The Quest For Beauty Through Liposuction

By Nur Syuhada Shamsudin KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Beauty is important, though it has been said numerous times that it is only skin deep. Some may want it so badly that they will resort to cosmetic surgery to attain beauty. Cosmetic surgery and aesthetic treatments are widely gaining popularity, even among men, and in some countries such procedures are common and have become part of their culture. With the increasing number of doctors specialising in this area and along with technological advancements, achieving beauty has become easier but definitely not cheap! For some, a little nip and tuck does the trick. Others, however, may resort to a more heavy-duty treatment such as liposuction. Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is a technique that helps remove fat from specific areas for quick slimming. As more beauty clinics pop up in the country, it is also important to choose the safest place to get such procedures done. SAFETY Liposuction on various parts of the body can only be done in hospitals that have the facility and expertise as improper procedure can be fatal. According to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, the licences issued for clinics and hospitals are different whereby clinics can only perform normal treatment and not surgery. "Licensed hospitals can carry out surgery. However, there are places that receive a clinic license but carry out surgery. So when fat is removed without elements of safety at the clinic it is actually illegal and may cause fatal complications," he told Bernama. The practitioner who declined to be named said there have been cases of death, though small in number, with an average of one case in one or two years. Such cases were usually a result of doctors lacking in expertise, not getting procedure done at the hospital, inadequate clinic facilities or the patient suffered from other health problems. He said liposuction was safe if carried out in hospitals and there were about 35 private hospitals that offered the service. THE PROCEDURE "We use a cannula, which is a small steel tube, and insert it into the fatty layers to suck out the fat to achieve a slimmer tummy, thigh or buttock. "But it is a type of surgery that cannot be taken lightly as complications can occur and even cause death," he said. Among the things that can go wrong are bleeding and infection, but can be avoided if all safety precautions are taken. Those interested in undergoing the procedure can search online for hospitals that provide liposuction services and make an appointment for consultation. "The procedure is not suitable for those who are overweight. It is recommended for people who wish to reduce fat in targetted areas, for example, when fat in certain areas do not go away after dieting and exercise," he said. The tummy tuck is another cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat and skin, with an estimated cost of between RM15,000 and RM16,000. "It's suitable for individuals in their 40s and 50s, especially those who have given birth to many kids. Maybe their skin has sagged so the tummy tuck can get rid of the excess skin and it is stitched back to tighten the skin," he said. So far there have not been any complications or deaths associated with tummy tucks as the procedure can only be done by plastic surgeons at hospitals. OTHER RISKS KPJ Specialist Hospital Johor Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery consultant Dr Mohamed Faizal Ali said liposuction is not recommeded for elderly patients and people with high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and such. "The risk of anesthesia for patients with health problems is higher than for healthy patients because they have a chance of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. "Cosmetic treatments are not worth the risk," said Dr Mohamed Faizal who had 13 years of experience carrying out the tummy tuck. If cosmetic surgery was popular only among the affluent, now middle-income earners are also showing interest in such beauty treatments. Liposuction can cost between RM8,000 and RM10,000 for removal of fat in specific areas and can go up to RM20,000 for more areas. Dr Mohamed Faizal, who is a member of the Malaysian Society of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, said patients were bound to feel some post-surgery pain in the areas where fat was removed but it could be minimised with the use of painkillers. Usually patients are discharged on the same day and back at work within two or three days of rest. HAPPY CUSTOMERS Dr Mohamed Faizal said most of his patients were happy after the surgery as their new shape gives them added confidence. Meanwhile, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said each patient had to ensure that the doctor conducting the liposuction procedure is trained. In addition to that, individuals planning for liposuction had to understand the possible risks and side effects during or after the procedure, he said. -- BERNAMA