The amount of post-operation care you'll need after lipoplasty will depend upon your general health, plus how extensive your surgery was. Some procedures are so minor that you can walk out of your doctor's office afterward, but many require a hospital stay. If you've had a large amount of fat removed by lipoplasty, you may have to stay overnight because of your increased risk for complications. Once you do go home, you will probably still be in pain. Your doctor can prescribe you pain medication. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to stave off infection. Bandages and fitted postoperative compression garments will keep pressure on the area where you had lipoplasty for at least the first few weeks, and follow-up visits to your doctor can help ensure that you are healing well. Generally it takes 2-3 weeks to recover fully, although it may take longer in individual cases.
Lipoplasty
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersLipoplasty (liposuction) recovery is mostly about managing the pain and swelling caused by the surgery. Doctors prescribe medications that will help you manage your pain, swelling, and numbness. Your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic to ward off infection. Ask your doctor about these medications before surgery, and make sure your doctor knows your medical history. -
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Dr. Stuart A. Linder, MD , Plastic Surgery, answeredLipotherme is a safe and effective procedure that is performed to laser liquefy and remove unwanted adipose or fat in localized deposits throughout the face and body. The thermal effects may also cause tightening of the skin. Advantages include faster recovery, minimally invasive, less discomfort, and quicker healing. -
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Dr. Stuart A. Linder, MD , Plastic Surgery, answeredSee All 3 AnswersI frequently get questions from patients who want the lumpy, bumpy appearance of their skin smoothed out. While liposuction can help somewhat, if you have dimpled skin before surgery, the odds are pretty good that you will have dimpled skin afterwards. Remember that this procedure only works with the underlying fat and does not stretch or pull the skin in any way to smooth out wrinkles or bumps. If your goal is to have smoother and less wrinkled skin on certain parts of your body, I would again encourage you to discuss an alternative form of treatment with your doctor. Cellulite is not correctable with any form of liposuction.
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Dr. Arthur W. Perry, MD , Cosmetic Surgery, answeredSee All 2 AnswersAfter gynecomastia liposuction, the risk of bleeding is higher than average with gynecomastia excision, because a large area is being operated on directly over an active muscle. Also, men are typically much less likely to follow instructions after surgery. There can be no sports or sex for at least two weeks, for we don't want the blood pressure or pulse rate elevated during this period. Bleeding can occur for as long as three weeks following surgery; it is more likely if the man lies on his chest.
Other risks include blistering of the nipple, even loss of the nipple. If not enough tissue is left behind the nipple, the nipple could invert. The overall complication rate is 20%, outstandingly high. As many as a third of patients need touch-up procedures to remove a little more tissue or smooth out the result. -
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Dr. Stuart A. Linder, MD , Plastic Surgery, answeredSee All 2 Answers
The most common types of liposuction include tumescent technique, ultrasonic liposuction, and power assisted liposuction. Most commonly used is tumescent liposuction technique which has 3 specific components. The first component is the tumescent wetting solution, either lactated ringer or sodium chloride which will hydrate the fat cells, second is the lidocaine or numbing solution which may allow for an anesthetic numbing effect for up to 24 hours and lastly the epinephrine causes vasoconstriction reducing bleeding, bruising and may also shorten the healing process. Ultrasonic assisted liposuction is associated with the use of a heat/cool mechanism and allows for fat to be liquefied prior to its suctioning. Power assisted liposuction simply uses a power source to assist the plastic surgeon with the lipo technique.
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Dr. Stuart A. Linder, MD , Plastic Surgery, answeredLiposuction is currently being performed by doctors of every specialty: dermatologists, ER doctors, head and neck doctors, general surgeons, gynecologists, etc. The question you must ask is, are they really properly trained to do this procedure safely? And if there is a complication, will they be able to determine what the problem is and how best to treat it? The answer in most cases is probably no. Even for something as seemingly simple as liposuction, you should choose a qualified, properly trained and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
Approved by the FDA in 1998, powered lipoplasty is a form of the fat-vacuuming liposuction procedure. A motorized tool called a cannula, which is roughly the size of a pen, is inserted in the skin and vibrates in a way that loosens up fat and makes it easier to remove. It is considered a precision tool for smaller surgery areas like knees, ankles, or arms, and it has been reported that powered lipoplasty may be less painful and cause less swelling than other methods. Other noted benefits include shorter operation time.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
Lipoplasty, more commonly known as liposuction, can be a life-threatening procedure, but it usually is not. There is a risk of serious complications that may become life-threatening, such as an adverse reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, shock, organ puncture, and serious infection. If you are concerned about potentially life-threatening complications, talk to your doctor about your risk for them. Your risk will be related to a number of factors, including your health history and how expansive an area the surgery covers.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
Before you have a lipoplasty, more popularly known as liposuction, procedure, you must be sure that you understand it, its risk of complications, and the recovery period afterward. Be prepared for your initial doctor consultation: know what you want and know your medical history so that your doctor will best know how to treat you. An informed patient is an empowered one, so ask your questions and get them answered. Along with a physical exam to discuss the body part or parts where you want lipoplasty, some doctors may wish to perform a psychological evaluation and may require a second consultation so that your doctor can be sure that you are informed and committed, which will also give you more time to discern whether or not you wish to undergo lipoplasty. Above all, keep in mind that this is your body under discussion and that the goal of your consultation is to express your wishes and to ask your doctor questions.