Most patients are mobile immediately after liposuction, although an extra day or two of bed rest may be needed when large amounts of fat are removed. Keep in mind that healing is a gradual process. We will want you to begin normal activity as soon as possible to reduce post-operative complications, but in some cases you may be advised to avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks. Light exercise is usually permitted within a few days.

Your surgeon may recommend that a tight-fitting garment, similar to a girdle, be worn after surgery to reduce swelling. This may need to be worn for up to six weeks. Your stitches, however, will be removed within a week-and-a-half if they are not the type that dissolve.

You may not feel great just after your surgery. You’ve been given extra fluids during the procedure, and you’ll likely experience swelling and some bruising, but this is only temporary. You may feel a little bruised and sore as if you’d over exercised that part of the body, but you should be able to resume work in a few days. We will recommend the exact timing, given your particular circumstances.

Liposuction is a very popular procedure that is a normally safe and effective method of removing excess fat. Like all surgery, any cosmetic surgery involves some level of risk. To help ensure a successful outcome, the patient should be a good candidate, the surgeon should be well-trained in liposuction techniques, the surgical facility should be properly equipped and the patient should follow the doctor’s instructions and advice.

Even with the most skilled surgeon, however, variations from the ideal results are possible. Complications include uneven skin surface, especially in patients with poor skin elasticity, bleeding, infection, discoloration, fluid accumulation beneath the skin, numbness and scarring. Although complications with this surgery are extremely rare, infection and excessive loss of fluid can lead to serious illness and even death.

Depending on the extent of your liposuction, your surgeon may use general anesthesia where you will be fully asleep during the surgery. Newer liposuction techniques involve injecting the area to be suctioned with a special fluid/anesthesia combination prior to suctioning. This is called tumescent liposuction. The fluid constricts the surrounding blood vessels, making the procedure nearly bloodless while minimizing the pain. The rest of the procedure is performed in the same way as traditional liposuction.

Liposuction begins as your cosmetic surgeon makes small incisions, approximately one-half inch in length or less, near the area where fat is to be removed. A thin, hollow tube, called a cannula, is inserted and is attached to a machine or syringe that creates a strong vacuum. They will then strategically manipulate the cannula under the skin to remove the unwanted fatty deposits.

Depending on the type of anesthesia, you may feel pressure, movement, or an occasional stinging sensation during the procedure, but not actual pain. Your cosmetic surgeon will determine the amount of fat to remove by feeling and pinching the skin throughout the surgery.

Liposuction patients have also considered tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, or multiple procedures at once, often referred to as a mommy makeover.

Remember, liposuction is a surgical procedure, and your body has to heal before you see the full benefits. Your results will likely be visible within two or three weeks, but the full effect may not be fully evident for six months to a year after surgery in some cases.

You should maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly to fully enjoy the new you for years to come. Many patients find that their liposuction is such a psychological boost that it gives them the incentive to exercise even more than before to improve other parts of their physique. With realistic expectations, most patients are pleased with the improvements from their liposuction procedure. The goal is for you to be more comfortable with your body and happy with your new shape.