Preparing for liposuction starts months in advance. Sometimes candidates cannot receive the treatment unless they are at a certain goal weight. Our Edmonton liposuction specialists offer tips and strategies to use ahead of your liposuction procedure.
Liposuction is a fat removal procedure used to help with weight loss and body shape. It is designed for the removal of fat deposits from particular areas of the body for people of a generally healthy weight. It is not the same as a tummy tuck or gastric bypass surgery, although liposuction can be used in conjunction with other treatments at our Edmonton clinic.
When To Consider Liposuction
You should consider liposuction if:
- You have localized areas of fat deposits that are disproportionate to the rest of your body
- You have good skin elasticity
- You want to improve your body contours
How to Prepare For Liposuction
If you are not at a healthy goal weight, your doctor may ask you to lose a few pounds before the procedure can move forward. Again, liposuction is for targeted fat deposits. If your skin elasticity is not good, you may need to discuss additional treatments like tummy tucks to get the overall results you want. However, skin elasticity is outside the scope of this article. We’ll focus on weight loss and general preparations.
If You Need to Lose Weight
First we’ll address the sticky issue of weight loss before your procedure. Liposuction is a great way to get rid of those last few pounds because it literally removes stubborn fat cells. Chances are if you are considering liposuction you are no stranger to weight loss. We do not recommend using a crash diet to lose extra weight before your procedure as the weight will most likely come back and it’s not healthy.
It may seem counterintuitive to lose weight on your own before a weight loss procedure like liposuction but there are a few reasons for it. First, healthy bodies heal better. If you are overweight but active and healthy, that’s fantastic. If you’re not, you may struggle to recover from surgery. Second, because liposuction is designed for fat removal from specific areas to help contour the body, if you are generally overweight it may make the procedure less effective. Further weight loss after liposuction may also affect the results. Not everyone needs to lose weight before liposuction, so consult with your surgeon first.
Healthy Habits
Regardless of your need to lose weight, before any major procedure you should invest in healthy lifestyle habits to ensure a smoother recovery later. You will need to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and quit smoking. You may also wish to begin cutting back on alcohol. Not only will this help your surgery go smoothly, it will help you maintain the beautiful results.
Be Proactive
As your liposuction procedure gets closer, you’ll need to start taking more directly related actions.
Go Shopping
Sadly, we don’t mean the fun kind of shopping, like for new clothes. You can do that after you’ve recovered and the swelling has gone down.
Instead, stock up on supplies you’ll need for recovery:
- Mild antibacterial soap
- Laxatives in case your pain medication has side effects
- Comfortable pajamas, preferably button up to minimize movement
- Books, magazines, and other entertainment (make sure your Netflix account is paid up to date!)
- You may wish to stock low-sodium foods to help minimize swelling.
Phone A Friend
Arrange for someone to drive you home from your procedure rather than taking public transportation or a cab. You may be out of sorts afterward and it is best to have someone familiar get you home. It is also helpful if they can stay with you during your initial recovery period, at least the first forty-eight hours, to help ensure you’re comfortable, reach things to minimize movement, and help make sure you’re healing properly.
The Week Before
You may have feelings of excitement and trepidation as your liposuction procedure gets closer. That’s okay! Here are some things to remember.
Don’t Shave!
Leave any areas being treated alone. Shaving could irritate the skin and allow for bacterial growth.
Stop Taking Medications
Consult with your doctor which medications you need to abstain from leading up to your surgery and for how long. This includes herbal supplements and vitamins.
Stop Smoking and Drinking
If you didn’t quit smoking completely, please abstain for the week leading up to your surgery. Also avoid alcohol. You’ll need to do this post-surgery as well. Alcohol has a blood-thinning effect that can be detrimental to healing, and smoking is one of the worst things you can while healing.
Are You Ready?
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, though there is nothing wrong with wanting to change yours. While liposuction is meant as a contouring procedure and to help remove stubborn pockets of fat; it is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.
If you are interested in a liposuction procedure, book a consultation with our friendly and knowledgeable surgeon to determine the right options for you. You can reach our team at 780-407-6691, or through our online contact form.