Liposuction plastic surgery will involve a significant recovery process, including downtime of around one week. During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will explain all facets of the procedure to the patient, such as the approximate recovery time.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides liposuction body contouring to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding communities.

Initial Recovery Period

The recovery process may last for a few days after liposuction surgery. The duration of the recovery phase will depend on the size of the treated area as well as the type of liposuction technique used.

For at least the initial few weeks after liposuction surgery, surgeons usually instruct patients to wear compression garments for better healing. Most patients will feel well enough to take off their compression garment after a few weeks.

Some patients report pain after their liposuction procedure. This pain is typically mild, and pain medicines as well as taking gentle walks at home can help mitigate it.

A majority of patients can move and walk around normally within a week of their liposuction surgery.

Looking Forward

They can even resume work with negligible discomfort. Patients should take showers rather than baths for the initial few days after liposuction surgery. Swelling, bruising, and numbness will begin to resolve during this period.

There will be drainage of the anesthetic solution from the incision in the initial few days after tumescent liposuction. This drainage is normal, and it improves healing and reduces the recovery time in liposuction patients. To clear the drainage, the surgeon may attach drain tubes in the initial week.

Recovery in the Initial Few Weeks

The swelling will continue to resolve over the next several weeks after a liposuction cosmetic surgery procedure.

Once the inflammation settles, the results of the liposuction become more visible. If the treatment area is substantial, the recovery period will be more extensive.

In addition to the inflammation, the skin around the treated area may appear loose. However, it will appear tauter after some time and should return to normal in around six months. But this depends on the elasticity of the skin, which is determined by age and genetics.

Liposuction patients should examine their incision sites for signs of infection regularly. In addition, they should also schedule follow-up appointments with their plastic surgeon for an evaluation of the healing.  

At times, excessive swelling can be a sign of other risks or side-effects. For this reason, it is vital for patients to communicate with their surgeon to ensure that the healing process is predictable and safe.

Exercising after Liposuction

Before commencing exercise after liposuction surgery, patients should seek precise, specific instructions from their surgeon.

Plastic surgeons usually recommend patients to begin with a gentle walking regimen within three to four days of their liposuction surgery. In addition to other post-operative complications, mild exercise prevents blood clot formation in the legs.

Patients can often start increasing their activity levels within two weeks of their liposuction procedure. But they should not perform vigorous exercise for at least the initial month following the procedure enabling the body to heal effectively.

Results

The complete outcomes of the liposuction procedure will manifest in several months after the procedure. Specific outcomes will be visible right after the procedure.

Liposuction can remove up to ten pounds of fat creating well-defined contours. The surgery is designed to enhance the shape of the body, but it is not meant to be a weight-loss procedure.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for liposuction body contouring.
For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

At present, liposuction ranks as the second most sought after plastic surgery procedure in the United States after breast augmentation.

Fundamental Breakthroughs

Advanced surgical techniques have made it possible to perform liposuction in a less invasive and more precise way. The surgeon may choose an appropriate technique for a patient, but the general steps involved in the liposuction will remain largely unchanged.

At the time of the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient on the various facets of liposuction, including the steps involved in the surgery. In general, well-informed patients feel more confident about the procedure and are able to make better choices.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides liposuction body contouring to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding locations.

Anesthesia

Administering of anesthesia is the first step in the liposuction procedure.

If large amounts of fat need to be eliminated from multiple areas or where liposuction is combined with other surgical procedures, general anesthesia may be used. Local anesthesia with light sedation will usually suffice in other cases.

Tumescent liposuction is one of the most sought after fat removal techniques, which requires only local anesthesia. This approach involves the use of tiny incisions. This enables the patient recover faster with a reduced risk of complications.

Placement of Incisions

After anesthesia, the next step involves placing the incisions in discreet sites within the treated area. The incision size typically ranges between a quarter and a third of an inch.

The surgeon will aim to keep the incisions discreet in the natural skin creases or other hidden sites to minimize any future scarring.

Fat Tissue Reduction

The surgeon will insert a thin, narrow tube (cannula) into the deeper layers of fat through the incisions to break down the stubborn fat deposits.

They will manipulate this vacuum tube gently to dislodge the fat pockets and make their removal easier. After the fat tissue breaks down, the surgeon will suction out the fat using a syringe or a pump attached to the cannula’s outer end.

Sometimes cutting-edge techniques such as ultrasound, laser, or RF energy may be applied at this stage to make the process of fat removal more targeted and less invasive. During and after the procedure, the patient will be given replacement fluids intravenously to make up for blood and fluid loss.

Incision Closure

Upon completion of the cosmetic surgery procedure, the incisions are cautiously sealed with traditional or absorbable sutures. The surgeon may place temporary drain tubes underneath the skin in the incision areas to accumulate excess fluid.

Initially, bandages will be applied to the incisions, and within a few days, a compression garment may replace these bandages to support further healing and tighten the newly sculpted contours.

The sutures and drain tubes will typically be removed in around seven to ten days after the procedure. If the incisions are quite minor, the surgeon may choose to allow them to remain open to attain desired results with minimal bruising and inflammation.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for liposuction body contouring.
For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

Developments in surgical techniques and the use of laser and ultrasound technology over the years have made liposuction cosmetic surgery much less invasive.

The Proper Outlook

Irrespective of the innovations, however, liposuction is still a major surgical procedure which involves thorough preparation to achieve safe and predictable outcomes. During the initial consultation, the surgeon will offer the patient guidelines in terms of preparing for the surgery.

Suitable Preparation is Crucial

A well-prepared patient will often have higher confidence levels and can make better choices regarding the liposuction procedure. These patients typically have a lesser risk of complications and a quicker recovery.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides liposuction body contouring to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding communities.

Suggestions for Preparation

Following are some simple steps that the patient can undertake to help them be thoroughly prepared for their liposuction procedure:

• Arrange for past health records from the doctor, specialists, and hospital to be sent directly to the surgeon’s office.
• Make a list of any prescription and non-prescription medications including vitamins, supplements, and herbal medications, which the patient takes at present.
• If the surgeon recommends altering the schedule of specific prescription drugs, arrange for them to talk to the prescribing physician.
• Avoid smoking for a specific period as directed by the surgeon.
• Undertake any pressing household or work-related tasks in advance to enjoy a stress-free and comfortable recovery period.
• Arrange for aftercare, if required, to assist the patient during the first two to three days of the recovery period.
• Ask someone responsible to drive the patient back after their liposuction plastic surgery.

In case the patient follows the preparation guidelines by the surgeon in a committed way, it can have a significant impact on reducing the risk associated with the surgery and expediting the healing process.

Common Guidelines

The surgeon’s staff may offer the patient a printed set of common guidelines as a part of the liposuction preparation process. These instructions may include:

• Discontinue the use of NSAIDs, blood thinners, and other such medications two weeks before liposuction.
• Do not use vitamin C, vitamin E, herbal supplements, and dietary pills for around four weeks prior to the surgery.
• Minimize alcohol consumption and completely stop drinking for at least 48 hours before the procedure.
• Do not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to the scheduled time of the surgery.
• Take adequate rest and get plenty of sleep on the night prior to the procedure.
• Do not wear contact lenses, makeup, body piercings, nail paint, or jewelry to the surgical venue.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, and a front-open top on the day of the procedure.
• Diabetic patients should get their vital parameters evaluated on the morning of the surgery.

At times, some patients may experience anxiety a day prior to the surgery. In such cases, the surgeon may prescribe a mild sedative to them to be taken a night before their liposuction surgery.

Applying for Leave at the Workplace

To recover from the procedure, working professionals should apply for at least one week of leave. They should only undertake sedentary work in the second week of the liposuction surgery, and not perform any task that puts a strain on the incisions.

The patient should discuss these matters in advance at their workplace.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for liposuction body contouring.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

Over the years, advancements in surgical techniques and the use of ultrasound and laser technology have made liposuction plastic surgery much less invasive.

Despite the developments, liposuction remains a major surgical procedure which involves rigorous preparation for attaining safe and predictable results. The key to a successful liposuction procedure lies in identifying the most appropriate surgeon for this procedure.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides liposuction body contouring to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding locations.

Individualization

Most cosmetic surgery procedures can be customized. Dr. Roger Tsai will carefully evaluate the unique anatomy of the patient and their personal aesthetic goals to create a customized surgical plan. His focus remains on developing aesthetically appealing cosmetic results in an integrative and holistic manner.

Dr. Tsai makes use of common incisions wherever possible during procedures to minimize any future scarring. He aims to minimize the size and number of incisions, place incisions in discreet locations, and reduce the discomfort, downtime, and risks of complications for the patient.

At times, Dr. Tsai may recommend a non-surgical procedure to the patient to reduce the invasiveness while still creating beautiful outcomes.

Why Choose an ABPS Board Certified Surgeon?

Dr. Tsai is board certified in plastic surgery by the prestigious American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This is the sole board that the American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes.

Choosing a board certified plastic surgeon gives the patient an automatic guarantee that the surgeon has undergone at least two years of training in the area of plastic surgery. Surgeons certified by the ABPS typically invest in high quality standards and best surgical practices. They also follow the latest safety protocols.

Customized Care and Attention

Liposuction surgery signifies a personal journey for a patient. Therefore, they should spend time identifying a surgeon who makes them feel at ease and who is willing to offer them adequate time to answer their questions and address their concerns.

The patient should be able to reach out to the surgeon during the surgical process as well as the recovery phase.

Hospital Privileges

Ideally, the surgeon should have operating privileges at one or more local hospitals or accredited surgery centers. In the exceptional case of an emergency, the patient would be guaranteed quick access to a hospital.

Hospitals also conduct thorough background checks before awarding privileges. This serves as a further assurance to patients when deciding on a plastic surgeon.  

Qualities of a Liposuction Cosmetic Surgeon

• Warm and caring, transparent, easy to communicate with
• Inclined to explain various facets of liposuction surgery to the patient
• Impassioned about making a difference in a person’s life through cosmetic surgery
• Offers the patient individualized care and attention
• Capability to understand the patient’s innate needs, aspirations, goals, and desires
• Possesses a detailed understanding of liposuction surgery
• Has an artistic mindset with a sense of form, balance, and proportion
• Makes use of cutting-edge techniques to render the procedure less invasive for the patient

Reviewing the Surgeon’s Website

Before visiting a surgeon for an initial consultation, patients should review the surgeon’s website. The website is a robust source of information on the surgeon’s background and practice.

During the consultation, the patient should openly ask questions and express any concerns that they may have. A responsible surgeon will clear all doubts about liposuction and enable the patient to make a judicious choice.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for liposuction body contouring.
For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.