Definition
| Reasons for Procedure
| Possible Complications
| What to Expect
| Call Your Doctor
Definition
Liposuction is an elective cosmetic surgery. It reshapes the body through the removal of excess body fat.
Reasons for Procedure
Some common reasons for choosing to have liposuction include:
- To reshape the body so that it is more in tune with an individual’s ideal body image
- To remove unwanted fat pockets that could not be lost with diet and exercise
- To boost self-confidence and feelings about appearance
-
To reduce the chest size of males suffering from
gynecomastia (enlarged breasts)
Possible Complications
Complications are rare but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have liposuction, your doctor will review a list of possible complications which may include:
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Allergic reaction
- Burns under or on skin, injury to deep tissue, increased scarring, fluid build up under the skin
Liposuction results are not the same for everyone. Some factors that may affect results include:
- Age—Older patients may not see the same results as younger patients because their skin is less elastic.
- Experience of the surgeon—Doctors with more experience tend to have fewer problems
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Diabetes
- Being a smoker
- Severe heart or lung disease
- Taking some medications
- Poor blood circulation
- Recent surgery near the area to be suctioned
- Having a large area suctioned, or large amounts of fat removed
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
Your plastic surgeon will likely:
-
Evaluate you as a candidate for liposuction
- Ask about your medical history, illnesses, medications, and previous surgeries
- You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure like:
- Discuss previous weight losses/gains, and how they affected your body
- Have you identify the areas you would like to have suctioned
- Test your skin elasticity (ability of the skin to stretch and return to normal)
- Estimate the amount of fat needed to be removed for best results
- Discuss your ideal surgical outcome and body image versus realistic expectations
- Determine your emotional stability (after surgery, some patients tend to become depressed temporarily)
-
Prepare you for the procedure
- Discuss surgical techniques and anesthesia options.
- Determine if the procedure should be conducted in a surgical suite, at an ambulatory clinic, or in a hospital. The location of the procedure will depend on the amount of fat to be removed. When large amounts of fat are removed, it is safest to perform the surgery in a hospital.
- Give you instructions for the days proceeding, and day of the procedure.
- Address your questions and concerns.
Leading up to your procedure:
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding diet.
- Arrange to have someone drive you home, stay overnight on the first night, and help out around the house for a few days.
Anesthesia
There are three anesthesia options for liposuction. Your doctor will help you to decide which is best for you.
-
Local anesthesia—to numb the area; used for removal of small quantities of fat
-
Regional anesthesia—larger area is numbed; used when larger amounts of fat are being removed
-
General anesthesia—you will be asleep; usually used when large amounts of fat, or multiple areas will be suctioned
Description of Procedure
After anesthesia has taken effect, a special fluid containing saline (salt water) and additional anesthetic is injected into the fatty areas. One of the following three extraction techniques is used depending on the procedure:
- Wet technique—The amount of fluid injected is less than the amount of fat to be removed. This technique is generally used in combination with IV sedation or with general anesthesia.
- Super wet technique—The amount of fluid injected is equal to the amount of fat removed. A procedure using this technique takes about two hours. IV sedation or general anesthesia is typically used.
- Tumescent technique—Three times as much fluid is injected to the body as fat removed. Surgery using this technique runs approximately 4 to 5 hours. Local anesthesia is typically used.
After the fluid is added, a half-inch incision is made near the area to be suctioned. The surgeon uses a cannula as if it were a vacuum to suck up the fat. A cannula is a hollow tube, like a drinking straw. A vacuum pressure unit, which is attached by a hose to the cannula, provides the suction for the procedure. Once fat has been removed, incisions are stitched shut. In some cases, a drain may be inserted to help fluids to drain.
When certain areas with harder to remove fat are to be suctioned (eg, upper abdomen, thighs, hips, and back), a technique may be used that employs an ultrasonic generator.
- Ultrasound-assisted Lipoplasty (UAL)—Ultrasonic energy supplied by an ultrasonic generator is used to explode the walls of fat cells prior to the injecting fluid. This causes fat to become an oily substance and easier to vacuum. The tumescent technique is then used to remove the liquefied fat. Although this technique carries higher risk of complications, it helps the surgeon to remove difficult fat deposits with less bruising and swelling.
How Long Will It Take?
The length of a procedure depends on the amount of fat to be removed, number of areas being suctioned, and the liposuction technique being used. The tumescent technique may take 4-5 hours, while the super wet technique may only require 30 minutes. UAL takes the longest amount of time.
How Much Will It Hurt?
Liposuction itself should not hurt. Anesthesia numbs and relaxes the body. Let your doctor know if you experience pain during the procedure. Recovery from liposuction can be painful. Ask your doctor about pain relievers to help manage the pain.
Post-procedure Care
At the Care Center
- You will be taken to a recovery room for monitoring.
- IV fluids may be given to aid in hydration.
- You may be asked to take short walks to improve blood circulation.
- Pain medication may be prescribed to help manage discomfort.
- An elastic garment to help speed recovery will be given with instructions for usage.
When five liters of fat or more is removed, an overnight stay will be required.
At Home
Be sure to follow your doctor's
instructions.
- Walk around as directed. This will help blood circulation and to prevent blot clots from forming.
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Refrain from resuming activities until directed to do so.
- Keep incisions clean by washing with luke-warm water and soap.
- Do not soak in hot tubs, or the ocean for several weeks. This can cause infection.
- Take pain medication as prescribed.
- Wear the elastic garment as directed
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
- Arrange for follow up doctor visits to monitor healing
Note: If you feel depressed, speak with your doctor. This feeling is natural, and is common in liposuction patients.
Depression
may last for several days or weeks. It may occur because results are not immediate, and because recovery may be long and uncomfortable.
Results of the liposuction will not be seen immediately. Depending on the amount of fat removed, and the body’s ability to heal, visible results may take weeks or months to appear. Typically, swelling begins to decrease within a week of surgery. However, it may take months to fully subside. Bruising may last three or more weeks. Numbness may persist for several weeks before it begins to fade. After the swelling and bruising disappears, the true result of the procedure is seen. If postoperative weight is maintained, the results of the liposuction can be permanent.
If desired results are not achieved, or if the skin remains loose, additional surgery may be needed.
Call Your Doctor
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Oozing or discharge from incisions
- Bleeding
- Redness or increased swelling
- Increased pain or tenderness
- Coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, severe nausea or vomiting
- Signs of shock (pale clammy skin, confusion or weakness, rapid pulse)
- Depression
In case of an emergency call 911.
Last reviewed October 2009 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
and Brian P. Randall, MD
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