What to Expect Before Your Liposuction Procedure
Before booking the procedure, you will have a full consultation with the Doctor and Nurses to ensure that you are physically healthy and a suitable candidate for Liposuction cosmetic surgery. Although it is a forgiving procedure, good physical health is essential. A consent form with all side effects, risks and benefits will also be explained and provided.
Pre-operative Care
You must avoid blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory pills, for at least one week before the surgery. If you see a medical specialist for any health conditions, please seek their opinion about your fitness for this procedure.
You must fast on the day of the procedure. You can eat dinner, as usual, the night before, and then you must stop drinking fluids at midnight. On the morning of the procedure, you can take a small sip of water to take your pre-surgery medication.
Alcohol should be avoided for at least 24 hours before the surgery. Smokers must quit before surgery, and smoking and illicit drug use must be strictly avoided before the procedure. We take smoking very seriously as a high risk for any procedure, so you must be aware of the cancellation policy if you smoke. Smoking increases the risk of some serious complications during and after surgery. Ideally, it would be best to stop smoking at least eight weeks before a procedure. Cutting down does not reduce the risk of complications. However, quitting smoking for good is the most significant health benefit.
An information package will be given to you covering medications, blood tests and other pre-procedure instructions. You should commence antibiotics the night before and wash them in an antiseptic solution the morning of the procedure, including your hair.
A blood test must be undertaken at least 1-week before the procedure.
You must arrive at the clinic on time for your liposuction procedure, which means you will have to arrive at the clinic at least half an hour before the start time. Your nurse will perform an extensive admission procedure before admitting you to our fully-licensed surgery.
Patients with reflux should continue their anti-reflux medication, and most medications should be continued other than blood-thinning medications. Check with the doctor before the procedure and the nurse on the day of the procedure.
Your hair and body must be washed with the antiseptic we recommend.
Important: If you’ve been smoking in the last two weeks, the procedure will be cancelled, and payment won’t be refunded.
Photographs will be taken before you change into a surgical gown. In the theatre, a small drip will be inserted. If you are uncomfortable with needles, numbing cream can be applied to the back of the hand before the drip is inserted. Please ask the nurse beforehand. Also, a pre-operative relaxant can be prescribed.
Full monitoring equipment, including a heart rate and oxygen level monitor, are used during liposuction surgery. You will receive sedation and will go into varying degrees of sleep, and you should not recall any of the procedures.
During the Procedure/How Liposuction Works
Sedation/Anesthetic
Tumescent liposculpture is a day procedure performed under local anaesthetic and sedation. A weak local anaesthetic ‘tumescent’ solution is injected into the areas for fat removal. This special tumescent solution numbs the area, restricts bleeding and loosens the fat, facilitating easy removal by suction.
How the surgery works
Small, strategically placed incisions allow the passage of a fine hollow metal tube or “cannula” attached to a vacuum pump. The surgeon carefully and artfully guides the cannula within the layer of fat, breaking it up and suctioning it out. Compared to traditional liposuction, modern tumescent liposculpture is extremely safe and less painful, with a quicker recovery time.
Is liposuction painful?
While the procedure is performed under anesthesia, the recovery period can be uncomfortable for some patients.
Patients may experience pain, swelling, and bruising in the treated areas during the first few days after the procedure. The discomfort can be managed with pain medications prescribed by the doctor.
Liposuction Recovery and Aftercare
Immediate Post-Operative Care
It would be best if you were picked up by a competent adult who can assist you at home for the first night. The surgery typically takes 4-5 hours, and you can expect to go home on the same day. It would be best if you were fully recovered before leaving. Please inform your nurse if you suffer from nausea after the anaesthetic.
Your nominated carer must give you medications, as the anaesthetic can make you forgetful and help you avoid a double-up of medications.
Your carer must also escort you to the toilet and back, ensuring you get up slowly to avoid light-headedness. If you become light-headed, the carer should lie flat and elevate your legs.
Our doctors are on call 24 hours a day and will phone you to check up on you. For the first night, it is wise to rest but perform the leg and deep breathing exercises as instructed by your nurse.
The following day you’ll be up and about as normal, with discomfort levels that many describe as similar to after a heavy workout. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 2.5 kg.
The wounds will ooze a raspberry cordial-coloured fluid, and this is normal. We advise wearing old pyjamas and lying on a towel. The wounds will close over the following day or when the oozing stops. The nursing staff will see you the next day to clean the area and close the wounds. The doctor will also check for any abnormalities.
Avoid showering on the first day. A garment will be applied, and you will be instructed on how to care for this. As mentioned, smoking is strictly prohibited.
Alternatives to Liposuction Surgery
If you’re seeking a non-surgical method to reduce body fat, Absolute Cosmetic offers a range of effective alternatives to liposuction surgery.
These treatments can help you achieve your body contouring goals without requiring invasive procedures. Our non-surgical options include the following:
- AbsoluteSculpt
- CoolSculpting
- Ultraformer