What to Do Before Liposuction - Aesthetica Plastic Surgery Resources (2023)

FAQs

What do you need to do before liposuction? ›

You can expect a transformation after liposuction, but it won't be instantaneous. It can take several weeks or even a few months for swelling to completely subside and reveal your new body contours. In fact, you might temporarily gain a little bit of weight after surgery due to fluid accumulation.

Two weeks before surgery, start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C once or twice a day. Vitamin C promotes healing and is a free-radical scavenger. Look for Vitamin C that is time-release and pure (that is, not mixed with any bioflavonoid or anything else). Take Arnica Montana (30c dosage) the night before your surgery.

Treatment Details

Liposuction surgery itself is not painful. As long as anesthesia medications are used and the operation is performed in an accredited surgical facility by a board certified plastic surgeon, liposuction should be a relatively pain-free experience.

What Is the Maximum Amount of Fat That Can Be Removed With Liposuction? Generally speaking, the maximum amount of fat that can be removed with liposuction is 5000 ml. That's roughly 11 pounds on the scale. This amount is actually quite significant.

As with any major surgery, liposuction carries risks, such as bleeding and a reaction to anesthesia. Possible complications specific to liposuction include: Contour irregularities. Your skin may appear bumpy, wavy or withered due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity and unusual healing.

While liposuction can remove up to 10 pounds of fat cells during a procedure, fluid retention and swelling can cause you to look bloated. As the swelling goes down, you can begin to see results. You may also notice that some of your skin is loose in the area treated with liposuction. Loose skin can firm up over time.

Answer: Lipo done

From your photos, it isn't possible to tell if liposuction was done. If your surgeon said it was done, there really is no reason to think otherwise.

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Your case may be cancelled or delayed if you do. Certain blood pressure, thyroid, and diabetes meds are allowed the morning of surgery with a sip of water. Wash your face and hair and body with a liquid antibacterial soap like Dial liquid.

What helps anxiety before plastic surgery? ›

Before your liposuction surgery, you should avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nutritional supplements, vitamin E, some birth control medications, and herbal therapies.

Exercise Can Help with Skin Elasticity

Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and good general health, which are crucial for long-term liposuction results. Regular exercise has also been shown to help with your body's elastin and collagen production, which improve the health of your skin.

Be sure to eat a light meal as the last thing you consume prior to surgery. Soup is a great option, while a heavy meal with a lot of fat will take longer for your body to digest.

Do not eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before your scheduled surgery. Do not chew gum or use any tobacco products. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Take out removable teeth prior to transfer to the operating room and do not wear glasses or contact lenses in the OR.

Pain varies depending on the extent of liposuction and each person has and individual tolerance to pain the upper arm and hip area tend to be more painful to most patients, whereas the abdomen and thighs are less painful. There is very little pain in the neck area.

Pain is the most intense two to four days after the procedure. Tenderness and soreness are typical but will eventually fade. You'll be given a compression garment to reduce swelling, provide support, and relieve pain in the liposuction area. The compression dressings shouldn't be tight enough to reduce blood flow.

With open drainage and high compression the tumescent drainage usually ceases in 24 to 72 hours. After liposuction of an unusually large abdomen or thigh, drainage may persist for several days.

The maximum amount of fat that can safely be removed with liposuction is between six to eight pounds (three to four liters). An increase in the volume of fat removal heightens the risks of complications.

Depending on the area you're having treated and how much fat you're having removed, your procedure can take between one and three hours to complete. However, this is only the time for the actual surgical procedure. The preoperative and post-operative procedures will extend your time in the clinic to a full day.

What happens if I lose more weight after liposuction? ›

Keep Your Weight Stable

Consider that your skin may move back into place after your liposuction procedure. If you lose significant weight after the procedure, there's that much more for your skin to do in bouncing back and retaining its youthful elasticity.

As described, gluteal fat transfer is the only procedure with a higher risk of fatal fat embolism, and is still considered to have the highest mortality rate of any aesthetic procedure.

The results will be permanent since liposuction permanently removes fat cells from an area, and fat cells do not grow back or duplicate in the area where liposuction has been done.

The standard amount removed is two to three liters of fat or five to seven pounds.

How soon after surgery can I return to my normal exercise routine? While walking can begin right away, patients must typically wait 4-6 weeks before returning to their pre-surgery routine. Follow the above guidelines and slowly build pace and intensity. Listen to your body, and to your doctor.

After a liposuction procedure, small tubes or drains are placed within the incision site to drain any excess fluid and blood. This prevents swelling of the operative area and also helps the surgeon check for internal bleeding at the surgical site.

You may shower 48 hours following surgery. Do not remove your garment while standing up the first few days following surgery. If possible try to have someone present (in case of fainting). Remember: DO NOT shower in water temperatures too hot or cold.

The cause of your FUPA may be due to:1 normal swelling after your liposuction procedure2 Lack of liposuction of the suprapubic region with your liposuction procedureIf your procedure was within the last 6-12 weeks, swelling is playing a role in the localized fullness of the area.

Here are the signs to look for with a botched liposuction procedure: Saggy skin. Uneven areas that are lumpy even to the touch or do not look smooth in texture. Skin that is discolored longer than the initial recovery time (outside of possible bruising which eventually goes away)

Most liposuction procedures can be performed with local anesthetic or mild sedation, and yes, even while awake. Most patients stay awake throughout the entire procedure.

What are the best vitamins to take after liposuction? ›

Brown often recommends a daily vitamin C supplement while you are healing from cosmetic surgery. In general, there is no danger or risk associated with 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily in addition to your prescribed medications. Vitamin C is thought to promote and support proper wound healing.

One surprising healing aid that doctors often recommend is the consumption of pineapple in the days leading up to and following surgery. While specific foods and herbal remedies have been used to aid healing throughout history, modern science is now confirming the effectiveness of some of these traditional medicines.

Please stop taking all herbal remedies, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxen, etc.) seven days prior to surgery unless otherwise instructed. However, it is okay to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if something is needed for pain.

Is it normal to be anxious before having liposuction surgery? Yes. Almost everyone has some degree of anxiety before having a surgical procedure, including liposuction. Some people have more anxiety than others.

Benzodiazepines are a drug commonly used in surgery. This class of medication is used to make patients sleepy, reduce anxiety, and causes amnesia. They are used alongside other types of anesthesia that help patients relax.

Research suggests preoperative anxiety can increase the level of postoperative pain, meaning the higher a person's anxiety is before the surgery happens, the more pain and discomfort they may experience during recovery. It can also cause delays in wound healing and may lead to other complications, such as: nausea.

The most popular form of liposuction as well as the most common cosmetic procedure in the U.S. is tumescent liposuction, which is more effective, safer and less painful than traditional liposuction, and has a quicker recovery time. It is performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require general anesthesia.

Vaser Lipo As An Alternative

Vaser lipo is an ultrasonic treatment that can remove the fat you desire while encouraging the tightening of the skin. This is an excellent alternative for patients who worry about loose and sagging skin in the aftermath of their liposuction surgery.

How do you prevent saggy skin after liposuction? ›

There is no specific weight you need to achieve before getting liposuction. However, a key liposuction prep tip is to reach your target weight, or at least get close to it, several months before your surgery. Remember that reaching your goal weight is different from achieving your ideal body.

The best advice is if you are planning to lose some weight, do it before you have your liposuction. Even if your skin tone is good after weight loss, your surgeon will be able to get a better, longer-lasting result by sculpting the fat starting from your slimmer contour.