The Liposuction Procedure During Surgery

If you are considering having liposuction, you are probably wondering about the liposuction procedure. You know there are risks involved, but what exactly does the liposuction procedure actually constitute? Liposuction has been around for over thirty years, which means that doctors and surgeons have had thirty years to improve upon liposuction procedure. During the modern liposuction procedure, more fat cells can be removed more easily that ever before; there are less blood loss, less discomfort, and less risk involved. Liposuction is currently the most popular plastic surgery performed in the United States, which is not surprising considering that sixty-five percent of the United States is over weight.

Am I A Candidate?

You are a good candidate for the liposuction procedure if: you are over eighteen, you are in good health, your skin is of good elasticity, and you are of normal weight. Most doctors recommend liposuction for people who are of normal weight, but who want to tone up a few troubled areas. You are a bad candidate for liposuction if you are not a risk taker (there are many complications involved), cost is an issue (liposuction is not covered by medical insurance), you are overweight or obese and trying to lose weight, you have a disease or are on medication that affects wound healing, your skin elasticity is not adequate, you are diabetic, or you have a heart condition.

The Procedure Itself

During the liposuction procedure, there are several things that must occur. First, the patient and the surgeon need to concur prior to surgery which areas will be worked on and what the results will most likely look like. On the day of the surgery, a consent form needs to be signed. About an hour before or after the surgery, the doctor will most likely give the patient an antibiotic (some doctors don’t do this) to avoid infection. The doctor needs to mark on the patient’s body what the target areas are. Once in the operating room, a sterilizing solution will be applied to the area that is being operated on. A local anesthetic is injected into the patient, and the patient might be given a sedative. The doctor makes very small incisions during the surgery; they are only about a quarter to a third of an inch. The patient will feel a scraping or rasping sensation, but other than that the surgery will not be painful. Blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored during the surgery. The patient is usually able to get up and walk around immediately after surgery.