Four Interesting Things to Know About Liposuction
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is the surgical removal of fat from between the muscle and skin to improve the body’s contour. Liposuction removes unwanted and diet-resistant fat deposits in the abdomen, hips, thighs, waist area (aka love handles and saddlebags), backs, arms, neck, and more. Liposuction can be combined with other cosmetic procedures if appropriate for the patient. It is considered one of the safest cosmetic surgical procedures.
Am I a candidate for liposuction?
You are a good candidate if you are a healthy adult within 30 percent of your ideal weight with firm skin and good muscle tone. You should not have a life-threatening illness and you should be a nonsmoker. You should also have a positive attitude and want the procedure for your own improvement, not for someone else. If you are planning to lose a large amount of weight or become pregnant you should postpone this procedure.
How does the procedure work?
The surgeon introduces a thin hollow tube known as a microcannula through tiny incisions in the skin. The surgeon removes the fat by suctioning through the microcannula. There are a variety of liposuction techniques, but tumescent liposuction is the most widely used and will be discussed in great detail during your consultation.
What is the recovery and follow-up?
You should closely follow your surgeon’s pre and post-operative instructions to ensure the most positive recovery. Your surgeon will recommend things like discontinuing certain medications and vitamins that may thin the blood, staying away from high-impact exercise, and wearing a compression garment post-operatively. You may experience some discomfort and swelling following liposuction, but the compression will help and this will improve day by day and you should be feeling like yourself in one to two weeks. Generally, you may be able to return to work in about one week. Although most people see good results in two to four weeks, it may take several months to see the full results of your procedure. Be sure to schedule and attend all follow-up visits with your surgeon.
We’re always happy to answer questions like this to help educate and reassure our patients. For more information on liposuction and the other plastic surgery procedures we perform or to schedule a consultation appointment today, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery at one of our Atlanta, Canton, Midtown, Northside/Sandy Springs, and Cumming/Forsyth area locations. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, photos, and much more.
