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Liposuction Information:
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Will
the fat come back?
Fat cells are not thought to regenerate, and contour improvement
should be permanent. If you gain weight, the fat cells that
are left behind will get bigger, just as all of the other fat
cells in the body do, but your body will retain the improved
proportions. Normally, weight gained is caused by an increase
in the size of existing fat cells and not by producing new fat
cells. Liposuction actually removes fat cells and if the patient
gains weight after liposuction, usually they gain weight over
their entire body and not just in the specific areas which were
problematic prior to liposuction. The liposuction areas can
never become as fat as they once were, (relative to the rest
of the body), because fat cells have been permanently removed.
This is the key point about the results achieved by liposuction,
and explains why it is also called body contouring or body sculpting.
top
Will
the procedure hurt?
Surprisingly, modern day liposuction does not hurt much at all.
After surgery, the area that was targeted may feel a bit stiff
or achy, but patients often do not even require pain medications
post-operatively. Discomfort is moderate during the surgery,
and can easily be controlled by anesthetic agents. Small areas
can even be treated under just local anesthesia. top
Do
I need to be put to sleep for the surgery?
For small areas, local anesthesia alone (numbing medicine) suffices,
just like going to the dentist. For larger areas, you will probably
be more comfortable if you are given medicine to sedate you
and in some cases, general anesthesia may even be recommended.
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Will
the surgery require me to stay in the hospital?
If you have no medical problems and the amount of fat is not
excessive, you will probably be able to go home the same day
as your surgery. However, after liposuction surgery it is prudent
to wait a few weeks before resuming strenuous activity, but
quiet activity can usually be resumed within a few days. If
your work is sedentary, a few days off should suffice, and in
smaller cases, you can return to work the next day. Remember
though, that a compression garment (a girdle or abdominal binder)
may be recommended for the first few weeks, and this may interfere
with your work. Your surgeon will schedule follow-up visits
to monitor your progress and to see if any additional procedures
are needed. If you have any unusual symptoms between visits,
for example heavy bleeding or a sudden increase in pain, or
any questions about what you can and can't do, call your doctor.
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How
long before I can resume normal activities?
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.
Your surgeon 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
overexercised that part of the body, but this passes quickly.
You should be completely back to normal within about 6 weeks,
and maybe sooner. You can resume all normal activities at this
time. 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. top
What
benefit could I expect from the surgery?
Once the fat is removed, it is gone forever. The result is a
permanent recontouring of the body. This can offer a new shape
for people who never thought it was possible, giving a psychological
boost and the incentive to exercise even more than before to
improve the rest of their physique. Liposuction will not, however,
prevent you from gaining weight in the future, and will not
keep you fit and in shape. The skin shape after liposuction
will more closely resemble the shape of the stomach muscle,
but this surgery will not give you good abdominal tone. This
is up to you. Liposuction is not a weight loss technique, and
is not a cure for overall obesity. It is, however, a great way
to get rid of that little bulge that you cannot seem to get
rid of any other way. The goal is for you to be more comfortable
with your body and happy with your new shape. top
How
long do the results last?
The fat that is removed is permanently gone, and can not come
back. The fat that remains can increase in size if you gain
weight after liposuction, but will do so throughout the body
so that the proportions maintain their improvement. This is
why the procedure is now often referred to as liposculpture.
The best way to lose weight is still diet and exercise. Liposculpture
will remove some fat, but the main purpose is to recontour your
body, not to make you thinner everywhere. top
Can
the procedure be repeated?
Yes! There is a limit to the amount of fat which can be removed
during any one session. In some instances the patient may want
to have more removed at another time. If someone has several
areas to treat, sometimes it is better to treat them at separate
times. It is common practice to wait for approximately 3 months
between procedures, however that time frame is determined by
your surgeon. top
Is
there much scarring and what happens to excess skin?
There is a small (less than one centimeter) incision made to
insert the cannula, which may require one or two stitches to
close. These scars are usually not too noticeable, and are often
concealed in skin creases or in parts of the skin that are usually
hidden (like the umbilicus). The skin is a living, dynamic organ
which has the ability to stretch and shrink. In most cases,
the skin is able to shrink after Liposuction and conform to
the new body contour. Patients with markedly decreased skin
elasticity can have the excess skin removed later. This is rarely
necessary. Post-op discussions with your surgeon will cover
your skin type. This is done to determine your specific skin
type classification. top
Is
it safe?
Liposuction has become remarkably safe, although some risks
do persist. In the early days of liposuction, there were problems
associated with blood loss, infection, shock, and inexperience
with the use of the catheters. With increased attention to these
problems, the risk now comes mostly from the anesthesia. Removal
of large amounts of fat can still result in moderate blood loss,
and may require hospitalization, but for the routine liposuction,
these problems are unusual. Infection is also uncommon, but
remains a major concern to all doctors performing liposuction.
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What
are the risks/complications?
Nothing in life comes free, and liposuction is no exception.
Some bruising and discomfort can be expected after the operation,
although it's usually not too bad and resolves within a few
weeks. There are the standard risks associated with anesthesia
(allergy to the medicine, increased risk if you are not healthy,
etc.), which you will need to discuss with your doctor and/or
anesthesiologist. There is a slight risk of scarring, although
the incisions are so small that this is not usually a problem.
The risk of infection is ever-present, any time the skin barrier
is broken, but infection after liposuction is unusual. Even
with the most skilled surgeon, however, variations from the
ideal result 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, the more extreme cases include tissue necrosis,
pulmonary embolus, hematoma, infection, wound separation and
even death. The key to minimizing risk is restraint. Don't try
to do too much all at one sitting. If you suction more than
2500 cc of fat, the texts suggest you transfuse blood. This
one usually stops the overzealous patient in their tracks! Yes,
fat that is suctioned contains about 7% blood. With the concerns
over the hepatitis and HIV (although the former is far more
common than the latter) in blood bank materials, using reasonable
precautions to avoid blood transfusion is warranted.. Don't
go in to your surgeon demanding the impossible and these for-mentioned
things will more likely than not never happen to you! top
What
are the alternatives?
Diet and weight loss are the standard ways of losing weight
and toning up. They are recommended for everyone. If you cannot
lose a certain bulge in this way, and especially if that bulge
is always there, even when you are fit, then liposuction is
a good alternative. If there is loose skin, it may be necessary
to remove this skin as well, by a "tummy tuck" surgery.
Removal of the fat along with the skin can be performed in any
area, but the scars associated with this larger surgery make
it unpopular. top
Are
there special instructions to follow prior to surgery?
Wash carefully before surgery. Avoid aspirin and aspirin containing
medicines for 2 weeks prior to surgery. You may need to get
a compression garment to wear after the surgery. top
Who
is best qualified to perform liposuction surgery?
Physicians from many specialties have contributed to the development
of this procedure. Early on, cosmetic surgeons in Europe, especially
Italy and France, led the charge. In the United States it has
been embraced by many specialties, although the major breakthroughs
have come at the hands of Dermatologic surgeons. It is, therefore,
a procedure which cannot be claimed by any one specialty. Skill,
experience, and good judgment, as well as training, are the
cornerstones upon which a good liposuction surgeon is made.
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How
much does it cost?
There is usually a charge for the initial consultation. If you
choose to have the procedure performed, the consultation fee
is deducted from the cost of the procedure. The cost of the
procedure depends upon several factors, including the site(s)
selected, and special circumstances which may surround a particular
case. Most clinics will quote a comprehensive fee which includes
the surgery and a certain number of follow-up visits. Intervals
for these visits may vary but generally are at one week, one
month, and three months. As for other necessities like facility
use, compression garments, anesthesia, or your pre-operative
laboratory tests, each clinic will vary in there charging policy.
As for insurance coverage, this is considered a cosmetic procedure
and is generally not covered by medical insurance plans. top
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