Some believe pictures of any kind of surgical operation, whether minor or major, should be shown only to those in training for such procedures, such as doctors and nurses. Indeed, some, if not most, photographs of medical operations and procedures have little interest to those outside the community of workers involved in surgical or emergency procedures. Blood soaked accident victims, organs in disarray outside their appropriate cavities, when viewed as a photograph may have some forensic or medical value, but viewed in any other context, would normally be disrespectful of the victim at best, perverse and invasive at worst. Besides these two extreme opposites, viewing medical operations or parts of these could also have the effect of motivating people to avoid having such operations performed on them. A good example of such a use of photography in the service of preventable medicine is the results you might get when displaying pictures of liposuction to obese people.
Physicians may present pictures of liposuction to patients who have elected liposuction and merely wish to become familiar with the events they are about to experience. In the use of such pictures, the surgeon rightfully educates the candidate on the events that will occur in the procedure. Presenting pictures before the surgery removes some of the surprise and fear of the unknown as the patient submits to the process. Using pictures of liposuction in this manner is common and prudent. Such pictures should be taken with the patient's consent, with written agreement, and in such a manner so as to shield the identify of the person. Blood spots and streams should be kept to a minimum. Hoses and devices should be clean and unobtrusive in the pictures, and attendants in the pictures should be prominent so as to give the impression the procedure, while minor, receives a watchful concentration of competent personnel. Facial expressions should be reassuring, yet not overly jovial. The pictures should give the viewer the belief that the operation, although minor, will be attended to with the greatest of care and professionalism.
Pictures of liposuction may also be used to motivate obese people to seriously consider their diet and exercise programs. Just the image of five pounds of liposuction fat from an obese person has turned many an over-eater to careful, healthy eating habits, successfully preventing that person from having to undergo a liposuction in order to protect heart and other vital organs. Used judiciously, these pictures are cautionary signs that might be just enough to get your patient back on the track to healthy nutrition and exercise. If it will work, try it.