Liposuction – Cosmetic Surgery

Liposuction (otherwise known as lipoplasty) may be performed in an outpatient surgery center, hospital or a surgeon's office facility. Some of the more complicated procedures require an overnight stay, but smaller procedures are typically done on an outpatient basis.

Liposuction surgery is performed by removing specific fat deposits in an attempt to reshape and area of one's body. There are several methods for getting this done, but the basic goal is the same. It is very important to become educated on the different forms of liposuction so that you can discuss the various options with your plastic surgeon and find the procedure that best suits your needs.

There are several types of anesthesia options for liposuction procedures. Under certain circumstances the operation can be performed under local anesthesia without forcing the patient to go under. However, many patients prefer general anesthesia so they are completely asleep during the procedure. It is best to consult your plastic surgeon to determine what best fits your needs for the operation.

Recovering from liposuction takes several weeks. Immediately afterwards there will be some fluid draining involved from the incisions made during the operation. In order to best control swelling, some patients are fitted with an elastic garment to wear over the affected area for several weeks. Patients are encouraged to start walking immediately after surgery which allows many patients to get back to work as early as one week. After around four to six weeks the swelling will subside and you will look and feel like a brand new person.