What to Expect

Dr. Su performs only Tumescent liposuction. This means you are awake during the procedure and a local anesthetic is first injected into the area to be done. Being awake is a benefit to getting the best result since you can move into the optimum position and tighten muscles which assists in easier and more accurate fat removal. You will be asked to stand at times during the surgery to check the accuracy of the sculpting since gravity will affect how your fat and skin hang. Small irregularities are also much easier to visualize when standing and can be corrected. You will have the benefit of seeing your actual new shape right away and judging for yourself whether the results are smooth or not.

Because patients are awake during the surgery, they often ask what they will experience. All patients experience things differently. Some patients are completely comfortable. However, most patients will have small periods of moderate discomfort. For some, this discomfort is fleeting. If not, then we will usually inject more anesthetic into the area to make the patient comfortable. During the surgery you can expect to have normal conversation, watch a movie, listen to the radio, or even talk on the phone.

After the surgery, you will have open incisions which are very small which will allow remaining fluid in the areas to drain out. Absorbent pads are used to collect the drainage for several days until it stops. The incisions close by themselves when the drainage is complete. You will wear a compression garment which is made of stretchy fabric to help aid in fluid drainage as well as helping your skin reattach smoothly to the muscle below. The garment is worn for 2-3 weeks on average.

Most people will be able to return to their work within 1-2 days. Strenuous activities may need to be stopped or reduced for the first 3 wks. Light activities such as dressing, bathing, working at a desk, driving, shopping, or cooking, can be resumed immediately. There can be significant soreness for the first week, moderate for the second week, and light for the third week. Most discomfort is noticed when moving or utilizing the body part that was treated. For instance, if you had liposuction on the abdomen, you could exercise by walking on a treadmill right away. But you may not feel like doing situps for up to 3 wks.

Bruising is usually mild, but depending on the person may be more severe. Some patients will take Arnica Montana (herbal supplement) to reduce the amount that they bruise. Bruising is usually resolved in 1-2 weeks.

The first week after liposuction a patient will be able to see their new shape. But swelling as part of the normal healing process will usually become evident and maximal at about 2-3 weeks. This swelling which can be firm or hard will gradually resolve over the next 3-5 months. Although most people still look better even during the swelling, they will not look their best until the swelling fully resolves. Sometimes, swelling can be uneven, but it is temporary and will be even again when the swelling subsides. You will have multiple follow up visits during this process of healing. Some patients will have small irregularities after the healing is complete, usually due to settling of the tissue. When this occurs Dr. Su will do a touch up as needed.

Results of liposuction are not permanent despite what you may have seen or heard! Most of your fat cells will be removed from the treated area. Those cells cannot be replaced. However, the remaining few fat cells can enlarge and cause you to lose your results if you put on lots of weight. As an example, if we remove 6-8 lbs of fat from your midsection, you probably won't see it return unless you gain 20 lbs or more. Most fat will go to other areas on your body before it goes back to the areas that we treat. Dr. Su stresses to all his patients to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and exercise even after liposuction.