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Liposuction Procedure Steps

Liposuction currently ranks as the second most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US after breast implants. Cutting edge surgical techniques have made it possible to perform liposuction in a less invasive and more targeted manner. The surgeon may select an appropriate technique for a patient, but the overall steps in the liposuction procedure will largely remain unchanged.

During the initial consultation, the surgeon will educate the patient about various aspects of liposuction, including the steps involved in the procedure.

Once the patient knows what the procedure entails, they will usually feel more confident about it and make better decisions. Amazing, astute, and board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify provides liposuction to patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding communities in this part of The Golden State.

 

Anesthesia

The first step in the liposuction procedure will be the application of anesthesia. General anesthesia may be used if significant amounts of fat need to be removed from multiple areas or where liposuction is combined with other plastic surgery procedures. In other cases, local anesthesia with light sedation will suffice for liposuction surgery.

One of the popular techniques for fat removal is tumescent liposuction, which only requires local anesthesia. This procedure will involve small incisions, and the patient will recover faster with reduced risk of complications.

 

Incision Placement

Following anesthesia, the next step will involve placement of incisions in discreet locations within the affected area. The size of the incisions usually ranges between a quarter and a third of an inch.

The surgeon’s goal will be to keep the incisions hidden in natural skin creases or other hidden locations to minimize subsequent scarring. Accomplished and profound cosmetic surgeon Dr. Seify receives patients from Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and nearby areas for liposuction surgery.

 

Fat Tissue Reduction

Through the incisions, the surgeon will insert a slim cannula into the deeper fat layers to dislodge the stubborn fat cells. This vacuum tube will be gently manipulated to disrupt the fat deposits and make their removal less traumatic. Once the fat tissue is disintegrated, the surgeon will suction out the fat using a syringe attached to the outer end of the cannula.

In some cases, advanced techniques such as laser, ultrasound or RF energy may be applied at this stage to make the fat removal more precise and less invasive. During and after the surgery, the patient will receive replacement fluids via IV to compensate for the fluid and blood loss.

 

Incision Closure

Once the surgery is completed, the incisions will be carefully closed with absorbable or traditional sutures. Temporary drain tubes under the skin in the incision sites may be placed to collect excess fluid. The incisions will be initial covered in bandages, and within a few days, the bandages may be replaced with a compression garment to support further healing and firming up of the newly sculpted contours.

Sutures and drain tubes are usually removed in about seven to 10 days. In case of very minor incisions, the surgeon may decide to keep them open in order to achieve the desired outcomes with minimal bruising and swelling.

See more procedures and treatments by plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify in Newport Beach, Orange County, , Irvine, Anaheim, Fullerton, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA and surrounding areas.