How to Get Ready for Liposuction
So you’ve taken a deep breath and decided to have liposuction. Congratulations! In our view, there’s no more effective way to banish those fatty deposits many of us seem to have courtesy of genetics. When you have tried diets, Pilates and gym workouts to no avail, you’ll know that certain areas of your body seem to welcome fat cells to stay for the long haul no matter what you do. Liposuction can change all that with a few hours of surgery time, a few days of initial recovery and a few weeks of final shaping up.
Here are some steps you can take to assure you have a good experience and a great outcome.
Choosing Your Plastic Surgeon
Whether you live in a small town or a city like New York, your liposuction surgeon is the most important decision you’ll make. Since liposuction is so popular, you may think just about any cosmetic surgeon will do—but it’s not the case. It takes skill and experience to remove just enough fat so skin and other remaining tissues don’t sag. Also, it’s not necessarily easy to sculpt a smooth layer under the skin and avoid hills and valleys.
If you live near us or would like to travel, we would welcome you to our offices in New York. Liposuction has been a specialty of our practice for thirty years, and we’d be delighted to give you the benefit of all we’ve learned in working with a diverse group of men and women during that time. If you have your procedure elsewhere, we urge you to choose a highly experienced liposuction surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The Weeks Before Liposuction
With your surgery date on the calendar, there are some things you can do to get ready. Make sure you’ve spoken with your cosmetic surgeon about ALL your medications, even herbal supplements and vitamins. There may be some you should stop taking temporarily.
It’s a good idea to consider ways to boost your health. If you smoke, now is a great time to stop! Your body will heal more quickly and you’ll feel even better after surgery if you quit cigarettes for good. In any case, your doctor will have you stop smoking at least a short time before and after surgery, so even tapering off now would be helpful. And unfortunately, this is not the time to use a nicotine patch, gum or other aids. It’s the nicotine that’s the culprit in affecting surgical outcomes—not the way it’s delivered.
It’s also a great time to pay attention to your diet. If you’re tempted to restrict calories in the pre-op period, don’t. Eat balanced meals with plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables so your system will be ready to heal. You should also watch your alcohol intake as surgery draws near.
Just Before Your Procedure
When the big day is just around the corner, there will be several things you can do to prepare for a smooth recovery. These include:
• Filling new prescriptions and making sure you have plenty of regular meds too
• Arranging for someone to pick you up after surgery and stay with you overnight
• Stocking the refrigerator with easy-to-prepare food
• Tidying up the house and changing linens so you return to a comfortable home
• Gathering books, movies, music and other supplies to help you rest easily
Your plastic surgeon and his or her staff will give you even more details, including how to wash the night before surgery, whether or not you can shave and much more. We can’t stress enough how important it is to follow these instructions very closely.
Liposuction in New York with Us
Our long history with liposuction includes early training alongside one of the pioneers of the procedure decades ago. We have refined our technique over time and developed and patented our own instruments. In addition, we work with almost as many men as we do women, and we’re well acquainted with the physical and psychological needs of both sexes.
Given these credentials, and the hundreds of liposuction procedures we perform annually, we are also considered a go-to practice for revision liposuction.
Are we the right choice for you? One way to find out is through a consultation, in person or by phone. Send in our quick contact form and we’ll get right back to you.
