Liposuction also known as liposculpture, lipoplasty, suction lipectomy or simply lipo, is a minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedure that slims and reshapes areas of the body by removing excess fat thereby improving body contours.
Excess body fat is an everyday struggle for many individuals. Unfortunately many a times, a healthy diet and exercise do not often guarantee a person’s desired body contour as they do not necessarily get rid of the fat bulges. Liposuction can target the stubborn areas such as the abdominal region, thighs and hips resulting in a more contoured body. To be a candidate for liposuction or any other cosmetic surgery, one of the main things is to have realistic expectations. It is important to know what to expect after a liposuction procedure and by following your Plastic Surgeon’s after care instructions, you can achieve good results. Dr Kamal Sawan, an American Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon based at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery Dubai answered our questions on the recovery process after liposuction. He has performed over a thousand procedures for liposuction in Dubai and the US.
Q: What happens after the Liposuction procedure?
Dr Kamal: After the procedure, there is usually some discomfort, bruising, swelling and redness. You will be prescribed medication which will help in easing these discomforts. You might wear a compression garment which will help to reduce swelling and promote healing. Although the swelling might start to go down by the end of the first week, the compression garment should be worn for four weeks or as directed. The swelling can last for about six weeks but you can return to work within a few days. However, you have to be cleared by your Plastic Surgeon first.
Q: What can I do to promote healing and achieve good results?
Dr Kamal: A liposuction procedure can get rid of a number of certain fat cells for good but the few remaining ones can continue to grow in size and store fat. To help you achieve good and long-lasting results of your desired body contour, after the swelling has gone down, you need to exercise regularly, follow a healthy diet and maintain your weight This is of course after your surgeon has cleared you.
Q: Since the procedure is minimally invasive, will I have scars?
Dr Kamal: During the procedure, small incisions (less than one cm) are usually made in order to remove the excess fat cells. The incisions are made in inconspicuous areas whenever possible, making them less noticeable. After the procedure you will receive after-care incision instructions which when followed should help in the healing with minimal scarring.
Q: When will I see the results?
Dr Kamal: The results are hard to see immediately after the procedure and you might even feel like you’ve gained weight or you look larger on the treated area. This is due to fluid retention and swelling which can cause you to look bloated. However, you will begin to see the results as the swelling goes down.
There may also be some loose skin on the area treated with liposuction but it can firm up over time. This depends on a variety of factors, such as how much fat was removed or age. Other times surgical intervention may be needed to tighten up the skin. You can always talk to your Plastic Surgeon about skin tightening as part of your body contouring procedure.
The final results can be seen between 1-3 months after the procedure depending on how much fat was removed.
Q: How do I maintain my new look?
Dr Kamal: It is important to keep in mind that although fat cells were removed from your body, there are some which remain and can grow. Taking good care of yourself by living a healthy lifestyle will help you in maintain your slimmer look for a long time.
Liposuction helps you to achieve your desired body contour by removing stubborn excess body fat, but it is essential to have realistic expectations. You also need to know that maintaining your new look long term requires you to commit to a healthy lifestyle.
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Would you like to understand what the best options for body contouring are? Meet one of our experts at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery for a personal consultation to develop a tailor-made plan for you. Contact us or Book an appointment and our patient care coordinators will identify the most suitable expert for you.
