This article provided by Dr. Don Revis. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please visit Dr. Revis online or you may reach his office at 954-630-2009.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted collections of fat, allowing your plastic surgeon to sculpt the shape of your body. Areas where liposuction may be performed include the neck and jowl area, arms, tummy, love handles, hips, inner and outer thighs, knees, and ankles. Recently, through improved instrumentation and refinement of technique, liposuction has gone through a revolution so that today it is a much safer procedure and the results are greatly improved with less discomfort, bruising and swelling than in the past.

Liposuction should not be perceived as a method of weight loss. However, it can remove troublesome areas of fat that do not respond to a sensible diet and exercise routine.

Liposuction may now be performed with the use of ultrasonic energy to assist in breaking down the fat that is to be removed. In certain patients this is advantageous, particularly in treating male breast enlargement and in treating areas that have previously undergone liposuction.

Liposuction is among the plastic surgery procedures with the highest patient satisfaction ratings. Many patients experience an immediate improvement in their self-esteem and discover a greater self-confidence. In addition, many find greater access to different clothing styles and fashions, and are less self-conscious at the gym, around the pool, or at the beach.

If you think you might be a good candidate for liposuction, this article will provide you with a basic understanding of the issues involved. However, it is extremely important to individualize treatment to your specific circumstances and goals, therefore it is recommended that you visit a board certified plastic surgeon for a personal consultation.

The Consultation

During your initial consultation, the plastic surgeon will inquire about your medical history, prior procedures, medications, allergies, and your motivations for seeking plastic surgery. It is very important that you be thorough when providing your medical history, as this information helps to prevent complications during your care. When asked about medications, be sure to include any vitamin or herbal preparations, as these can affect your blood pressure and clotting ability. Honesty regarding your use of tobacco and alcohol is also very important, as these may have a profound impact on your recovery period and your ability to heal following your procedure.

After reviewing your medical history, your physician should discuss your concerns, priorities and motivations for pursuing plastic surgery, as well as your fears. After examining you, he or she will be able to offer advice and options to help you achieve the appearance you desire. He or she should also explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different options you have before you.

At the completion of your consultation, you likely will be given a written estimate of the cost of your procedure. At this time, you will also have the option to schedule your procedure if you so choose. The decision to undergo a procedure is a very important one, and the final decision should be given very careful consideration. At no time should you feel pressured to make a decision. You are also encouraged to bring your spouse, significant other, family member, or a friend to your consultation.

Where Your Procedure Will Be Performed

Sometimes you have a choice in the location of your surgery, whether in a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or office surgery setting. Some surgeons prefer to perform the majority of their procedures in their own office surgery suites as a convenience to themselves and to save money. Others prefer to do only minor procedures in the office while performing major operations in a local hospital or ambulatory surgery center.

Any physician, regardless of his or her training, can open an office surgery suite and advertise as a plastic surgeon and perform plastic surgery on the unsuspecting public. Regulation of office surgery settings is currently voluntary and often substandard. New laws are being passed in an attempt to correct this potential problem. If you decide to have your surgery in an office surgery suite, choosing a physician who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, who also has hospital privileges to perform the same procedure, and whose surgery suite is accredited, adds an additional level of quality assurance.

To obtain hospital privileges to perform a procedure, surgeons must provide proof of education, training, and experience. This provides an added level of assurance that the surgeon has been properly educated and trained. Avoid a surgeon who operates in his or her office but does not have hospital privileges to perform the same operation.

Type(s) of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is an essential part of any surgical procedure and must be performed safely. General anesthesia is the deepest form of anesthesia. You are asleep, feel no pain, and will not remember the procedure.

Deep intravenous sedation, called “twilight sleep,” is a combination of local anesthetic administered at the surgical site by your plastic surgeon and intravenous sedation administered by the anesthesiologist. You breathe for yourself, but you are in a deep sleep throughout the procedure. You should feel no pain, and you should not remember the procedure.

Your plastic surgeon should discuss these options with you more thoroughly at the time of your consultation, and please ask about anything you do not understand.

Details of the Procedure

Liposuction usually takes one to three hours to perform, depending on the total area to be treated and whether or not you are having additional procedures performed simultaneously. After you are properly anesthetized, your plastic surgeon will make tiny incisions in the areas to be suctioned. A dilute solution containing saline (salt water), epinephrine (to decrease bleeding and subsequent bruising), and lidocaine (a local anesthetic to decrease pain postoperatively) is infiltrated in the areas to be treated.

A cannula (a slender, hollow metal tube attached to suction) is then passed repeatedly through the areas and serves to break up and remove the fat deposits. If you are undergoing ultrasound-assisted liposuction, the cannula has an ultrasound probe at the tip. The ultrasonic energy assists in the liquefaction of fat, making it easier to remove.

Afterwards, the incisions are carefully closed to minimize your scar. A sterile dressing is applied to the incisions, and a stretch garment (compression garment) is placed over the areas that have been treated.

After Your Procedure

Liposuction is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, unless you are having other procedures performed at the same time. However, if you live alone or are from out of town, you may choose to stay in the hospital overnight. If you choose to go home following your procedure, you will recover from surgery in the recovery room for approximately one hour, and then you will be able to go home in the company of a friend or family member.

You should plan to take it easy following your surgery. No strenuous activities, heavy lifting (over 20 pounds), aerobic exercises, swimming, contact sports, tennis, or golf should be planned for the first several weeks. As your plastic surgeon monitors your recovery, he or she will advise you when it is safe to resume specific activities.

You should plan to wear the compression garment for three to six weeks following surgery, depending on the rate of your recovery.

The Results You Can Expect

Your final result will not be apparent immediately following surgery. This is because your body will still be absorbing some of the fluid injected at the beginning of the procedure. A very mild swelling usually takes several weeks to subside. Any bruising that may occur usually disappears within one week. You should be able to resume your normal daily activities the day after surgery, and you should be able to resume all of your physical activities within two weeks of surgery.

This article provided by Dr. Don Revis. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please visit Dr. Revis online or you may reach his office at 954-630-2009.