Body Treatments

To perform liposuction, one or more small incisions are made near the area to be auctioned. Whenever possible, incisions are placed within the natural folds or contour lines of the skin so that they are inconspicuous. The surgeon then places a slim, hollow tube called a cannula through the incision so that its tip penetrates the underlying fat.

After the cannula is connected by flexible tubing to a suction pump, the surgeon moves the cannula back and forth through the fat, which is vacuumed into the tube. Several variations to the basic liposuction technique have been introduced. The fat-removal technique that best meets your needs depends on a number of individual factors that your surgeon will discuss with you.

Each year thousands of people undergo liposuction and experience no major complications. However, you must fully understand the risks as well as the benefits of the procedure.

One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications of liposuction. In addition to listening carefully to what your surgeon tells you, be sure to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the procedure.

By carefully following your surgeon’s advice and instructions – both before and after surgery – you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.

When the date for your surgery has been set, your plastic surgeon will provide you with specific instructions for the days immediately before and after your surgery. A number of points may be covered, including:

Liposuction may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center or an office-based surgical suite. Various types of anesthesia can be used for liposuction. Your surgeon will select the type of anesthesia that provides the safest and most effective level of comfort for your procedure.

For some patients, local anesthesia is used (usually with sedation) which numbs only the affected areas. For others, regional anesthesia, such as an epidural block (the kind of anesthesia commonly used in childbirth) or general anesthesia may be the best choice. Your physical status will be closely monitored throughout the procedure and during your recover

You may notice that clothes fit more comfortably and you feel more confident about your new, slimmer appearance.

When the procedure is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area. For some patients, small drainage tubes will have been placed beneath the skin. Any discomfort you may feel can be controlled with medication prescribed by your plastic surgeon. An elastic bandage or specially designed compression garment may have been applied over the treated areas to control swelling and assist healing. Your plastic surgeon will tell you how long you must wear the garment and how you can remove it to bathe.

If only a small amount of liposuction has been done, you will be encouraged to get out of bed very shortly after the surgery. If multiple areas have been treated, you will probably remain in bed for a day or two, getting up to go to the bathroom and for meals.

Keep in mind that the speed of your recovery depends largely on the extent of your surgery. Although everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general time line:

Quite soon after surgery you will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body. However, improvement will become even more apparent after a couple of months, when fluid retention and swelling have subsided. For most patients, the final result is evident after about three months.

After your liposuction surgery, you may notice that clothes fit more comfortably and you feel more confident about your appearance. As long as you maintain your postoperative weight, your new, slimmer contour will be permanent. Many patients who gain a few pounds after surgery find that the weight distributes itself more evenly and does not settle in the same “problem areas.”

After the initial healing period, you will return to your surgeon’s office for a postoperative follow-up visit so that your progress can be evaluated. In the following months, your surgeon may ask you to return for periodic checkups. It’s important to keep these appointments so that your surgeon can assess your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you may have.

No matter what type of surgery you’re considering, one of the most important factors in its success is the surgeon you choose. Although it may seem hard to believe, some of the physicians who are performing cosmetic surgery today have had no formal surgical training at all.

It’s advisable to consider the following points before scheduling a consultation:

Find out if he or she is Board Certified for surgery. Surgeons with this certification have completed a minimum of four years of training following medical school, and residency programs. After training, a surgeon must pass comprehensive oral and written exams before being granted certification.

Ask about the surgeon’s hospital privileges

Even if you are planning to have your surgery in your doctor’s office or at a surgery center, it is important to find out if your surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited hospital. Before granting privileges, the hospital review committee evaluates a surgeon’s training and competency.

Your physician will use Profile to restore your skin’s youthful color. Broken capillaries and other visible vascular structures will be gently eliminated from the visible layers of your skin’s surface. Profile has the ability to provide a treatment that is optimized for your skin condition. Unwanted vessels will be preferentially heated by the laser’s energy and become less noticeable.

9 skin areas can be treated. Popular areas are the face, neck, chest, and legs. Discuss your needs with your physician.

There is little risk in the treatment of benign conditions. In some cases, repeat treatment will be necessary depending on your response to the treatment and the result desired. Your doctor will discuss the potential risks of your specific condition prior to treatment.

Your healing time will depend upon your actual treatment. There is virtually no downtime and you may resume moderate activity immediately. You may experience erythema (redness) which may last several days. Your physician can answer questions about temporary changes to your skin color and how they may be camouflaged.

Your skin will have a pink or red color that will resolve over time. You will need to avoid direct sun exposure or use a sunblock of at least SPF 15 when outdoors.

There should be little to no discomfort, however, this varies from patient to patient and depends on the depth of the treatment. There is no need for anesthesia and your physician will discuss your options to properly manage any discomfort from the treatment. There should be no lasting post-treatment discomfort.

Your eyes will be protected with safety shields or Oasses. Profile’s laser beam will be delivered to the area of your skin being treated. You may briefly feel a warm or hot sensation as the laser pulses are preferentially absorbed in the unwanted vessels, heating and destroying them. Your procedure may take a few minutes to half an hour depending on the size of the area to be treated.

It is important to follow your physician’s instructions. You may be given some skincare products and instructions on how to use them. This will minimize your risk of inflammation or redness and ensure the shortest response time. Any vessels denatured by the laser will be reabsorbed by your body over a period of time in a natural cleansing process. Most small capillaries will become invisible almost immediately since they will no longer contain blood flow.

Your skin will be sensitive to ultraviolet light, and you must avoid direct sun exposure. Many of the conditions, created by the laser will have been caused by sun -exposure, so avoiding the sun will prolong your new youthful appearance. You need to fully cover your skin or use a good sunscreen whenever you go outdoors.