Losing weight is not always easy and people that have struggled with obesity truly realize this. For some, traditional diet and exercise do not work and it is not because of lack of trying. There are those that have tried any and every diet and exercise program that has come down the pike. Yet, they are unable to lose weight. For these individuals, there is no reason to feel despondent or give up hope. There are reliable surgical procedures that can aid in eliminating unwanted fat deposits.

The top three surgical procedures that people seek are liposuction, lap band surgery, and a tummy tuck. Each of these procedures is unique and seeks particular goals. Understanding these differences is a key factor in selecting the proper procedure to engage in.

For cosmetic weight loss procedures and problem areas, Liposuction is probably the most popular and well known. This procedures involves the suctioning of fat from certain regions of the body, examples are the stomach, thighs, back and chin. In this procedure not only is fat removed but fat can be re-contoured. This means that the body can be sculpted to create a more desirable shape.

A combination of two procedures, the abdominoplasty better known as the “Tummy Tuck” involves first minor liposuction to get rid of excess fat deposits for the abdomen. Then the procedure calls for the cutting and tightening of the abdominal muscles and fascia. This is done to reshape the abdominal to be tight and firm. When the procedure is performed correctly the results are a shapely midsection.

Lap band surgery is most often used by those individuals who need to lose 100 pounds or more and have tried unsuccessfully other methods and have few remaining options available. This surgery is dramatically different from the prior two procedures because it not for cosmetic reshaping of select areas of the body. Rather, the surgery looks to modify the gastrointestinal tract by decreasing the size of the gastrointestinal tract thereby reducing food intake.

In many cases insurance does not cover the cost of these procedures. The costs can vary; the following are the average cost for the procedures:

Depending on the region of the body and amount of fat removal the average cost of Liposuction is $1,200 – $7.000.

Tummy Tuck ” This procedure can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $9,000 depending upon the surgeon and the expansiveness of the procedure.

Due to the fact that Lap band procedures are generally used by severely obese individuals, insurance generally covers the cost which runs in range of $17,000 and up.

The time to complete recovery varies among procedures and it also depends on the person and their body. Recovering from liposuction usually takes up to 2 weeks, while a more minor procedure usually takes only 4 days. A tummy tuck usually ranges from one week to four weeks in recovery time. However, a lap band procedure, which is much more invasive, will take anywhere from a month to six weeks to recover.

These procedures are invasive and require much cost. Those that may balk at such options may wish to look into meal replacement supplements. However, those willing to engage in these procedures will find them quite helpful in terms of meeting their weight loss goals.

Dorthy Weatherbush is a health and fitness expert who has written many articles on the benefits of losing weight the healthy way: through diet and exercise. She recommends Medifast as a good way to diet and often uses the Medifast Diet Program to help her clients.

Tags: Cosmetic Surgery, Diet and Exercise, health, Plastic Surgery, weight loss