Liposuction and fat transfer are fast becoming two of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in Nigeria. People are constantly trying to change their bodies to look “perfect”.
Celebrities like Toke Makinwa and Tonto Dikeh have been very open about their surgeries. Tonto in an interview told BBC Pidgin, “Maybe I’ll go for my third. I want to fix my chest and touch up my belly too.”
While the new look from these procedures is usually beautiful, there are a few things to consider before you decide to take the plunge. We’ve come up with the ultimate guide to deciding whether or not you want Liposuction surgery.
Liposuction
It is a surgical procedure used to reduce body fat in certain areas of the body. Breaks down fat into parts of the body and absorbs it. It can also be called lipoplasty, liposuction, lipectomy and body contouring. Includes making incisions in the skin and then using a tube to remove the fat from the body. The incisions are then closed with stitches.
Dr Aranmolate popularly known as Dr Laser says that although women are the main users of cosmetic surgery, men tend to prefer liposuction as a cosmetic surgery option. He says, “For a lot of men, they’re doing more liposuction—abdominal liposuction because some of them have a lot of fat in their belly. When they have large breasts, they also come to remove breast tissue to make it look flat.”
Benefits of liposuction
1. It can be used to change and enhance body shape.
2. It gives subtle changes to the body instead of drastic change.
3. Recovery time is relatively less.
4. It can be used to correct certain medical conditions like Lymphedema, Lipomas, Gynecomastia and Lipodystrophy syndrome.
Side Effects of Liposuction
1. There may be contour irregularities where the skin appears uneven due to uneven fat removal or poor skin elasticity which may be permanent.
2. You may experience numbness in the affected area or nerve irritation.
3. You may get skin irritations or puncture an internal organ with the needle used for surgery.
4. Fat can enter blood vessels and block circulation to the lungs and brain, which is life-threatening.
5. Changes in body fluid during the procedure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs or cause kidney or heart problems.
Fat transfer
It is a cosmetic surgery done to move fat from one part of the body to another. They are also called fat grafting or lipomodelling. The purpose is to remove fat from one part of the body with the excess part in another part of the body so as to smooth or increase it. Fat transfers can be done on the face, chest and buttocks. When they end in the butt, it’s called a “Brazilian butt lift.” This is the most popular among ladies in Nigeria.
Benefits of fat transfer
1. It helps to improve the overall shape of the body.
2. It can boost self-confidence and improve self-esteem.
3. Helps to correct the shapelessness and sagging caused by aging.
4. Fat transfers like Brazillian Butt give more natural results and have less risk of infections.
Side Effects of Fat Transfer
1. You may need more than one procedure as the body reabsorbs some of the fat after it is transferred to the new place.
2. There may be blood collections under the skin that will require additional surgery to correct.
3. You may feel the death of some of the fat tissue that was transferred and this would cause skin tightness, hard lumps and pain.
4. A more deadly side effect is a “fat embolism” where some of the transferred fat enters the bloodstream and causes life-threatening illnesses such as stroke, meningitis, blindness, and even death.
How much would it cost?
Liposuction alone in Nigeria costs 800,000 Naira to 1.5 million Naira. On the other hand, fat transfer costs between 2 and 8 million Naira. However, prices vary depending on the size and areas of liposuction and fat transfer.
Dr. Laser of Grandville Medical and Laser said they sometimes reduce the prices of the procedures. He said, “From time to time, what we tend to do is try to lower the price of some of the procedures that we do. Just to encourage a lot of people because it is still part of the many ways to tell people that these things are really possible in Nigeria.”
Where you can do it
There are various centers and hospitals where liposuction, fat transfer and other forms of plastic surgery can be done in Lagos and Abuja.
conclusion
People decide to have liposuction or fat transfer for personal reasons. Their results can help you feel better about yourself, and that’s a great reason to start this journey. However, before you decide what to do, make sure that your health is in perfect condition and that you have a good doctor. When you finally get the look you want, flaunt it, embrace it, and don’t be shy about celebrating it.
