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.
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