Liposuction Before and After

A liposuction surgery is only a small part of the entire procedure. Most of the work that you'll be responsible for comes before and after the actual surgery.

Before

Understanding your goals will help the surgeon decide what is best for you. Once you've decided that you want to pursue a liposuction treatment, the first thing to do is find a surgeon. It's always good to check the surgeon's background, client feedback, and credentials. Board-certified surgeons or some other from of organization accreditation are indicators that the surgeon is well experienced and practiced.

Once you have found a surgeon, set up an appointment for a consultation. During the consultation you should discuss your expectations and medical history. Things like smoking, diet, and prescription drugs should all be disclosed with the surgeon. The surgeon should then explain to you the pros and cons of various procedures that fit your description. He or she should describe exactly how many incisions, the type of scarring to expect, and the expected length of the surgery. You should be able to choose from a list of recommended anesthetics that will be used. If you're doing general anesthesia you will also need to find out the anesthetist's credentials as well.

Once you have agreed to a procedure, a deposit is required to hold your date of surgery. Canceling a surgery with short notice usually means you won't be getting that deposit back. You'll also have to schedule a pre-op appointment for a later date.

At the pre-op, you have a second chance to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and further discussion here will help you understand what to expect from the surgery. You should also find out any special instructions that you have to follow immediately before the surgery. This is the right time to discuss issues about your recovery as well. This is when you should also receive all of your prescriptions for use after the surgery. Sometimes you will be required to do some blood test or lab tests to ascertain your state of health.

After

Immediately after the surgery you will be sluggish from the anesthetic. If you had general anesthesia you'll have to stay overnight at the hospital, otherwise you should be discharged and allowed to return home. The first few days of recovery should involve only light activities to keep the bruising and swelling down. For most liposuction surgeries, you should not experience excessive swelling or pain. You'll also be wearing a compression garment for the first few days.

You can expect some discomfort during the following weeks. Heavy exercise isn't a good idea until your surgeon says it is possible. Monitoring your health is crucial in this recovery phase. Check your temperature and be cautious of any excessive pains. They could be indicators of an infection.

Any sutures that were required to close your incisions should be removed within two weeks by the surgeon in a post-op appointment. The most important thing during recovery is not to over-extend your body. Allow your body to heal fully before you engage in any serious physical activity.

Most of the major symptoms should disappear after two weeks. If anything persists it's always a good idea to consult your doctor.

These are just some general guidelines regarding the stages before and after a surgery. Your surgeon will be able to give you more details specific to your own situation.