Liposuction Frequently Asked Questions
- Posted on: Jan 15 2022
When seeking information regarding any treatment, it is important to speak with a board-certified professional. People interested in liposuction often skip that step. It is easy to find information online, so why spend the time in a doctor’s office talking face-to-face? There are several reasons. The most important one is that you are a unique patient with needs, genetics, and a medical history that doesn’t match everyone else. When patients finally come into the office to talk about liposuction, they often have questions that weren’t clearly answered by their online inquiry. Here, we’ll discuss some of the questions we often answer during our consultations.
Does liposuction hurt?
As a surgical procedure, liposuction must hurt, right? There was a time when liposuction wasn’t a very comfortable procedure. That was decades ago before surgical techniques had been perfected. Since that time, they’ve not only been perfected but they’ve been refined. The most common liposuction procedure performed today is referred to as tumescent liposuction. At the beginning of the procedure, the surgeon infuses the layer of fat in the treatment area with tumescent fluid. This contains lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline. This fluid extends the treatment area with volume and by firming fat cells. The epinephrine also affects blood vessels, so there is minimal bleeding during or after the procedure. During recovery, patients are given compression garment and medication to help with pain management.
Do I have to be under general anesthesia during liposuction?
Most liposuction procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, in an accredited surgical center. In most cases, patients undergo the procedure with general anesthesia.
Will the fat come back?
One of the biggest concerns, and grandest fallacies, about liposuction is that fat will come back. Patients interested in the procedure worry that they may experience a type of boomerang effect. This isn’t true. Most people who have liposuction already live a healthy lifestyle. The results of the procedure can be sustained by adhering to the healthy habits that have already been established. There is no need to cut calories more or work out more after liposuction than was the norm before the procedure. Consistency is the key to lasting results.
Does Liposuction tighten the skin?
As a body contouring procedure that removes some of the unwanted fat beneath the skin, we cannot perform liposuction without also considering the overall cosmetic effect. When volume is decreased, there is a chance that the skin could pucker or wrinkle or, worse, sag. Dr. Schaffer is careful to evaluate tissue elasticity for liposuction patients to determine how well the skin may bounce back. If a patient’s skin is thinner and weaker, he may suggest a tightening procedure to avoid a puckered appearance.
Liposuction is an outstanding procedure for significant, lasting body contouring. Learn more. Contact our San Antonio office at 210-227-FACE to schedule your consultation.
Posted in: Liposuction
