Liposuction has come a long way. What used to be a quite risky operation, performed in a hospital operating room and involving general anesthesia, the possibility of a blood transfusion, and a long recovery period is now a routine, safe, procedure that can be performed in the office.
Liposuction removes unwanted fat and contours the body in areas that have not responded to diet and exercise.
Today’s standard technique is what’s known as tumescent liposuction. During this procedure, the unwanted area of fat is inflated with a mixture of saline, dilute lidocaine and epinephrine. The mixture serves as a local anesthetic and also constricts the blood flow in the area, allowing the fat to be removed with little blood loss.
Complications from tumescent liposuction are rare and typically minor, and recovery time is much faster than that of liposuction surgery in the past. The effects of the anesthesia may last for up to 24 hours, but once it wears off, most patients can manage any lingering discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Patients whose jobs do not involve heavy physical labor can usually return to work within a few days of the procedure.
Improvements in the targeted area’s appearance can be visible within a few weeks, but it may take up to six months to see the complete results.
Liposuction has changed. If you are ready to rid your body of unwanted fat that’s not responding to diet and exercise, contact us at (970) 667-3116 to schedule a consultation.
