Liposuction is performed by making a small inconspicuous incision after which tumescent fluid is injected under the skin in the area of unwanted fat. This tumescent fluid consists of saline, lidocaine (numbing agent), epinephrine (blood vessel constrictor) and bicarbonate (changes pH). This fluid then surrounds the unwanted fat and makes it easier to remove by vacuum extraction through cannulas. The cannulas are hollow steel tubes that are connected to a high powered vacuum source.
The liposuction surgery removes a layer of fat from under the skin and on top of the muscles. The liposuction leaves bruising and swelling from the cannula moving back and forth under the skin. Your body’s response to this trauma is to swell and become bruised. After surgery you will be wearing a compression garment to reduce swelling and help the skin retract. At two weeks after surgery, you may resume the gym and other normal activities. Increasing activities before this time can lead to increased swelling and a longer recovery time. It takes approximately three weeks for the swelling to decrease to levels where people won’t notice.
Over the next 3 months roughly 75% of the swelling will be gone and your new and improved results will be definitely noticeable. By 6 months after surgery you’ll have your final results.
The best way to know if you are a candidate for liposuction is schedule a consultation. At that initial consultation appointment, you can get a good honest opinion of what liposuction can accomplish for your problem areas. It’s also a good time to get all of your questions about the liposuction recovery time answered by an expert like Dr. Kole of the Kole Plastic Surgery Center Center of Southampton Bucks County. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kole. Please call the office at 215-315-7655 .
