Liposuction
Liposuction is a very popular procedure for good reasons. Although there are a few fortunate people with perfect form, most of us have a few extra pockets of fat in places we can’t control. The sad fact is that you can’t exercise fat. You can exercise specific muscles, but you can’t target specific areas of fat with diet or exercise. Liposuction can.
Suction Assisted Lipectomy, or liposuction, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures to sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from areas including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.
Liposuction typically produces excellent, long-lasting results. Actually, the results are often teriffic!
- Liposuction is not a procedure for everyone. You are not a good candidate if:
- You are really overweight. This is not a weight-loss procedure.
- You intend to lose a significant amount of weight. Lose the weight first.
- You have poor skin elasticity.
The Procedure:
Liposuction is pretty straightforward. The day of surgery, you stand up while you are marked. You get to help choose the areas that need the most work. After that it is off to the operating room. You may be sedated or completely asleep with general anesthesia depending on the size of the areas that are being treated and your desires.
Small incisions, about a quarter inch in length, are made in natural creases. Through these small incisions, fluid is injected into the fat to “puffs it up” and make it easier to remove by suction. The fluid also has medication that helps decrease bleeding. Then small tubes called cannulas are used to suck out the excess fat. A pretty simple concept but experience is what makes it work.
Depending on the number of areas that are being treated, the procedure may last from 30 minutes to several hours.
A body-compressing garment is placed after the surgery. Think of it as your surgical Spanx. You must wear the garment day and night for the first several weeks. After that, you will be instructed based on your specific needs.
Expected Side Effects:
- Soreness or tenderness
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Genital swelling and bruising if we do the stomach – don’t worry, it will go away
Risks:
We do everything we can to decrease the risks of surgery. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with any surgery. Some of the risks specific to liposuction are:
- Asymmetry
- Infection – rare
- Skin rippling
- Skin injury
- Color changes of the skin
- Death related to anesthesia
Learn More About the Procedure
Click below to learn what to do before and after the procedure.
At this visit, we will: Take your payment and answer any questions you may have regarding the procedure. At this time, Dr. Frost may not be available, but if you would like to speak with him again, please let us know and we will schedule this visit when he is available. Provide you with any prescriptions that you may need for after surgery. We encourage you to have these prescriptions filled prior to your surgery to avoid having to stop at the pharmacy after your procedure. Please let us know if you have any specific pain medication requests, and we will try to prescribe the medication that works best for you. Make arrangements for any necessary pre-operative evaluations that need to be performed, such as blood tests, pregnancy testing, EKG, etc.
Diet and Medications:
Please, DO NOT eat or drink ANYTHING after midnight prior to your surgery. This is VERY important. Your surgery will be CANCELLED if you eat or drink anything after midnight. The only exception is a sip of water with any medications that you must take. Generally, you should take high blood pressure and heart medications. Do NOT take arthritis medications and do NOT take diabetic medications (including insulin), unless specifically instructed to do so.
Bathing and Clothing Prior to Surgery:
Please take a shower and use antibacterial soap the night before and the morning of your surgery. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing such as a front button shirt and loose pants since these items are easier to put on and take off after surgery.
Take it slow and easy with your diet. Start with clear liquids and simply advance as tolerated. It is normal to have some nausea from the anesthetic and pain medication, but by taking it easy, this should quickly resolve.
Activity:
Take it easy, Walking is good, bouncing is bad. A good rule of thumb is: “If it hurts, don’t do it.” You may feel like you cannot stand up straight. Feel free to walk bent-over for the first week or so. You will be able to stand straight (and proud) soon. As you start to feel stronger, you may gradually increase your activity. Do not plan to drive for 2 to 3 weeks since restricted movement may limit your response time in an emergency. Do not do any abdominal exercise for at least a month to six weeks. Actually, if we tighten the muscles enough, you may never do another sit-up again!
Pain:
There is discomfort after any surgery. Most patients describe the sensation after liposuction as “bruised”. The goal of pain medication is to prevent pain, so do not wait until you are really hurting to take your medication. Follow the directions on your prescription to stay ahead of the pain and experience the highest level of pain relief possible. Narcotics can cause constipation, so drink plenty of water, eat fruit and use an over-the-counter laxative, if needed.
Post-Operative Dressings and Bathing:
Leave your compression garment on day and night. There will be plenty of time to examine your results later, but no peeking right now. Sponge-bathe. Once you are allowed to remove the garment, there will be tape across the incision that will stay on while showering. Simply shower over the tapes that cover the incision and pat them dry. There will be changes over the months following your surgery, so do not judge the results too early.
Questions:
Our goal is for you to be informed. If you have a question, please call our office at 850.474.8333.