Understanding the Liposuction Procedure

What Is Liposuction and How Does It Work?

Liposuction is a body-contouring procedure that removes unwanted pockets of stubborn fat resistant to diet and exercise. It's important to understand that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure; you can't use it as a shortcut to dramatic weight loss or as a substitute for healthy lifestyle habits. Rather, the procedure is designed to improve your figure by eliminating localized fatty deposits from almost any part of your body, creating a more sculpted, toned appearance that reflects the effort you've put into maintaining your health.

Dr. Schiesel can perform liposuction on numerous areas of the body, including the:

• Abdomen (including lower belly, upper abdomen, and love handles)
• Upper arms where bat wings or sagging skin appear
• Back, including bra bulge and lower back rolls
• Hips and outer thighs (saddlebags)
• Inner and outer thighs
• Chest for male breast reduction

During your complimentary initial consultation, Dr. Schiesel will listen to your aesthetic concerns and discuss all of your treatment options to help you understand which areas would benefit most from liposuction.

Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) for Superior Results

Dr. Schiesel offers power-assisted liposuction (PAL), an advanced technique that provides superior results with reduced trauma and faster recovery. The PAL technique uses a thin, hollow, vibrating instrument called a cannula to break up stubborn fat deposits, enabling a more complete removal of unwanted fatty tissue. The rapid vibration of the cannula gently loosens fat cells, making them easier to suction out while causing less damage to surrounding tissues, such as blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

In addition to helping remove a larger amount of fatty tissue more efficiently, PAL may offer numerous benefits to our Tulsa liposuction patients, including less damage to surrounding tissue which promotes faster healing, smaller incisions that result in minimal scarring, decreased risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery, reduced postoperative pain and discomfort compared to traditional liposuction, fewer complications overall, and a shorter recovery period so you can return to your normal activities sooner.

Of course, each person responds differently to liposuction, but PAL reduces trauma at the incision site and during fat cell removal, which can make it a more comfortable and less risky way to shape and tone your frame.

Meet with an Expert Liposuction Doctor Near You

The Liposuction Procedure: What to Expect

Dr. Schiesel performs liposuction as an outpatient procedure, which allows you to begin your recovery in the comfort of your own home. There are several factors that can affect how long your customized procedure lasts. Your treatment time depends on the location of your procedure, the number of areas you choose to target, as well as the amount of fat you'd like to remove. Most liposuction procedures take between 1 and 3 hours, depending on these factors.

To minimize discomfort, anesthesia will be administered before your surgery. You'll learn more about your anesthesia options prior to surgery and work with Dr. Schiesel to determine the best approach for your comfort and well-being, which may include general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, depending on the extent of your procedure.

After making small, strategically placed incisions in the region from which fat will be removed, a tumescent formula made of epinephrine, lidocaine, and adrenaline will be injected into the treatment area. This specialized solution serves multiple important purposes: it helps break up the stubborn pocket of fat, minimizes bruising, significantly reduces bleeding, and delivers localized anesthesia to the treated area for improved comfort both during and after the procedure. Dr. Schiesel will then use the power-assisted vibrating cannula to carefully suction out the unwanted fat cells from your targeted areas, sculpting your body to create smooth, natural-looking contours.

Recovery and Returning to Normal Activity

Because of the anesthesia's lingering effects, you'll need to arrange a ride home from someone after your procedure. We also advise that you ask someone to stay at home with you for the remainder of the day to help you get settled and comfortable. You should plan to get plenty of rest on your first day of recovery and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Mild swelling and bruising are common after surgery, but these effects will eventually diminish over the first two to four weeks of recuperation. You'll be given a compression garment to wear over the treatment areas during this time to help manage swelling, reduce fluid accumulation, support your tissues as they heal, and hold your skin to its new contours. It's essential to wear this garment as directed for optimal results.

Any pain you may experience following liposuction surgery is usually minimal. Dr. Schiesel will discuss your pain medication options and prescribe appropriate medications to help you manage discomfort during the first stage of your recuperation. She will schedule follow-up visits at several intervals throughout your recovery to ensure the process is on track and address any concerns you may have. While everyone heals at their own pace, most patients can usually return to work after about a week, though this timeline may vary depending on the extent of your procedure and the physical demands of your job.

While it's important to get plenty of rest following your procedure, we encourage you to start walking gently as soon as you can. Light movement facilitates healthy blood flow, reduces your risk of problems like blood clots, and helps minimize swelling. During the first couple of weeks of your recovery, you should begin to gradually increase your level of activity. In the majority of recoveries, it is safe to resume most daily routines after about two weeks.

Although many patients are eager to get back to their regular exercise routines as quickly as possible to maintain their liposuction results, we urge you to be patient and focus on your healing first. In order to prevent complications with your recovery and healing, avoid exercise and other strenuous activities for about four to six weeks. Dr. Schiesel will inform you when you are allowed to resume vigorous exercise based on your individual healing progress.

Your Results: Timeline and Maintenance

Much as you need to be patient with your return to exercise after surgery, you'll also need to be patient with your liposuction results. Typically, you won't see your initial results for a few weeks due to swelling and fluid retention. As your swelling continues to subside, you will also see your results continue to improve. It can take up to three or four months before fully enjoying your final results as the last of the swelling resolves and your skin retracts to conform to your new body contours.

Once liposuction eliminates unwanted fat cells, those cells are gone forever. Fat cells do not regenerate, which means the treated areas will have permanently fewer fat cells. However, this doesn't prevent remaining fat cells from expanding or new fat cells from developing if you gain weight. To maintain your new figure and enjoy long-lasting results, it's essential to commit to healthy nutrition and an exercise routine. The best way to ensure your liposuction results are long-lasting is to commit to a healthy lifestyle that involves diligent exercise and a nutritious diet.