How to Prepare for Liposuction: Easy Prep Tips
Even with the most rigorous, healthy diet, and exercise plan, many people struggle to get rid of unwanted stubborn fat in areas like the buttocks and abdomen. If this is a situation you’ve found yourself in, the good news is, there’s a solution!
The modern development of liposuction surgery has allowed millions of Americans to achieve the bodies they’ve always dreamed of having — minus those stubborn areas of extra bulk.
Unlike a tummy tuck, liposuction does not involve any serious invasive procedures that will leave you in recovery for weeks. It simply gets rid of unwanted fat all at once. Liposuction is safe, fast, and long-lasting.
Whether you are just starting to think about liposuction or you’ve already set a date for your first consultation appointment, there are certainly some things you need to know about this surgery. Most importantly, you’ll want to know how to prepare yourself mentally and physically for liposuction. The following is a list of some easy prep tips on how to prepare for liposuction to help you adequately prepare yourself.
But first, before we get started, let’s briefly go over what liposuction is and what you can expect.
WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION?
First made popular in the 1980s, liposuction has become one of the most requested types of plastic surgery available. The main goal of liposuction is to remove unwanted fat from the body. This unwanted fat is generally in places like the upper thigh, buttocks, abdomen, and sometimes in the arms or neck.
Removal of this fat is first achieved by pinpointing the fat deposits that are to be removed. Exactly where you would like to remove fat is something that you’ll discuss with your plastic surgeon during your consultation appointment.
Looking for a plastic surgeon to carry out the liposuction preparation for your procedure? Remember that it is essential to find a board certified doctor with extensive experience in liposuction.
During the procedure itself, you will be administered anesthesia for your comfort. Next, the area where fat is to be removed will be numbed, and a small incision will be made, or sometimes, several incisions may need to be made. This will depend on how much fat is to be removed and from what areas of the body. The doctor will then insert a device called a cannula — a slim hollow tube — into the incisions, agitating the pockets of fat and sucking them out.
DOS AND DONTS BEFORE LIPOSUCTION
As soon as you decide to go ahead with a liposuction procedure, you’ll need to take several steps to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Diligent liposuction preparation is important.
Naturally, you will need to discuss how to prepare for liposuction surgery with your individual plastic surgeon. In some cases, there may be specific steps that you need to take or not take to prepare for liposuction, depending on your unique situation. However, the following tips are generally appropriate for all liposuction patients. Carefully preparing for liposuction will help lead to a successful recovery.
1. MAKE SURE YOU’VE LOST ALL THE WEIGHT YOU CAN ON YOUR OWN.
Before you even make a consultation appointment with your plastic surgeon, it’s important that you try to lose weight on your own if you need to. You should do this the healthy way, through diet and exercise.
Patients of liposuction need to be at a target weight or healthy BMI (body mass index) before undergoing the procedure. This is something you can discuss more in detail with your surgeon, but as a general rule, you will be turned away if your BMI is too high and there is more weight that you could technically lose through diet and exercise.
If it’s just a few pounds or “problem areas” that you can’t seem to ameliorate on your own, this is where liposuction will be most helpful.
2. STOP SMOKING.
Smoking constricts your blood cells, which can cause complications during your procedure and post surgical complications after during the recovery period. It is unsafe to be a smoker in the few months before your procedure, and you’ll need to stay smoke-free for several months after your procedure as well.
In general, you should consider quitting smoking altogether as it’s simply the healthier choice, but you can also discuss a short-term smoke-free plan with your surgeon prior to your surgery.
3. SPEAK TO YOUR SURGEON ABOUT THE MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS YOU’RE TAKING.
Before going in for your consultation appointment, make a list of all the meds and herbal supplements that you take on a regular basis.
Certain meds, such as blood thinning medications, and/or supplements may react negatively to the general anesthesia, or other pain medications you are given during and after your procedure. Moreover, medicines like aspirin can thin your blood and a unique set of problems.
Tell your surgeon about all of the meds and supplements you are taking, and be prepared to modify or stop taking some or all of them, if needed. You would generally only have to do this for a short period of time.
4. ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE YOU HOME AND TAKE CARE FOR YOU.
After your liposuction surgery, someone will need to pick you up and take you home. That same person or another friend or loved one will need to look after you for a few days as well. Liposuction is not a surgery that will keep you in bed for weeks on end, but you may have some soreness and swelling, which will require attention and care. Be prepared for this by having someone you trust nearby who can help you if you need it.
5. SCHEDULE TIME OFF FROM WORK OR SCHOOL.
Another step you’ll need to take prior to surgery is scheduling time off from work or school. Any responsibilities you may have after your surgery will need to be postponed as you will want to put all of your focus on a healthy and safe recovery. Getting a good night’s sleep, refraining from drinking alcohol and getting plenty of rest are all keys to a successful healing process.
Many people who opt for lipo will opt to have the procedure during the summer months or during a vacation when their obligations and responsibilities are limited. Many have reported that in recovery body creams helped to soothe muscle aches. Refraining from heavy lifting and wearing comfortable clothes are a things that help the healing process. Again, limiting alcohol consumption is also important. Following these guidelines will help result in an easy liposuction recovery period.
6. WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING LIPOSUCTION
This last tip is mental and emotional. Even though lipo can certainly boost your confidence and make you feel better about your physical appearance, it isn’t a magic surgery that will take all your troubles and insecurities away.
It is absolutely essential to have a realistic outlook about the results you will achieve with lipo. Remember that all plastic surgeries come with some risk of slight, discreet scarring and that the exact image of what you hope to look like post-surgery may end up being unrealistic and causing more troubles than it’s worth in the end.
SCHEDULE YOUR LIPO CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT TODAY
While diet and exercise are certainly important when it comes to maintaining a healthy physique you can be proud of, no one wants to kill themselves at the gym and deprive themselves of all the foods they love just to lose those last few stubborn pounds of fat. If you’ve been struggling to drop those vanity pounds, lipo may be able to help.
Dr. David A. Sieber is a leading cosmetic and reconstructive board certified plastic surgeon based in the San Francisco, California area. He is committed to fostering a close relationship with each and every one of his clients and would love to speak with you about lipo or any other procedures you are considering. In fact, many people end up pairing lipo with a tummy tuck for even better results.
Think this procedure may be right for you? Schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Sieber to find out more about the procedure, how to prepare for liposuction, and what lipo can do for you.
