Details of the procedure

What happens before the procedure?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions prior to the surgery to prepare for it. You may be asked to fast for some hours before the surgery especially if general anesthesia is to be used during surgery. You may also have to refrain from certain medications like vitamin or iron supplements for some time. Smoking must be avoided for about two months prior to surgery as nicotine interferes with circulation and can result in loss of tissue.

What type of anesthesia is used?
The surgery may be performed under either local or general anesthesia depending upon the size and number of sites affected, and the amount of fat involved. If only a small amount of fat and a limited number of body sites are involved, liposuction can be performed under local or regional anesthesia, which numbs only the affected region. On the other hand, if a large volume of fat is being removed, general anesthesia is used.

What happens during the procedure and how is it performed?
The targeted areas are marked on the body while the candidate is in a standing position. In the operating room, a sterilizing solution is applied to the relevant areas. The required anesthesia is given. The patient may also have an IV fluid line to keep the fluid balance intact as they will be losing fluid with the fat. Small incisions, about a quarter to a third of an inch are made. There will be some monitoring devices attached to the body to keep track of the blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level. The surgeon will insert a cannula through the incisions in the skin. At the other end of the tube is a vacuum-pressure unit that suctions off the fat. The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. The suction action is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe. If many sites are being treated, your surgeon will then move on to the next area, working to keep the incisions as inconspicuous as possible.

What happens after the procedure?
After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. Occasionally, a small drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin for a couple of days to prevent fluid build-up. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you may be fitted with a snug elastic garment called a compression garment to wear over the treated area for two to four weeks. If non-absorbable sutures are placed, they will be removed after five to ten days.

You may experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness. Pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon, though you may still feel stiff and sore for a few days. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

How long will I stay in the hospital?
A liposuction involving a small volume of fat is usually performed on an outpatient basis. However, if a large volume of fat will be removed, or if the liposuction is being performed in conjunction with other procedures, you may be required to stay overnight in the hospital or the nursing facility.

What are the risks/complications associated with the procedure?
Liposuction is normally safe. However, complications may occur if a great number of areas are treated at the same time or if the operative sites are large in size. Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.

Some of the risks involved are:
•    Infection at the site of the incision
•    Delays in healing
•    Formation of fat clot or blood clot
•    Excessive fluid loss
•    Friction burns or other damage to the skin or nerves or perforation injury to the vital organs
•    Contour irregularities because of uneven fat removal, or poor skin especially in the older patient
•    Numbness and pigmentation changes requiring additional surgery
•    Allergic reaction to medications or material used during surgery
•    A rare complication is skin necrosis (dead skin) in which the skin falls off in the necrotic area
•    Lidocaine toxicity with the super-wet or tumescent methods

When can I return to work/normal activities after the surgery?
Depending on the extent of the liposuction, patients are generally able to return to work or normal activities between two days and two weeks.

Strenuous activities should be avoided for about a month as your body continues to heal. Although most of the bruising and swelling usually disappears within three weeks, some swelling may remain for a longer time.

What should I watch out for?
Call your doctor if you experience heavy bleeding or a sudden increase in pain.

What should I expect in the long run after the surgery?
You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body quite soon after surgery. Most of the swelling will subside between two weeks and two months at which time your improvement will become more apparent. You may experience numbness for several weeks. After about three months, any persistent mild swelling usually disappears and the final contour will be visible.

By eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, you can help to maintain your new shape.