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Liposuction is a very common, popular procedure, designed for the permanent removal of subcutaneous fatty tissue from areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. These areas include the hips, thighs (for the removal of cellulite), abdomen, knees, ankles, arms, face, and neck.

Liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis, which is partly facilitated by the administration of a special fluid with multiple functions and benefits. Injected in the areas of treatment, the liquid is a mixture of intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (a drug that contracts blood vessels). This fluid provides: anesthesia during and after surgery, temporary tissue tumescence to help the fat be removed more easily, a tremendous reduction of blood loss, and a reduction in the amount of bruising.

The surgeon makes small discreet incisions (less than an inch long) in the areas to be treated, and a microcannula (flexible tube 3.0 millimeters in diameter) is inserted into the incision(s) (its other end is attached to a suction machine). The procedure may take an hour or more, depending on how many areas are involved. To maintain a margin of safety, there is a limit on how much fatty tissue can be removed at one time.

Recovery is usually uncomplicated, though you may expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the following two weeks. While healing, you will need to wear special garments provided to apply pressure, minimize swelling, and provide support. These garments also assist in retraction of the skin. Stitches will be removed in a week to ten days.

The day after surgery you should be up and walking around. Thereafter, make efforts to increase your activity in daily increments, until normal exertion is resumed at two to four weeks. You will be ready to return to office work in three to five days and more active employment in ten to fourteen days. Avoid the sun until all bruising has subsided. A sunscreen should be used routinely; it is easy to get sunburned during recovery because of decreased sensation.

An enhanced body contour is recognizable almost immediately, and will continue to improve as swelling subsides. A variety of factors can affect the outcome: physical condition, genetic makeup, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and skin elasticity. Results are permanent, but if you were to gain a large amount of weight you might experience rippling of the skin in the treated areas (depending on your skin’s elasticity). It is not a treatment for obesity. If weight gain occurs following liposuction, the fat will be deposited in areas that have not been treated.

The best candidates for liposuction are people who are near their ideal weight and have firm, elastic skin with pockets of excess fat in certain areas. You should be physically healthy and realistic with your expectations. Individuals with certain medical conditions may not be suitable candidates for liposuction.

Healing will be a gradual process. You should start walking around to reduce swelling and to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Drink sufficient water to avoid dehydration. Avoid alcohol for a few days. Avoid submerging in bathtubs or swimming pools. More strenuous activity should be avoided for several weeks to a month, as your body continues to heal. By eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, you will help maintain your new shape.