Liposuction - A Good Patient Is Prepared

Of the many cosmetic surgery procedures available today, liposuction is one of the most popular options. Traditionally, this procedure is very invasive with an uncomfortable recovery period which included bed rest and frequent check-ups with the surgeon. Fortunately, liposuction procedures have evolved into non-invasive procedures that require almost no recovery time. In fact, some of these procedures can be done in the doctor's office, allowing the patient to return to normal activities the same day.

Through the use of a suction tube, a doctor can remove excess fat from selected areas of the body. This can be risky because the surgeon must use a general anesthetic; a powerful medicine that is used to both numb pain receptors and render the patient unconscious. Much of the preparation for a liposuction is concerned with administering the right amount of anesthesia because the wrong dosage can be traumatizing or fatal. 

Once the anesthetic has taken effect, the surgeon must make an incision at the site where the suction will take place in order to access the underlying fat cells, which the doctor will remove; this is where the surgery becomes invasive. First, because the surgeon must make an incision that will create scarring and require healing time. Second, because the surgeon must force the suction tube, or cannula, through the fat in order to remove the excess cells evenly. This forcing of the cannula underneath the skin causing bruising and trauma to the area in which the tube is entered. As a result, most of the recovery time is dedicated towards also allowing the bruising and swelling underneath the skin to heal.

Alternatively, there are non-invasive options that allow the patient to achieve results close to the traditional methods while avoiding much of this trauma. These newer procedures do not require a general anesthesia. A laser liposuction is one such option that has gained a lot of popularity recently. This method involves the use of laser to emulsify and melt the excess fat. For this method, the patient only needs a local anesthetic, which numbs pain receptors in only the area being targeted for fat removal, and does not render the patient unconscious. The surgeon then uses laser technology to melt fat and sculpt the desired area. The melted fat is then either absorbed by the body, or removed via a much smaller suction tube, which easily slides through the melted fat. Instead of lasers, an ultrasonic liposuction performs the same task, except with the use of ultrasonic technology.

If you are considering having this procedure performed, you should discuss the many methods that are available today with your surgeon. The surgeon will be able to thoroughly explain each of these options, and which one is best for your desired results.