Tips To Prepare For Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat from different areas of the body. If you are one of the many thousands of people considering, or going for liposuction here are some tips to help you prepare for the body altering experience.

Financial Preparation. Most insurance companies or policies do not cover liposuction as it is considered cosmetic surgery. So you will have to consider and plan for other means of payment. Liposuction prices vary depending on the body area (abdominal liposuction being the most common), amount of fat to be removed and the number of areas on the body where liposuction will occur. Liposuction for men is usually more expensive than for women. Whatever the variances, make sure that you are aware of all costs involved. These could include plastic surgeon fees, anesthetists’ fees, facility fees, lab testing fees and cost of using facility clothing (gowns etc). There are also different liposuction techniques like ultrasound liposuction (which liquefies the fat before it is removed) which is usually more expensive. Ensure that you get full information on liposuction costs from your doctor during consultation. Then plan your payment so you don’t have to worry about it during or after the procedure.

Physical Preparation. To prepare for the surgery physically, certain medication must be avoided. These include birth control pills, herbal medication, aspirin, Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen), and any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents for 10 or more days before your procedure as this affects bleeding during and after surgery. You should however discuss this with your doctor. If you smoke you need to stop before and after the surgery as it can lead to infections and also affects blood flow.

Mental Preparation. Getting yourself mentally prepared for liposuction is more tricky. The more realistic your expectations are of the liposuction surgery, risks and effects after surgery, the better mentally prepared you will be. Ensure that you are aware of all the risks involved. Although the risks for liposuction are minimal ensure that you discuss with your doctor based on your health, medical history etc.

Be prepared by understanding what the after effects are so you know what to expect. Don’t expect the areas where you have had liposuction to look wonderful immediately. You will only see results of the liposuction after about three or four months. You can expect bruising, swelling and bleeding, pain and discomfort, dents or lumps in the skin, nausea or vomiting if you have had general anesthetic. While these can be expected you should contact your doctor if there is severe pain or excessive bleeding or signs of infection like redness at the treated area and fever.

You should also plan for recovery time which varies from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the number of areas and amount of fat removed. Make special arrangements for travel to and from the hospital. For peace of mind ensure that chores, children and other responsibilities are planned for before you go for surgery. That way you can concentrate on recovery.

Besides preparing yourself you should also prepare your family or loved ones. Explain risks and procedure, length of operation to spouse and children so that they can also be mentally prepared about The cost of liposuction ranges which may be out of budget but the result of it is considerable after seeing the pricing. Explain the affects and what you will need for recovery so that they go along with any special arrangements you have made.

There are alternatives to liposuction so ensure you have looked at all the options available. Lipodissolve and Meso therapy are procedures which involve injections of medication and other substances that dissolve or melt fat in the body which is then passed through urine. Thermage® uses heated lasers to tighten collagen in the body. For more information on these procedures see www.docshop.com

Once you looked at all the options, know all the risks and what to expect after the procedure you can feel more secure in your decision to have liposuction. It may not be the most comfortable procedure to undergo but being adequately prepared can make for an easier, less stressful experience.