Liposuction

What happens after you meet your surgeon?

After your questions are discussed with your doctor, you will most likely speak with the patient care or surgical coordinator to receive a quote and decide on a day and time for your surgery. Many practices will perform the surgery either within a nearby hospital, accredited office-based surgery center within their office, or an ambulatory surgery center outside of the office. Once you book your procedure you may be asked to get certain lab work performed, receive a medical evaluation from your internist or surgeon, stop smoking prior to surgery, and discontinue the use of aspirin, herbal supplements, and other drugs that may increase bleeding.

You should leave your doctor’s office with a solid understanding of the liposuction procedure, detailed instructions on what to do the night before and morning of surgery, post-operative care instructions, and consents to sign and return regarding anesthesia and your liposuction procedure(s). Before your surgery you will want to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you following surgery, for at least the first night. A post-op care facility focused on plastic and cosmetic surgery patients may be an option.

There are a number of different types of liposuction procedures currently in use. The most common is called a Tumescent Liposuction which invloves injecting a high-volume mixture of saline, lidocaine and epinephrine into the area to be treated. This solution acts as a local anesthetic and helps prevent fluid and blood loss.

Patients undergoing liposuction are given anesthesia and receive intravenous fluid replacement. After any fluids are injected, the plastic surgeon makes tiny incisions (a quarter to a third of an inch) in the area of the body to be treated with liposuction. A thin vacuum tube, called a cannula, is inserted through the incision and into the deep layer of fat. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up the fat cells. In some liposuction procedures, a gentler, power-assisted cannula may be used. A syringe or vacuum pump attached to the cannula, suctions out the fat deposits. Afterwards any incisions made during the liposuction are either closed with a few stitches. Some plastic surgeons, depending on the situation, may leave one or more incisions open or use surgical drains to help reduce swelling and bruising.

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