If you are thinking about getting liposuction done, you will have a consultation with a plastic surgeon. When you are in the office, there are things you do not want to forget to ask the doctor. By asking the doctor the right questions, you will be able to be more comfortable about the procedure. You want to make sure the surgery is right for you, and with the right questions, you will be able to do just that.

Most patients assume they should just trust in the doctor and not bother him with their questions. That leads to people choosing the wrong surgeon, or not being happy with their results. There has to be communication between the patient and the surgeon in order to get the best results for the patient.

With more than 100,000 Americans undergoing gastric bypass and lap-band surgery each year, many are finding that their skin simply can’t keep up with their rapid weight loss. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the number of body contouring procedures after massive weight loss rose 22% in one year alone — from 55,927 in 2004 to 68,134 in 2005.

A tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and fat as well — but unlike a panniculectomy, it also tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall and repositions the navel.

“The fact is, skin becomes very loose and has no tone after losing 50 pounds or more in a very short time,” says Allan Parungao, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and author of A Woman’s Guide to Cosmetic Breast Surgery and Body Contouring (Addicus Books, 2006).