About Your Liposuction Procedure

Liposuction is a surgical technique used to remove unwanted fat deposits from different areas of the body by suctioning them away.

Indications:
We all have a certain number of fat cells at birth that grow until adulthood. This fixed number of cells can increase if there is excessive food intake at a young age. This predisposes the person to obesity as an adult. By removing the fat cells, liposuction appears to be capable of preventing recurrence of fat deposits. The areas that may be improved by liposuction are the cheeks, chin, neck, breasts, and fatty areas of the armpits, trunk, hips, buttocks, inner thighs, knees, calves, ankles and sometimes the arms. The objective of this surgery is not to remove excess weight, but to improve the contour of the body. It is not a substitute for diet and proper exercise. Patients with good skin elasticity, normal weight and well-localized fat deposits are ideal subjects.

Procedure:
Liposuction may be performed under local, neuroleptic or general anesthesia and is usually done on an out-patient basis. The areas to be treated are injected with a large volume of fluid. This facilitates the removal of fat and markedly diminishes bleeding during the procedure. An incision a few millimeters in length is made in the area where liposuction is to be performed. A cannula is passed beneath the skin to suction out deep fatty tissue. Several small incisions may be required to reach different fat deposits. The incisions are then closed with sutures and small gauze dressings may be applied to each.

After surgery:
Your surgeon will prescribe medication for pain relief as required. Sitting and walking may be uncomfortable for the first days for procedures of the abdomen, buttocks and lower extremities. Dressings may be removed one week post-operatively. The skin may appear swollen and bluish in the treated areas. This should resolve within six to eight weeks. A shower is permissible soon after the surgery. Gentle massage may aid healing, help to avoid the formation of irregularities in the skin and speeds up the resolution of swelling.

Important Notes:

  • Your surgery will take between 30 minutes to 3 hours.
  • Expect a recovery period of six weeks.
  • Please arrange to have someone pick you up from our surgical centre following surgery.

For more information:
Canadian Society for Plastic Surgeons

The information provided is intended for general purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.