Before you arrive at our practice for your procedure, your surgeon will give you a list of pre-operative instructions to prepare you. These may include fasting for a certain amount of time or avoiding certain types of medication. Your surgeon will review your medical history and ask about any medical conditions you may have. Tell the surgeon about any medicines, supplements, or herbs you are taking.
We also recommend arranging transportation to and from our practice so that you can rest after the procedure without disrupting any wound closures or sutures. When you arrive for your appointment, you will be taken into the surgical room and prepped for the procedure.
Your surgeon will walk you through the process so you know what techniques they will be using, and the areas they will be focusing on, as discussed in your consultation.
Your surgeon may mark circles and lines on the areas of your body to be treated. Photos also may be taken so that before and after images can be compared.
The first step is to administer anesthesia, to numb the area and avoid any discomfort during surgery. The type of anesthesia will depend on your comfort level as well as the area being treated. Next, your surgeon will make a very small incision and insert a thin hollow tube, or cannula, to loosen excess fat using a controlled back-and-forth motion. The dislodged fat is then suctioned out of the body using a surgical vacuum or syringe attached to the cannula.
The procedure may last up to several hours, depending on how much fat is being removed. If you’ve had general anesthesia, you’ll wake up in a recovery room. You’ll typically spend at least a few hours in the hospital or clinic so that your medical team can watch your recovery.