Liposuction

Overview

Liposuction, commonly referred to as lipo, is mainly done to help shape and contour your body by removing excess fat deposits in various parts of your body. Dieting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help, but for some people, lipo helps get rid of the stubborn fatty stores in various areas of their bodies. Liposuction, medically referred to as a lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that uses a suction method to remove excess fat from specific parts of your body. The most common areas where people request for a lipoplasty include:

Who is the Best Candidate for Liposuction in Mexicali BC, Mexico

You may be the right candidate for liposuction if:

• You are generally healthy without any life-threatening illness or condition
• You have stubborn fat deposits in one or several parts of your body
• You have tried dieting and exercise, but won’t achieve your desired results
• Your expectations of the results are realistic
• You are less than 25 pounds heavier than your desired weight

Preparing for surgery

• Ensure to discuss with your surgeon the things that are expected of you in the days leading up to your surgery. If you are under any medications, discuss it with them so they can advise you on what to do.
• Avoid taking various medications such as blood thinners (warfarin, clopidogrel, or aspirin), herbs, illicit drugs, and even supplements to ensure a smooth surgery and recovery.
• Do not eat or drink anything in the 8 hours leading up to your surgery including coffee, water, mints, or gum. In case you have some medication, take it with a tiny sip of water.
• Liposuction surgery takes between 1 and 5 hours to complete depending on how many areas are being operated on and the technique used.

Liposuction Procedure Description in Mexicali BC, Mexico

• Before the surgery begins, your surgeon will make circles to mark the areas where the fat will be extracted.
• Once ready to begin the operation, your surgeon will inject a sterile solution into the surgical areas. The solution contains a mixture of salt and water, which aids the removal of fat; lidocaine, an anesthetic used as a pain reliever; and epinephrine, a drug that causes blood vessel constriction to reduce bleeding during the lipoplasty procedure.
• The surgeon then makes incisions into your skin over the marked areas and inserts a cannula, a thin metal tube, directing it into the fatty layer under your skin. The cannula is connected to a syringe or vacuum that helps in the fat extraction process as the surgeon moves the cannula back and forth to help loosen the fat.
• Once the surgeon is done suctioning out the fat, he/she removes the cannula and stitches up the incisions to close up the wound. Sometimes, they may apply surgical glue over the sutures to ensure that the wound is well closed up. They will then wrap a bandage over your surgical sites to protect the wound.

After Surgery

Once your surgery is done, you will be taken to a different room where you will recover from the anesthesia. Your healthcare provider may give you some medication to relieve pain and prevent inflammation depending on how you feel. You will also receive some compression garments to wear; these will help you achieve a more contoured look if won regularly from the day of your operation until after you are fully recovered.

Recovering at home

You need to have someone to take care of you for the first couple of weeks after your surgery to make sure that you don’t strain yourself during this critical time of your recovery. Your healthcare provider should give you some guidance on the routine to follow, but be sure to:

• Follow all the directions while taking your prescribed medications.
• Avoid making any contact with water for the first 72 hours after surgery; this includes taking showers, swimming, or using hot tubs. Your stitches need to stay dry during this time.
• Follow your surgeon’s directions on how to take care of your stitches to have the best chance at the best results possible.
• Avoid any strenuous activities such as heavy lifting, and when you want to exercise start with simple and easy exercises such as short walks. These exercises should not start immediately post-operation, but after a couple of weeks when you feel much stronger. Discuss with your surgeon when it is safe to start exercising.
• Avoid driving until you are no longer on prescription pain medication and your surgeon approves.
• Liposuction is not a major surgery, and your healing should not take too long. Approximately 2 weeks should be enough for your full recovery depending on how large an area was treated.