The Basics of a Liposuction Procedure

Many people wonder what a liposuction procedure is like.  It is important to speak to a surgeon directly about the procedure you are considering.  There may be differences in the procedure based on the type of liposuction to be received and your medical history.

A basic procedure includes:

·        Determination of the specific areas to undergo liposuction.  This is determined during a consultation with the surgeon.

·        A patient consent form will be signed prior to the surgery.

·        You will be given antibiotics before or after the procedure in order to minimize the risk of infection

·        The surgeon will mark the areas of your body that will receive the procedure and photos may or may not be taken.

·        In the operating room the areas of your body being worked on will be sterilized (typically with Betadine).

·        A local anesthetic will be injected in the areas to be worked on and you may receive a sedative (can be given orally or through intravenous).

·        An IV will be used to make sure you do not lose too much fluid and you will be attached to  monitoring devices (blood pressure, heart rate, etc)

·        A small incision (approximately 1/3 of an inch or less) will be made in each area the probe will be used.

·        You may feel some sensations where the cannula is removing the fat

·        After the procedure you can usually leave within a few hours or less.

It is important to speak to your surgeon directly about the specific procedure you are receiving and what to expect.  Depending on many factors there could be significant differences in your procedure.  The more you know ahead of time the more comfortable you will be during and after your liposuction procedure.