If you’re worried about getting liposuction with local anesthesia, we’re here to help. Whether this is your first surgical procedure or you’re addressing a new part of the body, traditional liposuction is a safe and effective method of removing fat cells.
We’ll explain liposuction techniques, how liposuction surgery works with local anesthesia, and what you should expect before your appointment.
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What Kinds of Liposuction Techniques are Available?
From power assisted liposuction to ultrasound assisted liposuction, there are many liposuction options that work as body contouring procedures or weight loss supplements. Each type has pros and cons depending on your goals and how much fat you need removed.
Traditional Liposuction
This type of liposuction surgical procedure is the most well-known and does an incredible job of removing unwanted fat from several areas of the body. Plastic surgeons provide patients with general anesthesia so they’re unconscious during the procedure, sucking away fat with a thin tube.
Traditional methods are often best for larger, more stubborn fat deposits. They work well to supplement diet and exercise by providing an aesthetic boost to a healthy lifestyle.
Tumescent Liposuction
This type of liposuction uses local anesthesia to provide small incisions on specific parts of the body for fat removal. Many people turn to tumescent liposuction to trim down fatty areas that aren’t responding to dieting or consistent exercise. Unlike the traditional approach, there’s no need to be unconscious during the procedure.
This suction assisted liposuction has a shorter recovery time and pairs well with complimentary cosmetic procedures like a tummy tuck or chemical peel. Some of the most popular areas to use tumescent liposuction are the abdomen, outer thighs, inner thighs, and upper arms.
Laser Assisted Liposuction Procedure
This surgery is unique compared to traditional liposuction since it doesn’t require anesthesia and is non-invasive. Also known as laser lipolysis, this treatment method involves melting fat cells to let your body absorb them naturally.
Another form of laser assisted liposuction involves making small incisions in the skin to insert a laser fiber to break down fat deposits.
Since these types of cosmetic surgery either don’t require needles or have minimal needles involved, it’s become more popular as a quick solution. They have a shorter recovery time compared to a classic liposuction procedure, though they’re not well-suited to removing larger fat deposits.
Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Surgery
Sometimes a medical professional needs the finer details before removing excess fat. With this procedure, they insert a cannula through the skin to emit ultrasound vibrations to liquify fat cells first.
Once they melt the fat cells, plastic surgeons will later suck them out to aid with body contouring or as a weight loss method.
Ultrasound assisted liposuction can be non-invasive above the skin or invasive beneath the skin, depending on how much fat needs removal.
Power Assisted Liposuction
There are many methods to reduce excess fat and gradually slim the body. Power assisted liposuction uses a motorized cannula that administers a vibrating technique to make it easier to break up fat cells, then penetrate deposits of fibrous fat.
This technique has grown popular since it reduces swelling and bruising around the affected area. When combined with skin tightening techniques to remove excess skin, the results can be truly transformative.
How Does Liposuction and Local Anesthesia Work?
Liposuction surgery works by removing fat deposits from specific parts of the body, such as the stomach, hips, or arms. Traditional liposuction techniques are an invasive surgery that usually require a patient to undergo general anesthesia to be asleep during the procedure.
However, other liposuction procedures only require anesthesia in a specific part of the body without the need to make the patient unconscious. This localized anesthesia, or local anesthesia, numbs the skin to eliminate any pain or discomfort as the surgeon melts and removes fat cells.
What Should I Expect for my Liposuction Treatment With Local Anesthesia?
Before your liposuction procedure, there are a few actions you need to take the week prior for success. We also have a few recommendations to improve your comfort levels and reduce anxiety.
Eat a Light Meal and Stay Hydrated
Unlike a liposuction procedure with general anesthesia that requires fasting the night before, you can eat a little food for a local anesthesia treatment. Make sure to grab a meal and drink some water the same day.
Stop Smoking the Week Before the Procedure
Since smoking cigarettes slows down blood circulation, it can also delay healing time after your liposuction surgery. You’ll need to stop smoking the week before and the week after for the best results.
Stop Taking Medications the Week Before the Procedure
Before you begin your liposuction procedure, you’ll need to bring a list of medications to your plastic surgeon for review. Some medications, such as aspirin or herbal medications, can increase your risk of blood thinning and blood clotting complications.
Even some vitamins, such as vitamin E supplements, can interfere with the blood clotting and wound healing needed after a liposuction procedure.
Do Breathing Exercises a Few Hours Before
It’s okay to be a little nervous before your procedure. To reduce anxiety, take several minutes to do deep breathing exercises by breathing in deeply through your nose, then breathing back out of your mouth.
Deep breathing exercises halt the mind’s fight-or-flight reflex to induce calm, putting you in a better frame of mind for your procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Liposuction with Local Anesthesia
When you’re ready to remove excess fat and enjoy long-lasting results, there’s a cosmetic procedure for you. We’ll answer a few common questions to help you understand your liposuction procedure better.
Is Liposuction Safe?
It’s understandable to be nervous about a surgical procedure, which is especially common if this is your first time. Whether you’re using power assisted liposuction or a traditional procedure, these surgeries are safe, reliable, and low-risk.
What are the Cons of Awake Liposuction?
While a liposuction procedure with local anesthesia does a great job of removing localized fat deposits, they’re not well-suited to larger fat removal. More intensive surgeries will usually need generalized anesthesia.
How Long is Awake Liposuction Recovery?
Since this type of aesthetic surgery is less invasive and causes less swelling, recovery time ranges from four to six weeks on average. Your plastic surgeons will provide post-treatment regimens to speed up recovery, such as diet and lifestyle recommendations.
Contact Us to Remove Unwanted Fat With a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Sanam Zahedi provides plastic surgery procedures to help patients remove fat and enjoy a rejuvenated appearance. When you’re ready for a liposuction procedure, contact us today for a consultation.
