Am I a candidate for Liposuction?
What are the Risks of Liposuction Surgery
How many incisions are required and how big are they?
How is the skin affected?
What is the post operative recovery period?
How soon can I recover to normal activities?
After Care?
Determining if you are the right candidate
If you believe you have areas of unusual deposits of fat accumulation, you may be a candidate for liposuction. Each patient has individual needs. A consultation with a physician is necessary to assess the individual situation before a final decision can be made. As with other surgical procedures, every patient is not a candidate for liposuction.
Probable Risks of the Liposuction Surgery
There are no major complications of liposuction under local anesthesia. The common risks of Liposuction are bruising, swelling and temporary numbness. These symptoms usually spontaneously resolve in a few weeks. Another common side effect is irregularities of the skin surface. These irregularities were more common when large cannulas were used for liposuction in the past. At present, most physicians use smaller cannulas and these irreguarities are minimal.
Other minor complications of liposuction are infection, bleeding and nerve injury. Infection can easily be treated with antibiotics on an outpatient basis. Bleeding is usually minor and almost never requires treatment. Nerve injuries are extremely rare and do not require any treatment because of the spontaneous resolution of symptoms.
Although the results of liposuction are often quite spectacular, it is not realistic to expect perfection. Liposuction of the thighs, while improving the silhouette, does not omit the subtle "puckering" of the skin that is often referred to as "cellulite". Liposuction with local anesthetic technique greatly reduces cellulite, but it is unlikely to eliminate it completely.
Incisions Required are minimal
Multiple small incisions are usually used in the area treated. The number can vary from two to twenty. Most incisions are about 1 to 2 mm and do not require stitches or leave any scars. At times, one or two larger incisions of 0.5 to 1 cm in length may be necessary. In most cases, these incisions do not require sutures and generally heal without scar formation.
Effect on the skin
The effect on the skin is minimal. After liposuction, the skin does not create folds or significant irregularities. In some cases, liposuction may eliminate the need for surgical excision of skin, called a "tummy tuck".
Recovery Period
Liposuction with local anesthesia has no significant postoperative complications. There is no nausea, vomiting, bleeding or other complications noted with the use of general anesthesia. After completion of the procedure, the patient usually leaves the facility within 30 minutes. The postoperative pain is minimal because of the anesthetic effect, which lasts up to 24 hours. Tylenol is usually the only medication needed.
When can I get back to normal Activities
Postoperative recovery after liposuction, using local anesthetic technique, is very quick. There are no physical restrictions after liposuction. Most patients resume their normal activities within a few days. The patient may resume physical exercise and return to work within one or two weeks.
After Care
After liposuction a compression dressing is given, to reduce and absorb draining through incision sites. Dressings need to be changed 3-6 times during this period. The drain usually spontaneously stops in 48-72 hours. Most draining reduces after 24 hours and a good compression dressing is needed during this time. It is necessary to drink large amounts of fluid in the first 24 hours to prevent dehydration and to replace the fluid lost, due to the draining. We also recommend you use some type of compression garment, such as a girdle, for several weeks after having liposuction. |
