Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction

Also known as lipoplasty, liposuction in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits, improving your body contours and proportion, and ultimately, enhancing your self-image. Despite good health and a reasonable level of fitness, some people may still have a body with disproportionate contours due to localized fat deposits. These areas may be due to family traits rather than a lack of weight control or fitness. Are you ready to learn more about your options for liposuction? Request a consultation online, or call 651-739-1100 to speak with someone from our team today. Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits, improving your body contours and proportion, and ultimately, enhancing your self-image. Liposuction techniques may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the:

•   Thighs
•   Hips and buttocks
•   Abdomen and waist
•   Upper arms
•   Back
•   Inner knee
•   Chest area
•   Cheeks, chin and neck
•   Calves and ankles

In some cases, liposuction is performed alone, in other cases it is used with plastic surgery procedures such as a facelift, breast reduction, or a tummy tuck. What it won’t do: Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite, the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips, and buttocks, or loose saggy skin.

The success and safety of your Minneapolis-St. Paul liposuction procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires, and lifestyle.

Be prepared to discuss:

•   Why you want the surgery, your expectations, and desired outcome
•   Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
•   Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
•   Previous surgeries

Your surgeon may also:

•   Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
•   Take photographs for your medical record
•   Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
•   Discuss likely outcomes of liposuction and any risks or potential complications

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

•   Get lab testing or medical evaluations
•   Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
•   Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
•   Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Special instructions you receive will cover:

•   What to do on the day of surgery
•   The use of anesthesia during your liposuction
•   Post-operative care and follow-up

If your liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery

What happens during liposuction?

Step 1 – Anesthesia

This procedure is performed under general anesthesia.

Step 2 – The incision

Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions. First, a sterile liquid solution is infused to reduce bleeding and trauma. Then a thin hollow tube, or cannula, is inserted through these incisions 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.

Step 3 – See the results

Your improved body contour will be apparent when the swelling and fluid retention commonly experienced following liposuction subside. With continued practices of healthy diet and fitness, the loss of excess fatty tissue should be permanently maintained. However, substantial weight gain can alter an otherwise permanent result.

The decision to have liposuction is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. Dr. Rocheford and her staff will explain, in detail, the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

•   Uneven contours
•   The use of anesthesia during your liposuction
•   Rippling or loose skin
•   Skin or nerve damage
•   Irregular pigmentation
•   Infection
•   Fat clots
•   Blood clots
•   Excessive fluid loss or fluid accumulation
•   Unfavorable scarring
•   Thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound with the ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty technique
•   Anesthesia risks
•   Bleeding (hematoma)
•   Change in skin sensation
•   Skin discoloration or swelling
•   Asymmetry
•   Pain, which may persist
•   Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, and abdominal organs
•   Poor wound healing
•   Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
•   The possibility of revisional surgery

If you are bothered by excess fat deposits – located anywhere on your body – that don’t respond to diet or exercise, liposuction in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, may be right for you.

Ideal candidates for liposuction are:

•   Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin, and good muscle tone
•   Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
•   Non-smokers
•   Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring

Be sure to ask questions: It’s very important to ask Dr. Rocheford questions about your liposuction procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with her.

Following Dr. Rocheford’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. She will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

Once your procedure is completed, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas. These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours. In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid. You will be given specific instructions that may include: How to care for the surgical site(s), medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with Dr. Rocheford. A special note: Secondary procedures may sometimes be recommended to reduce excess skin. Special considerations are needed when large amounts – usually more than 5 liters of fat – are suctioned. Be sure to ask Dr. Rocheford specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

•   Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
•   What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
•   Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
•   When will they be removed?
•   Are stitches removed? When?
•   When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
•   When do I return for follow-up care?

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

It may take several months for the swelling to fully dissipate. As it does, your new contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop. The fulfillment you feel from the initial results of liposuction should continue as long as you control your weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A significant weight gain can reverse your results. Following liposuction, your slimmer and better-proportioned body should more accurately reflect the healthy and active life you lead.

• Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation
• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
• Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?
• How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
• If so, at which hospitals?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my body to look over time? After pregnancy?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my liposuction?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?