September 08, 2014
In 2013, liposuction beat out breast augmentation as the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure. Although we only make tiny incisions to perform liposuction, it is of course still surgery, which means it can have an impact on your health and well-being. Because of this, a lot of my patients have a common question: what can I do to best prepare for liposuction? Here are some important guidelines to follow that can help put your mind and body at ease before a liposuction surgery. After all, comfort and relaxation are integral to the healing process.
Your Consultation – During your complimentary consultation with either Dr. Ahmad or myself, you will have the opportunity to ask any and all questions you might have. When I say any and all questions, I mean it. We see between 150 and 200 liposuction patients each year so we really have heard it all. No matter how small it may seem, if it’s of concern to you, we’re more than happy to offer our advice, feedback, and expertise.
The consultation is also a great time to discuss your goals and desired outcomes. We can talk about your ideal look, discuss different approaches we might take to achieve that, and most importantly, help you to understand what is a realistic result. Sometimes it might not be possible to meet all of your objectives with body contouring and having reasonable expectations beforehand is an important way to prepare for liposuction.
Your Body – Dr. Ahmad and I will also discuss guidelines with you that are necessary to prepare your body for the procedure in order to achieve the best results possible. Since smoking decreases circulation and interferes with proper healing, if you are a smoker, you will need to plan to stop smoking a minimum of two weeks before liposuction surgery and especially during recovery. If you’ve been thinking about quitting, what could be a better time than when you’ve decided to make a physical transformation? Best of all, you could make that change inside and out.
There are also certain guidelines related to eating, drinking and taking vitamins and medications before surgery. Many of those recommendations differ on a case-by-case basis, so we’ll discuss them together to make sure we have the best plan tailored to your needs. It’s also important that you are at or close to your ideal weight. Liposuction is not a weight loss tool, but it is a great way to shape and contour the body. When a patient is closer to their ideal weight, they usually have a lower risk of complications and tend to achieve the best results.
Liposuction Recovery – Something that’s particularly great about liposuction is that it’s one of the easiest operations to recover from. I usually recommend that patients take a week off of work to stay home, read, watch TV, and generally relax. If you have young children, make sure you have arrangements for childcare during that week. Some patients feel like they can do more sooner, but going back to work early can prolong swelling a bruising and increase necessary recovery time. By taking advantage of resting for a full week, you will usually look and feel better sooner.
We will also provide you with your necessary compression garment, which is made out of lycra and looks a lot like bike shorts. It can be worn under your normal clothes like underwear. You’ll need to wear it for about 6 weeks. It’s important to note that you can begin very light exercise, like walking, about 2 weeks after your procedure – no running or high impact workouts for at least a month. A great way to prepare? Find some new local parks or paths you’d like to explore during your recovery. Getting outside can help you feel great again.
Wondering if liposuction is right for you? Get all the information to find out for sure with a free consultation.
Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.
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