Experts weigh pros and cons of liposuction

By Rachana Ramesh | NT

Bengaluru: The death of Kannada television actress, Chetana Raj, after undergoing a surgery to remove excess fat, has sent shockwaves across the state. The 21-year-old actress apparently died due to accumulation of fluid in her lungs after the surgery at Dr Shetty’s Hospital in Rajajinagar on Tuesday.

The incident has raised many questions – Are liposuction surgeries inherently risky? Is it the only way to get rid of excessive body fat? What makes a person, of such young age and potential, want to alter their body in the first place?

Not risky, but body check a must: Dr Suhas
Dr Suhas G, a senior resident of plastic surgery at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, said liposuction is a safe procedure and complica - t i o n s a r e quite unlikely during the surgery. “But it can cause fat embolism where the fat globules will enter the blood circulation. It varies according to individuals,” he said. Liposuction is a type of fat removal procedure used in plastic surgery. Chetana Raj too underwent the same procedure.

“She might have suffered pulmonary edema, a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs but this is also dependent on various factors. What was her weight? Did she have a prior heart issue or was she asthamatic? Pneumonia should also be taken into consideration with the times of Covid,” said Suhas.

“There are certain standard requirements for one to undergo plastic surgery. Individual’s body behaviour must be assessed with precision before the surgery,” he said.

Workout best option to cut fat: Wanitha Ashok
Celebrity fitness coach and Fit India Movement Amb a s s a d o r W a n i t h a Ashok said no one should opt for surgeries to cut fat. Instead, she said, they should burn fat in the gyms. “Workout is the tried and tested way that works best for reducing fat,” she said.

She said people who need a quick fix for their looks go for plastic surgeries while gymming requires consistency. “Good plastic surgeons will recommend a workout regime,” she said.

The youngsters now are either on a roll to follow a stringent diet or eat junk food until their paunches are filled, Wanitha pointed out the lack of balance. She said people should not look up to social media for fitness advice. “They should seek professional help.”

We are not mere skins & bones: Dr Baiju Gopal
Dr Baiju Gopal, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at Christ University said people who wish to design their bodies face problems when there is no balance between the body and the mind. “It is part of their (actors) profession, a way to survive in an industry that has constructed an ‘ideal’ body image. They do it for the satisfaction of their audience or to satisfy themselves by knowing that they are in line with the existing ‘ideal’ body image,” he said.

Body image issues can morph into mental health issues like depression and anxiety, said Baiju. “Self esteem is a fundamental cause for one to opt to alter themselves. However, external factors of pressure and persuasion must also be taken into consideration. One tends to fall into the ‘body image trap’ and the value of self is constantly put into question,” he said .

He said acceptance of the body and the mind holistically is the solution to this issue. “One must understand that each body is as beautiful as it is unique and we are not mere skin and bones. If one is able to embrace the acceptance of their own appearance, body image issues can be resolved by self-acceptance and awareness,” he said.