Liposuction

Procedure - Liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy, is a surgical procedure for removing modest amounts of superficial fat for specific areas that do not respond to exercise and weight loss. Liposuction is used to target specific areas of the body, helping to contour them. It is not a method for weight loss nor will it result in a total body "makeover."

Commonly treated areas include:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Neck
• Flanks
• Breast region (primarily men)

The surgery and the incisions - The operation itself takes 1-2 hours depending on how many areas are treated. Most surgeries are performed in an outpatient or inpatient operating suite, under twilight or general anesthesia. Dr. Brown will discuss all options that are right for you during your consultation.

The morning of surgery, Dr. Brown will mark the sites to be suctioned, and will answer any last minute questions you may have. The incisions from liposuction are a few millimeters, and quite inconspicuous. There will usually be 1-2 incisions per site to be treated, and Dr. Brown will hide them as much as possible in the natural folds of your skin.

Preparing for surgery - Tell Dr. Brown about any medical problems you have, and any problems you may have had with surgery in the past. A history of bleeding problems, nausea with surgery and high blood pressure are all important to disclose to your surgeon, because these are risk factors for post-surgical bleeding. If you smoke, you will be asked to quit for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to surgery as well as 4 weeks after surgery. You will be told which medications to stop and which to take before surgery. If you get sick or have any health issues in the days before surgery, please notify the office at once in case we have to postpone your operation.

Can I go home the day of the surgery? - Liposuction can be done safely as an outpatient, and most patients will be able to go home the same day. In some cases, most commonly when a large volume of fat (greater than 5 liters) is removed from the body, Dr. Brown may recommend that you spend a night in the hospital after surgery. Any recommended overnight stay is to monitor you closely while the fluids in your body equilibrate. Some patients may prefer to spend a night or two in the hospital if they have young children at home or live alone and do not have any help at home.

What kind of swelling and bruising can I expect? – You will be asked to wear a compression garment for 6 weeks after surgery. This helps with swelling and also helps re-contour the areas where fat cells were removed. Swelling and bruising are normal signs of the healing process, and occur to varying degrees after any surgery. Bruising and swelling are greatest about 2-4 days after surgery, and then rapidly decrease. By the end of the first 2 weeks most of the bruising is gone, and by 6-8 weeks, most of the swelling has diminished.

What restrictions are there? - You can shower the day after surgery, but you should not take a bath, use a hot-tub, or go swimming for at least two weeks. The majority of patients feel good enough to return to most activities after a few days. Strenuous activities should be avoided until Dr. Brown gives you permission to do so.

When can I travel? - Traveling after surgery (air travel, long distance car trips, train rides, etc) should not be done before you have had your first postoperative visit. Typically, this occurs 5-7 days after surgery for suture removal. Patients who are at high risk for developing a blood clot should not travel until instructed by their surgeon. Short car trips under 60 minutes can be done before the first visit. A good rule of thumb is when you are off the stronger pain medication and can get up without assistance you are ready to go for a short drive. You should not drive the car yourself, until Dr. Brown gives you clearance for this.

What if I have a problem? - When should I call the office? We always welcome calls from patients. If you have any concerns at any time, please feel free to contact our office. If it is an emergency, the answering service is available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.