Liposuction
Who is candidate for the procedure?
Liposuction may be an option if you:
Want to remove fat in areas of the body that haven’t responded to diet and exercise (stubborn Fat) such as the:
- Abdomen
- Upper arms
- Buttocks
- Calves and ankles
- Chest and back
- Hips and thighs
- Chin and neck
In addition, liposuction can sometimes be used for breast reduction or treatment of gynecomastia, liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in a specific area
Liposuction doesn’t improve cellulite dimpling or other skin surface irregularities. Likewise, liposuction doesn’t remove stretch marks.
Method of doing?
Local Anesthesia, 1 to 2 hours in the OR, or in a sterilized outpatient clinic.
General anesthesia: 2 to 4 hours in the OR
regional anesthesia — anesthesia limited to a specific area of your body
Recovery process:
If your procedure requires the removal of only a small amount of fat, the surgery may be done in an office setting.
If a large amount of fat will be removed — or if you plan to have other procedures done at the same time — the surgery may take place in a hospital followed by an overnight stay.
In either case, arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night after the procedure.
- Expect some pain, swelling and bruising after the procedure. Your surgeon may prescribe medication to help control the pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.
- After the procedure, the surgeon may leave your incisions open and place temporary drains to promote fluid drainage. You usually need to wear tight compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for a few weeks.
- You may need to wait a few days before returning to work and a few weeks before resuming your normal activities — including exercise.
- During this time, expect some contour irregularities as the remaining fat settles into position.
Results
The resulting contour changes are generally permanent — as long as your weight remains stable.
After liposuction, swelling typically subsides within a few weeks. By this time, the treated area should look less bulky. Within several months, expect the treated area to have a leaner appearance.
It’s natural for skin to lose some firmness with aging, but liposuction results are generally long lasting as long as you maintain your weight. If you gain weight after liposuction, your fat distribution may change. For example, you may accumulate fat around your abdomen regardless of what areas were originally treated.
Common Questions:
After liposuction, the skin molds itself to the new contours of the treated areas. If you have good skin tone and elasticity, the skin is likely to appear smooth. If your skin is thin with poor elasticity, however, the skin in the treated areas may appear loose.