Liposuction Procedure

When it comes to the actual liposuction procedure, your surgeon should give you exact details about the expected length, anesthesia, and whether it will be an in or outpatient surgery. The biggest difference between operations comes between in and outpatient liposuctions.

The Ins and Outs of Liposuction

An outpatient procedure is the current method for most liposuction procedures. It's cheaper because only local anesthetics are used. You remain awake throughout the entire operation and can even give feedback to the surgeon about how you feel. There are fewer complications before and after an outpatient liposuction procedure as well. You get to go home as soon as the local anesthetic has worn off as well.

An inpatient procedure is far more complex. Not only does it require an additional person-the anesthetist-you will also be required to take more precautions before and after the operation. For instance, you will not be allowed to eat or drink for a certain period of time leading up to the operation. Afterwards, you will have to stay overnight and have someone pick you up in the morning. There are also more health risks associated with general anesthesia. You'll have to discuss them with both the surgeon and the anesthetist to figure out if you will experience any adverse effects.

With all types of anesthesia you'll end up feeling a bit sick after. The only difference is that local anesthesia wears off a lot faster.

The Operation

The fastest liposuction operations are single procedures in simple areas of the body. You could be done the whole thing in a matter of an hour or two. When more than one procedure is involved, and depending on the volume of fat to be removed, the operation time increases significantly.

Throughout the operation your health will be monitored with the aid of pads attached to your body that show heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in your blood. If you are under local anesthetic you will also be able to provide feedback about how you are feeling.

In all cases you will be given an intravenous drip of saline as a base to keep you from becoming dehydrated as fat is removed. They can also switch out the saline to provide you with additional anesthesia, antibiotics, and other medications. If you are anxious about operations than it's probably a good idea to ask for some sort of sedative beforehand. A nervous patient is the last thing a surgeon needs.

Before they begin incisions the surgeons usually mark your body with a pen to guide their actions. In a wet technique, they'll then inject the target areas with a painkiller and an adrenaline-based chemical. These fluids help to reduce pain when the probes are inserted and also reduce bleeding.

Once the surgeon has deemed you stable, he or she will make the necessary incisions. The cannula (probe) will then be inserted into the incision and moved around to loosen the fat cells. That's when suction will begin.

This process is repeated for any additional areas that require liposuction. After everything is done, your incisions will be cleaned and sewn up. The first few hours after the surgery you will probably feel weak and sick from the anesthetic. If you did an outpatient procedure you'll be discharged once you feel well enough to leave. Otherwise, be prepared to stay overnight and get some sleep.

That's the basics of a liposuction operation. For more specifics please consult your surgeon.