Setting yourself up for success before surgery can help you achieve the greatest and most long-lasting results after your liposuction procedure. Once you have selected your trusted board-certified plastic surgeon, your next steps will be focused on how best to care for your body and mind ahead of your procedure. When questioning what to expect when preparing for my lipo-surgery, take these strategic tips into consideration:

Achieving your target goal weight. Making sure you lose weight in a healthy way with diet and exercise and hitting your target weight prior to surgery. Patients will be expected to be within a healthy (body mass index) before undergoing the procedure. Liposuction is not intended for weight loss but rather to treat stubborn pockets of fat that will not reduce despite the best efforts of exercise and nutrition. Ideal candidates will have lost most of the weight and fat on their own and will maintain a stable weight in preparation for liposuction. 

Build muscle. Along with maintaining weight loss, it is suggested to build muscle. Toning the underlying muscles will aid in providing a leaner and slimmer contour. Good muscle tone will also improve your strength and accelerate recovery for better and quicker healing. If muscles have already been developing under the surface, suctioning away fat will reveal the hard work that was already done prior to surgery. 

Quit smoking. It is always a good idea to quit smoking for numerous health benefits but ditching the nicotine before cosmetic surgery is a necessary requirement. Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, limiting blood flow and cutting off circulation. Blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues that are trying to heal. The oxygen starving effects of just one cigarette can last up to 8 hours. Mixing nicotine with plastic surgery can cause permanent small blood vessel damage, thick scarring, increased pain, infections, loss of skin, delayed healing, increased pain, and life-threatening complications. 

Avoid anti-inflammatory or over-the-counter supplements. To avoid the complications and risks inherent to liposuction, it is vital that patients cease taking medications or other substances that can impair the blood from clotting normally. Examples include aspirin and ibuprofen, along with other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which bind to blood platelets and prevent blood coagulation. Vitamin E, herbal remedies, and birth control can have similar effects as well. As always, consult with your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking or plan to take prior to surgery.  

Prepare your home and arrange recovery care. From meal prepping to transportation home, take the necessary time to prepare for all the ways you need to be cared for after liposuction. Schedule time off from work and activities to ensure proper rest and healing time. Have a loved one available to help assist you in the hours and days after surgery as you adjust to soreness and swelling. Keep yourself hydrated and follow the surgeon’s instruction for post-operative care including the use of compression garments and prescription pain relief.  

Set realistic expectations. Physically your body will undergo a process to eliminate fat and sculpt your physique to a more desirable shape. However, your results will not be completely visible until several weeks or months as your body heals. 

If you are interested in learning about the benefits of liposuction and how this may be a great option for you, contact David W. Allison, MD by calling 703-754-8228 or visiting online at WEBSITE.