposuction is permanent. While the incisions made during the procedure are usually small if you do not properly care for them hardening or darkening of the area may occur.

      Many patients experience uncomfortable swelling that persists for several weeks or even months following the procedure. Swelling of this sort is referred to as edema. Also, fluids have been known to accumulate around the site of suction which forms a pocket. If this occurs it will be necessary to drain the fluids using a needle. There is something called a compression garment that you can wear to reduce the risk of swelling and fluid buildup.

      Another possibility is developing a severe or mild infection that can usually be treated with antibiotics if caught in time, if not caught in time such infections can be life threatening. Infection can cause your skin to become red and irritate, generate red streaks or lines, to be very tender, and produce high fevers or vomiting.

      Organ damage can also occur during the procedure. When liposuction is performed the doctor uses a probing device to enter under the skin through a very small incision and is unable to see exactly where it is going. The probing device is inserted and is then moved vigorously back and forth. Therefore, there is a possibility that one of the internal organs may be punctured, for instance the intestines. If this is to happen the patient can become very ill and additional surgery will be necessary to correct the problem.

      There is also the risk of remnant pieces of fat being dislodged into the body which can travel to the lungs – the medical term for this is pulmonary embolism, which will cause difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. Emergency treatment will be required if this should occur – the greatest risk of this occurring is within the first three days following the procedure.

      Medical reports have revealed that there is also a risk of death associated with liposuction. Their studies have shown that approximately three out of every one-hundred thousand operations performed result in death of the patient. While this is a very low percentage it is still a fact that you should be aware of.

      Medical professionals recommend that liposuction and tummy tucks should only be performed on healthy individuals and that naturally, you should make sure that the surgeon is experience and properly trained. While liposuction and tummy tucks may seem like quick and easy ways to get rid of excess fat, we have to remember the risks involved and weigh them against this one positive attribute.

      At the risk of sounding like a broken record, having a weight loss surgery performed is not going to give you any lasting results if you are not willing to change your lifestyle and eating habits. If you are truly looking to be a healthy and physically fit individual, there is no substitute for doing things the right way, even if they may appear to be difficult and don’t offer the allure that these types of surgeries offer. After all, there are no risks and only benefits associated with using safe and effective methods to maintain a healthy weight.