Liposuction Procedure:

This cosmetic weight loss procedure is most often used to remove excess or unwanted fat from different parts of the body. The procedure is carried out using a special tool which suctions body fat from targeted areas.

Liposuction is also known as body contouring or sculpting, and its goal is to improve a person’s appearance. It is especially used to make irregular or distorted shapes regular and smooth.

The most commonly liposuctioned parts of the body are:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Chin
• Upper arms

The length of the procedure is approximately one hour.

Most patients are released from the hospital withing one day of having had liposuction.

Patients who have had liposuction procedures are usually cleared to travel home within 4 to 7 days.

Just to be on the safe side, you should plan for an extended stay if you are traveling for liposuction. Your surgeon will probably require a follow-up visit a few days after the procedure.

Therefore, you should find a hotel that is near the hospital, and that will make follow-up medical care much simpler. Do not hesitate to contact the staff at Medical Travel International if you would like help in finding adequate lodging close to the hotel.

Procedure Details:

IV sedation or general anesthesia administration signals the beginning of your liposuction procedure. A tiny incision will be made by your surgeon to insert the device that will be used to suction excess fat from your body, and the incision will be used to infuse the area with a sterile solution which will reduce trauma and bleeding before any fat is removed.

Your surgeon will use the suction device in a back and forth motion to begin loosening excess fat. Once this excess fat has been dislodged, it will be suctioned with the device. The surgeon may insert small drainage tubes to remove excess fluid during post-op recovery once all of the fat has been removed.

After the Procedure:

You are going to be taken to recovery where your vitals will be closely monitored following your liposuction procedure. Once it is determined that your vitals are stable, you will go to a regular hospital room, or your will be released from the hospital.

You will either be required to wear a compression support garment, or the treated area will be wrapped after surgery. The purpose of the support garment or wrap is to reduce bleeding, bruising, and swelling.

There may also be surgical drains in place to remove any excess fluid.  These drains will be removed 2 or 3 days following the surgery.

Liposuction After Care:

• You cannot drive for 1 week following the procedure
• You may resume light activity within 24 to 48 hours
• Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for four weeks
• You must wear your compression garment for three weeks after the procedure

Results:

Most patients who have had liposuction have said they were satisfied with the results. However, you need to be aware that results will not be visible right away.

Since there will be bruising, swelling, and fluid retention right after the surgery, results will not be evident until about 6 weeks after the procedure has taken place.

Please be aware that you can adversely affect the results through poor diet and lack of exercise, but you can also maintain and even improve on the results with a proper eating and exercise regimen.

Risks and Complications:

As you may well know, any medical procedure has inherent risks. The most common complications associated with liposuction are:

• Reaction to anesthesia or medication
• Bleeding
• Blood clot
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Surgical wound infection
• Strep or staph infection
• Shock from fluid loss
• Overload from fluid
• Fat embolism
• Nerve damage
• Tissue damage
• Organ damage
• Surgical instrument burns
• Uneven fat removal
• Scarring

You need to contact your physician right away if any of the following occur:

• Uncontrolled pain even with medication
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Swollen stitches
• Reddened stitches
• Incision drainage is yellow, green, thick or foul smelling
• Stitches come apart
• Fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 38 degrees Celsius or greater
• Rash or itchiness develops
• Any sign of medication allergy
• Blood soaked bandages
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Inability to urinate