subject: How Much Pain Will My Liposuction Cause? [print this page] Just about everyone is afraid of pain, and one of the first people have when they're considering a liposuction (also called lipoplasty and lipectomy) is "How much will it hurt?" The perennially popular procedure surgically removes excess body fat from certain areas of a patient's body. These target areas, which are decided on beforehand by the patient and the surgeon, are trimmed and slimmed in an attempt to create a more aesthetically pleasing, youthful and beautiful appearance.
The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia. The patient is first anesthetized, then incisions are made in the target area. After this, the doctor performs the actual removal of fat through the use of a vacuum-powered hollow tube called a cannula.
If performed correctly, you should not experience pain during your surgery except for the initial prick of the anesthetic being injected. Patients report a number of varied reactions to the sensation of surgery. Some say that they experience a strange feeling of pressure, and some say that it tickles. Some few report experiencing a large amount of pain during surgery, but this is uncommon. If it happens, it most likely means that your doctor has not sufficiently anesthetized you, and you should definitely tell your doctor. Chances are, he or she will be able to remedy the problem. Do not simply suffer in silence.
After the surgery, you will be taken home. Most people feel slightly muzzy just after their surgery due to the effects of the anesthesia, but there is not typically a whole lot in the way of actual pain. You will need to have someone drive you home from your surgery, though.
When you get home, you might want to take a nap, and you'll want to relax for the rest of the day, perhaps taking a short walk in the evening if you feel up to it.
Many people experience their greatest pain on the day after their surgery. They've had enough time for the anesthesia to get out of their system, but their body still hasn't gotten a chance to truly heal. Some people experience their worst pain two or three days after the surgery. It all depends on the particulars of the surgery, the surgeon and the patient.
After that first few days, most people experience that their pain gets progressively better. If there are large amounts of pain, or if there is a sudden increase in post-surgical pain, it could be a sign that something is going wrong, and your doctor should be alerted.
