Plastic surgery has become fairly commonplace in the medical profession. While every surgery has its own risks and complications, plastic surgery is no longer considered dangerous or unnecessary. For Dallas residents, your Dallas plastic surgery center can perform many different procedures to enhance the physical appearance, and one of the more popular procedures is called liposuction. Liposuction removes excess fat from different areas of the body that haven’t responded to diet and exercise. Understanding more about the procedure will help you feel more at ease before you schedule surgery.
Why the need for liposuction? Many Americans are overweight and have problems with excess fat in areas of the thighs, abdomen, hips, and other stubborn areas. Even for people who have managed to lose the weight, some still have a problem with retaining excess fat in these areas. Liposuction can help remove unwanted body fat that patients have been struggling to lose to no avail. If you schedule a consultation at your Dallas plastic surgery clinic, the doctor can discuss the procedure with you and help you decide if it is right for you.
The doctor will need to ask you for some information during your consultation, such as your complete medical history, existing and previous illnesses or conditions, along with a list of any current medications you are taking. After conducting a physical examination and conducting the necessary tests, the surgeon will have a better idea if you are a good candidate for liposuction.
If your Dallas plastic surgery doctor determines that you are a candidate for the procedure, he will also let you know about some precautions to take before having surgery. To avoid any dangerous complications during surgery, you will need to avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, alcohol, and certain other drugs for a period of time before having the liposuction procedure. More than likely, the physician will prescribe an antibiotic for you to take before surgery to guard against infection.
Liposuction is performed on an out-patient basis at the Dallas plastic surgery center that you choose. You will be in surgery for one to three hours under IV sedation and local anesthesia. Generally, it takes patients around 72 hours to recover from liposuction. You may feel well enough to return to work the week after liposuction. This, of course, will vary from patient to patient. If you experience any unexpected pain or complications, you should contact your doctor right away.
You can expect to feel some discomfort after this procedure, and you will be sleepy. You should not try to drive after your liposuction. Plan on having someone else drive you home. When you leave the clinic, the doctor will give you instructions about changing your dressing and other things you can do to relieve discomfort, such as wearing a compression garment. Make sure to ask any questions you have of your Dallas plastic surgery doctor before leaving the clinic.
