Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgical procedure to remove excess amounts of fat from various parts of the body, such as the buttocks, neck, thighs, hips, arms, and belly.
The surgeon uses suction technology to extract fat from under the skin in these body areas to make them look better. Sometimes, liposuction procedures are performed with other cosmetic procedures, such as tummy tucks and facelifts. It all depends on the needs of the patient.
Do You Qualify for Liposuction?
Many people want to lose weight and improve their figure. Because of this, they turn to liposuction because it has been popularized in our culture as a fast and reliable fat-losing solution.
However, you must understand that liposuction comes with risks and requires you to meet specific eligibility requirements regarding your current health and wellness. Those requirements are as follows:
- You must be an adult
- You cannot be over 30% of your ideal body weight
- You must have good muscle tone
- You must have firm, elastic skin present
- You cannot be a smoker
- You cannot have certain preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or immunodeficiency.
The surgeon will determine your eligibility for liposuction upon your initial consultation and examination with them. You will have a chance to ask questions about the procedure and talk about your appearance goals. The surgeon will answer all your questions and review all the potential risks and benefits of getting liposuction.
Preparing for Liposuction
If it turns out that you qualify for liposuction, or a similar mommy makeover procedure, and would like to proceed with the procedure, the surgeon will schedule a date and time for you to get it done. The surgeon will also give you preparation instructions that you must follow in the days and weeks leading up to the procedure.
The preparation instructions dictate the things you can and cannot consume before the procedure. These things may include:
- No sugary or processed foods
- Drink plenty of water
- Consume lots of healthy fats, vitamins, and lean meats
- Get plenty of physical exercise
- Avoid painkillers and blood-thinning medications like Advil and aspirin
- Avoid herbal supplements
- Avoid any other medications your doctor wants you to avoid
Your surgeon usually recommends following these rules for several weeks before the liposuction surgery. Ensure you follow their advice to ensure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible.
What to Expect During and After the Liposuction Procedure
The surgeon will perform the liposuction procedure at their cosmetic surgery clinic. Having someone else drive you to your appointment is recommended because you won’t be in any condition to drive after the procedure.
The surgeon will first mark the areas of your body where they will remove excess fat. Some surgeons even take photos of these areas to compare the before and after appearances. They will ask you for your permission first.
The next thing the surgeon will do is administer a general anesthetic to put you to sleep before the procedure starts. That way, you will not be awake to feel any pain or discomfort as the surgeon extracts fat from under your skin. The procedure takes 2 to 3 hours on average, depending on how much fat they remove.
After the procedure, you will experience swelling, soreness, and bruising in the treated areas for about two weeks. The surgeon may want you to wear a compression garment for a few months to prevent more swelling.
Every case is different for each patient. Consult the surgeon if you have any more questions about this.
