If diet and exercise haven’t caused you to lose weight in a significant way, there are medically supervised weight loss programs that you might want to investigate.

It’s been found that fully two thirds of Americans are now overweight or even obese. And in some cases, our best efforts to eat right and work off the pounds do nothing to affect certain stubborn fat pockets on our bodies. That’s where liposuction may be able to help.

A liposuction procedure simply targets and reshapes specific areas of the body by taking out that excess fat. It may be right for you if you’re over 18 and in good health overall. It’s best if you’re already maintaining a lifestyle that involves a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Supplements that promise you’ll lose weight in a matter of days may provide some short term results. But liposuction is a far more effective way to get rid of unwanted fat. Liposuction for men, for example, can target and remove the stubborn abdominal fat that not only is unsightly but presents an ongoing health risk.

At a medical weight loss center, fat is turned into a liquid state by a laser liposuction procedure and thus becomes easier to remove.

Some people have liposuction done in conjunction with plastic surgery, such as a tummy tuck. But more often it’s performed alone, under general, regional or local anesthesia. Pain isn’t really a concern, and liposuction has been found to be very well tolerated. Recovery time is short, with most patients finding they can resume their normal activities within a week.

But it’s important to understand that liposuction can’t be considered to be a treatment for obesity and isn’t a replacement for regular exercise and good eating habits. Although it’s very effective as a targeted solution, it will allow you to lose weight in only certain specific areas of your body where fat deposits have gathered.