What Is Liposuction And Should It Be Considered?

One of the most common cosmetic procedures performed today is called liposuction

, or "lipo" for short. This is a procedure that is used to remove excess fat from one's body that is resistant to exercise and diet.

Liposuction is an umbrella term for a variety of techniques that are used to get rid of unwanted fat in the body. There's tumescent, ultrasound, super wet, power-assisted, and laser techniques. Cosmetic surgeons use these techniques to loosen the fat before they remove it during a liposuction, although the concept of a liposuction is the same no matter which technique is used: remove excess fat from areas of the body.

This commonly performed procedure can be completed under local anesthesia in which the patient is awake during the procedure or general anesthesia in which the patient is asleep while the doctor works. But general anesthesia is typically recommended only for patients who are going through extensive liposuction or if other procedures are being performed along with liposuction, such as a breast augmentation surgery or a tummy tuck.

Patients recovering from this procedure performed under a local anesthetic often suffer from the side effects that are usually associated with general anesthesia, such as grogginess; however, many of the pain medications and sedatives that are prescribed for patients to take during and after the procedure are known to cause dizziness, nausea, and light-headedness. Patients are, therefore, requested not to drive afterwards, no matter what kind of anesthesia is used for the liposuction.

Recovery after a liposuction can be messy because you'll often have anesthesia and other fluids leak from the small holes that are left by the cannula, which is the device used by the doctor to remove the fat. Prevent stains on your clothes and sheets by wearing absorbent pads until the leaks fully stop.

You may also experience bruising and swelling up to several weeks after the liposuction. The bruises may subside within weeks, but it could take more than six months for the swelling to go away. That's why the final results of the liposuction may not be known until long after you leave the doctor's office. You may also experience hardness or numbness in the area where you had the surgery, which can last for about three months. Anything longer than that may be a sign of another problem called a seroma, or a fluid pocket, that must be drained by your doctor.

While it can take six months to recover from a liposuction, most patients return to work and resume light activity within a week of the procedure. Most even continue vigorous activity and sports within a month of the liposuction. Follow your doctor's advice about optimizing the healing process. Your doctor will tell you to wear compression garments to reduce the swelling and help your skin contract so that it can heal evenly and without lumps, folds, or creases.

Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions for post-operative care during the recovery period, don't miss your follow-up exam appointments, and talk with your doctor if you have any prolonged pain, swelling, or numbness.

by: Roger Ubik

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