It became official when Anna Wintour, the famed editor of Vogue, showed up this spring on the magazine’s Instagram account working from home in sweatpants (a red-and-white pair that put style first, of course). Sweatpants have become the new normal, for now. Who could have ever imagined that one of the world’s leading fashion icons could be so much like the rest of us? But maybe that’s the one good thing this pandemic has done: we’ve started to realize just how much we have in common. All of us are fashionable in our own casual work-from-home way these days.
Consider for a minute, though, what it will be like to get back into those form-fitting clothes you love as you head out of the house and back to the office, to sporting events, to dinners, to the theatre, to parties: it’s coming, and maybe sooner than you think. A pandemic expert was recently quoted as saying we’ll probably be living with masks and social distancing for several years. While he’s absolutely right that we need to be doing that now – and PLEASE everyone, wear your mask AND maintain your distance – he might well be wrong about how long it will last.
How Long Did the 1918 Pandemic Last?
Just over 100 years ago there were people in the United States wearing masks to help prevent transmission of a strain of flu more virulent than had ever been seen up to that time (do an image search on “masks 1918” to get a sense of what those days were like). According to the CDC website, it was an H1N1 virus that started in Asia and spread worldwide, infecting about a third of the world’s population. It killed more people than World War I. The bulk of the virus hit in three waves: spring of 1918, fall of 1918 and winter of 1918-1919. Then as infections hit certain thresholds, the virus changed as they typically do. Beyond the spring of 1919, the horrible pandemic morphed into a seasonal flu that was much less severe. In fact, many of our flu outbreaks since 1919 have been caused by various evolutions of that original, deadly virus.
In basically a year, it had run its course, and with much more limited medical discovery, research and treatment options than we have now. Covid-19 is a different virus from that which caused the 1918 pandemic, of course. But now we have significant resources working to cure this new disease in an all-out race for therapeutics and a vaccine. Just this week reports were released on positive vaccine testing for Covid-19, both from Moderna and from the University of Oxford (whose vaccine has been licensed to AstraZeneca). While the progress on getting back to normal will be spotty, we will get back to normal soon enough. And you’ll want to be ready to step out in style when we do!
Liposuction as Part of Your Comeback Plan
We’re seeing more liposuction consultations than ever before as people get ready for the day they can resume their regular schedules. It makes perfect sense. What were so many of us doing during the months of quarantine and altered family schedules? We were snacking together, watching Netflix, doing Zoom calls and finding real pleasure in that comfort food we’ve grown up with in the South. It’s not just us, either. According to an article in Philly Voice from this spring, 42% of survey respondents have been buying more packaged food than they usually do, sales of frozen pizza have almost doubled, and ice cream sales are up 36%. It’s been a time to enjoy food and family, wear forgiving sweats and just make it through until we’re all able to get back to our lives. Now it’s time to think about that little black dress again.
Liposuction is a proven procedure that can help sculpt and reshape any problem areas you may have by loosening and actually removing fat cells permanently. It’s not a weight-loss procedure, but it can improve your body contours and help give you back the look you want. Patients choose this procedure to address everything from double chins and unwanted arm fat to reshaping areas around the belly, buttocks, thighs and hips. It’s one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the country and has been performed frequently for thirty years, so you know that the science behind it is advanced and the methods used are well tested.
What Actually Happens During Liposuction?
What happens is this: after anesthesia, very small, discrete incisions are made through which your plastic surgeon performs the procedure. Through insertion of a small, hollow tube, the fat is then loosened and dislodged, after which it is vacuumed out through the tube. The fat cells that are removed don’t come back, and the nature of the procedure allows your doctor to target the specific places you want to change. Some of these areas may have been resistant to all of your other efforts with dieting and exercise, and liposuction can make a real, lasting difference.
There are variations in the basic procedure, and your surgeon can discuss all of your options with you during your personalized, private consultation. Water-assisted liposuction uses the injection of medicated fluids into the areas of fat prior to the procedure to minimize pain and bruising and help speed recovery times. Laser-assisted liposuction incorporates a small laser attached to the tip of the tube which can be used to ease the loosening of the fat, but generally the water-assisted method is preferred for its flexibility and effectiveness. Vibrating components or the use of ultrasound technology can also aid in the fat-loosening process, each with the goal of employing minimal pressure on the body’s fat tissues.
How Long for Liposuction Recovery?
Many patients ask about recovery times for liposuction. As is the case with any procedure, recovery can vary by individual, by the method used for the procedure and by the extent of the work done. Liposuction is generally well tolerated, though, and typically does not lead to long recovery times. Liposuction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, so you can go home the same day.
You will need to take it easy for the first few weeks afterwards, and there will be some compression garments or bandages your surgeon will tell you to wear during the healing process to ensure your new shape is well defined. It’s a relatively easy process, which is another reason it is so popular with people who are anxious to address those special problem areas.
Take This Easy Next Step to Save Your Spot
You’ll notice that we refer often to the importance of having that one-on-one consultation with your surgeon: it’s imperative for you to fully understand the procedure and your options as well as for your doctor to understand what you’d like to accomplish. Now it’s easier than ever to do your first consultation, meet your surgeon and get your questions answered with a Zoom call from the comfort of your own home. The office is also a safe space, with social distancing, masks and other protocols to make sure you can confidently come in when you are ready. Why not learn more and be prepared to lose the sweats and get back in the game as soon as you can!