What You Need to Know Before Deciding on a Liposuction Procedure
You’ve changed your eating habits, focusing on eating healthy foods instead of constantly buying combos at your favorite fast food joint. You even exercise five times a week, working out for 30 minutes to an hour each time. Perhaps you have considered a liposuction procedure but are not really sure!
Despite your best efforts, those stubborn pockets of fat refuse to leave. Your arms are still flabby and you still have a spare tire around your waist. If this describes you, you may be considering liposuction. Read on to learn things you need to know before deciding on this common surgical procedure.
What Is A Liposuction Procedure?
A liposuction procedure is a kind of surgery used to break up fat and suction it from the patient’s body. Surgeons perform this procedure by using a hollow instrument, called a cannula. The cannula is inserted beneath the skin.
Next, the surgeon applies a high-pressure vacuum to the cannula. Before the procedure, the tumescent solution is infused to better prepare the fat for extraction and minimize bruising. Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the US. It can eliminate fat from the neck, arms, buttocks, abdomen, thighs, and hips.
What Are the Risks of Getting Liposuction?
Though liposuction is a very common procedure, it still has risks. Prior to the procedure, the plastic surgeon will fully discuss the procedure with patients to ensure they understand the risks and potential complications that can occur. There is generally some swelling and bruising and sometimes areas that were liposuctioned may have numbness which returns to normal in several weeks.
It’s important to discuss potential risks with your surgeon before consenting to a liposuction procedure. Only after doing so should you decide whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks for you personally.
How Do You Choose a Reputable Plastic Surgeon for Liposuction?
When you undergo any surgical procedure, you want a reputable surgeon who can perform the operation safely and effectively. This is why it’s important to select a board-certified plastic surgeon who belongs to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). ASPS surgeons must meet rigorous standards to ensure that patients receive quality care.
Board-certified plastic surgeons complete a minimum of six years of additional medical training with at least three years of plastic surgery residency training. In addition, these surgeons have passed a rigorous oral and written comprehensive exam. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, they are required to complete continuing medical education each year.
How Much Does Liposuction Cost?
Liposuction typically costs between $3,500 to $10,000 depending on the number of areas treated. The ASPS’s 2018 statistics reported the average cost of liposuction at about $3,518. This price, however, is not inclusive of the cost of anesthesia or the use of the surgical facilities.
Is A Liposuction Procedure Right for Me?
A liposuction procedure isn’t for everyone. For example, it isn’t beneficial for those who need to lose a large amount of weight. Instead, it’s best for people close to (or at) their ideal weight. Liposuction benefits those with excess fat that is unresponsive to diet and exercise. This stubborn fat is typically located around the abdomen, hips, buttocks, chest, arms, or chin. Liposuction deals with excess fat. If you want to flatten and tighten your loose abdominal skin, talk with your surgeon about the benefits of a tummy tuck.
Who Should Have Liposuction?
The ideal liposuction procedure candidate is someone who is:
- Within 30% of their ideal weight
- Relatively healthy and no life-threatening illnesses or conditions that can get in the way of the healing process
- A nonsmoker
Check out some before and after liposuction pictures.
FAQ
How Much Does Liposuction Cost in San Diego?
If you live in San Diego and want to get liposuction, expect to pay between $3,500 and $8,800. The price will vary according to your specific needs and where you receive the surgery, among other important factors.
How Much Is Liposuction per Area?
Typically, liposuction costs around $3,500 per area, but the cost may vary depending on where you receive the procedure and your surgeon’s level of expertise.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Liposuction on Your Stomach?
Liposuction on your stomach generally ranges from $3,500 to $5,000.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Liposuction?
It typically takes about two weeks to fully recover from liposuction. If only a small area of your body receives treatment, you can often return to work in just a few days. If liposuction is used in a larger area, you may need around 10 -14 days off from work.
Does Liposuction Really Work?
Liposuction works well for people who don’t need to lose large amounts of weight. The procedure benefits those with areas of fat that are not responsive to diet and exercise.
Does the Fat Come Back After Lipo?
The fat removed via liposuction is permanently removed and will not return If a patient maintains their post-liposuction weight, they will continue to look great.
Can You Die From Lipo?
It is possible to die from lipo. The risk of death is increased if the patient is unhealthy or an excessive amount of fat, beyond the safe limits recommended are removed from the body. The procedure should be done at a fully accredited facility and the surgeon must be highly skilled. You should avoid “cheap” liposuction as there is no room to take shortcuts with this procedure.
How Painful Is Liposuction Recovery?
Liposuction areas will initially be tender. Patients commonly experience soreness, pain, swelling, bruising, and numbness which quickly improve. Prescribed analgesics are to be taken as needed.
How Do I Prepare for Liposuction?
The surgeon may have their patients get lab tests or medical evaluations before the procedure. Patients may be required to take specific medications or adjust their current medications. Surgeons will ask patients to stop smoking and to avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or any natural supplements that might increase bleeding.
How Can I Lose Tummy Fat Fast?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can help you quickly lose tummy fat.
What Types of Liposuction Are There?
There are several types of liposuction including standard tumescent liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, and laser-assisted liposuction. The type of liposuction used will partly depend on the area and the type of fat in that area.
Can Visceral Fat Be Removed?
Visceral fat can’t be removed with liposuction because it’s located deep behind the abdominal wall. This is where the stomach, intestines, and liver are located. Visceral fat responds well to diet and exercise.
Is It Easier to Lose Weight After liposuction?
Liposuction permanently removes fat and fat cells from the body. Therefore, fat growth will not return to the area treated by liposuction. If patients do not exercise, however, they can easily gain visceral fat as well as fat in other parts of the body.
How Long After Lipo Can I Work Out?
Patients should wait between four to six weeks before beginning a strenuous workout regimen.
How Popular is Liposuction?
According to recent reports, there were 235,237 liposuction procedures performed in 2016, making it the 2nd most popular plastic surgery surgical procedure. The number of procedures last year was a 6% increase over 2015.
Liposuction May Be the Right Choice for You
If you are interested in shaping your body and eliminating stubborn pockets of fat, you should talk with your doctor about liposuction. Though it is not the right procedure for patients who need to lose large amounts of weight, liposuction is ideal for those who just need a little bit of help getting rid of fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise.
Are you thinking about getting liposuction? What are some problem areas that you think would benefit from lipo? Share with us by commenting below.
