"I live in the American Gardens Building on W. 81st Street on the 11th floor. My name is Patrick Bateman. I'm 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now."

- Patrick Bateman, "American Psycho" (2000)

Back in the day, it was easy for young professionals to stay fit.

Would it surprise you to learn that liposuction is the most-performed type of plastic surgery? According to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, more than 100,000 liposuction surgeries are done annually. Stomach/abdomen liposuction is the most common, but arm liposuction is a close second. This may be because it delivers such good results: arm liposuction can give you a sleek, toned look with minimal scarring on the upper arm, opposite of your arm pit.

Laser liposuction, a European technology of assisted liposuction, is a procedure that reduces the pain, swelling, and bruising that are sometimes associated with traditional methods of liposuction.

Liposuction: The Basics

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes undesired deposits of fat from the body. Suction tubes are inserted into the body through small incisions, and a vacuum is attached to these hoses and sucks out the fatty cells.

What do you think of when you hear someone mention the "perfect body?" The phrase conjures up images of a young, scantily-clad woman worthy of a magazine cover. She counts every calorie she eats and spends most of her time doing faddish exercises like yoga. To put it simply: she's flawless.

This can be frustrating for most women, who, unlike this idealized image, are real people, and whose imperfect bodies don't always fit this paradigm of perfection.

Any medical procedure will have associated risks and complications.

Lasik surgery is no different. In general, risks tend to be far lower than with other types of surgery, but they're still there.

Since lasik surgery is elective, it's important to fully consider all the risks before making the decision to get the surgery.

Before opting to have the surgery performed, you should consider the following risks and discuss them carefully with your physician:

-Vision Loss: Occasionally, lasik surgery can result in permanent vision loss.