Liposuction FAQs

What is Liposuction? Liposuction is a surgical procedure that sculpts the body by removing excess fat from specific areas. These include the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, chin, and neck.

Who is a good candidate for Liposuction? The best candidates for Liposuction are individuals with a regular body weight and isolated pockets of fat that do not respond well to diet or exercise. Liposuction can be done at any age, but the best results are experienced by those with firm, elastic skin.

What can I do to prepare myself for surgery? A. Dr Wilkinson will advise you stop smoking well in advance of surgery if you are a smoker. You will also be advised to avoid certain medications which can increase bleeding prior to surgery. Dr Wilkinson will provide you with any additional pre-op instructions specific to your case. Enjoying a healthy eating and exercise regime before and after surgery will result in optimum results!

How is the liposuction performed? Your surgery will be performed at the Renaissance Surgical Clinic. Most patients are admitted as Day cases. Occasionally, the surgery may be done as an inpatient, in which case you can plan on staying for a day or two.

Liposuction is performed under a conscious sedation, which will make you feel drowsy and relaxed, however you'll sleep through the entire operation and not be aware of the procedure. The advantage is however that you will wake up feeling refreshed without the side effects of a general anaesthesia. This sedation can be used in conjunction with a regional block ie. epidural, which is the same as for childbirth. Occasionally if a large volume of fat is to be removed, Dr. Wilkinson may use general anaesthesia. In all cases a certified anaesthetist will be responsible for your wellbeing. If however only a small amount of fat and a limited number of body sites are involved, liposuction can be performed under local anaesthetic.

The time required for liposuction may vary considerably from 30 mins to 3 hours depending on the number of sites that need to be treated and the volume that is to be removed.

Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula, which is connected to a powerful suction pump. This is inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. As the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers, the fat is removed. After surgery, these tiny tunnels collapse and thus result in an improved body contour.

After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you will be fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear over the treated area for a few weeks. Medication will be prescribed to prevent infection.

Don't expect to look or feel great right after surgery. Even though the newer techniques are believed to reduce some post-operative discomforts, you may still experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness. Pain can be controlled with medications, though you may still feel stiff and sore for a few days.

It is normal to feel a bit anxious or depressed in the days or weeks following surgery. However, this feeling will subside as you begin to look and feel better.

How long is the recovery period from Liposuction? Healing is a gradual process. Dr Wilkinson will tell you to start walking around as soon as possible to reduce swelling and to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. You will begin to feel better after about a week or two and you should be back at work within a few days following your surgery .The stitches are removed within the first week to 10 days.

Activity that is more strenuous 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 six months or more.

Are the results of Liposuction permanent? In most cases, yes. This is especially true when a sensible diet and exercise regime are followed.

Are there any risks associated with Liposuction? Liposuction is normally safe, as long as patients are carefully selected, the operating facility is properly equipped and the physician is adequately trained.

However, it's important to keep in mind that even though a well-trained surgeon and a state-of-the art facility can improve your chance of having a good result, there are no guarantees’, Though they are rare, complications can and do occur. Risks increase if a greater number of areas are treated at the same time, or if the operative sites are larger in size. Removal of a large amount of fat and fluid may require longer operating times than may be required for smaller operations.

The combination of these factors can create greater hazards for infection; delays in healing; the formation of fat clots or blood clots, which may migrate to the lungs and cause death; excessive fluid loss can lead to shock; fluid accumulation that must be drained; friction bums or other damage to the skin or nerves or perforation injury to the vital organs; and unfavourable drug reactions.

In the tumescent and super-wet techniques, the anesthetic fluid that is injected may cause lidocaine toxicity (if the solution’s lidocaine content is too high), or the collection of fluid in the lungs (if too much fluid is administered).

The scars from liposuction are small and strategically placed to be hidden from view. However, imperfections in the final appearance are not uncommon after lipoplasty. The skin surface may be irregular, asymmetric or even “baggy,” especially in the older patient, Numbness and pigmentation changes may occur. Sometimes, additional surgery may be recommended.

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR PROCEDURE
www.plastic surgery.org
www.emedicine.com
www.cosmeticsurgeryexplained.co.uk