Liposuction surgery, or a lipoplasty, is a common procedure many women seek out to improve their body’s contours and proportions. The procedure removes excess fat deposits from various parts of the body that are either residual from weight loss or a result of familial traits.
Cosmetic surgeons at UF Health perform this common procedure to not only help women achieve improved body contouring and proportioning, but a renewed sense of confidence and a better quality of life as well.
So exactly what do liposuction surgeons do to help you accomplish these goals?
The first step is meeting with a one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss your goals and expectations and to determine if liposuction surgery is right for you. But read on to learn the four steps of what happens during a liposuction surgery procedure so you can know what to expect if you decide to move forward.
1. Initial consultation and establishing a plan
Before anything happens, our surgeons at UF Health meet with all prospective patients to examine areas of concern on your body and discuss your goals and expectations, among other things. Remember, liposuction surgery is no substitute for good dieting and exercise.
2. Administration of anesthesia
For your comfort, either an intravenous sedation or general anesthesia will be given to you at our Gainesville cosmetic surgery center. Which one you are given will be determined during your initial consultation. DO NOT EAT BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
Once you are asleep or fully sedated, your surgeon will cut small, unobtrusive incisions in the area you discussed with them in step #1. To reduce bleeding and trauma, liposuction surgeons inject a sterile liquid solution. Next they insert a thin hollow tube, or a cannula, into the incisions and using a controlled back and forth motion, loosening the excess fat. Liposuction surgeons then use a surgical vacuum or syringe that attaches to the cannula to suck the fat out.
3. See the results and recovery
After the desired amount of fat has been removed, liposuction surgeons will place elastic bandages or compression garments over the incisions to compress your body to the new contours and help control swelling.
After liposuction surgery is complete and the anesthesia wears off, you may not even realize that anything has happened at first. Most people who undergo anesthesia do not have a problem, but reactions vary from person to person. You may take awhile to wake up or may wake up abruptly, and when you do, you may feel hot, cold or a bit numb. You may even feel a little nauseous and go through either a crying or giggling spell. No reason to panic – it’s all normal and your surgeon will be watching over you as the anesthesia wears off.
Improved body contours will become apparent once the swelling and fluid retention that patients commonly experience after a liposuction surgery procedure subsides.
Recovery time is usually pretty short and you should be able to quickly return to work. Several weeks of reduced activity are required to ensure the incisions properly heal.
Call 352.265.8402 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.