What is Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove fat deposits from under your skin. It is often done to remove fat from the thighs, buttocks, belly, or upper arms. You may choose to have this procedure if you want to slim or reshape areas of your body.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• The last time you used tobacco and nicotine products.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Bleeding.
• Bruising.
• Infection.
• Scarring.
• Numbness.
• Lumpy, sagging, or rippled skin.
• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Changes in skin color.
• Pockets of fluid under the skin.

What happens before the procedure?

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Do not use any nicotine or tobacco products—such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes—for at least 4 weeks before your procedure. If you need help stopping, ask your health care provider. Using nicotine and tobacco products makes it harder for your body to heal after surgery.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.
• You may be given an antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

What happens during the procedure?

• To reduce your risk of infection:
  • Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
  • Your skin will be washed with soap.
  • Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
• Your health care provider may mark your skin to highlight the surgical area.
• An IV will be started in your hand or arm.
• You will be given one or more of the following:
  • A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
  • A medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic).
  • A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
• Cuts (incisions) will be made in your skin.
• A thin, hollow tube (cannula) will be inserted through the incision.
• A combination of salt-water (saline) solution, numbing medicine, and medicine to reduce bleeding will be run through the cannula.
• The cannula will be moved back and forth to break up fat cells. In some cases, sound waves (ultrasound) or laser energy will also be used to break up fat cells.
• A suctioning device will be attached to the cannula. It will be used to remove fluid and fat cells from under your skin.
• You may be given more fluid through your IV to replace fluids lost through suction.
• You may have one or more small plastic tubes placed to drain any fluid that may form under your skin after surgery.
• Your incisions may be left open, or they may be loosely closed with stitches (sutures).
• Gauze pads will be placed over the incisions.
• A compression garment or elastic bandage (dressing) will be placed over or around the surgical area.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.

Liposuction, Care After

This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Pain.
• Numbness.
• Fluid leaking from incisions.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Take your antibiotic medicine as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Do not take any new medicines unless you talk with your health care provider about them first. Ask your health care provider if they are safe for you.

Incision care

• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your cuts from surgery (incisions). Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your compression garment or bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your compression garment or dressing as told by your health care provider.
• Leave stitches (sutures) or skin glue in place. They may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer.
• Check your incisions every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.

Drainage tube care

If you have a drainage tube, follow instructions from your health care provider about how to care for it.

• Do not remove the tube yourself.
• Change the dressing around the tube as told by your health care provider.
• Write down how much fluid drains each day. Note any changes in how the fluid looks or smells.

Activity

• Gradually return to your regular activities. You should be able to do most activities in about 2 weeks.
• For 4 weeks, avoid activities that take a lot of effort.
• Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.

General instructions

• Stay out of direct sunlight. Your skin is more sensitive to the sun after surgery. Use sunblock and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin.
• Maintain a healthy weight and eat a healthy diet. This helps the results of your liposuction last longer.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Eating and drinking

• To prevent or treat constipation while you are taking prescription pain medicine, your health care provider may recommend that you:
  • Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
  • Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
  • Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
  • Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried and sweet foods.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your pain does not improve or it gets worse.
• You have more redness, swelling, numbness, or pain around an incision.
• You have fluid or blood coming from an incision for longer than your health care provider told you to expect.
• An incision feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from an incision.
• You have a fever.