Liposuction
Liposuction or liposculpture in Plastic Surgery Tijuana is a safe and effective way, to help remove stubborn body fat from various parts of the body, which cannot be shifted or removed with either diet or exercise.
Prior to surgery, the areas to be suctioned are carefully marked, with the areas requiring the most suction highlighted. Fluid is then infiltrated into the areas, which works to reduce the bleeding and to facilitate the suctioning of the fat.
Various techniques are available for the suction process. Dr. Rafael Camberos utilizes small cannulas for liposuction, which minimize the length of the incision scars and which, he feels, reduces the possibility of irregular results.
Liposuction leaves three- to four-millimeter scars which are placed in the natural skin lines or creases to minimize their appearance.
About The Procedure
Our surgeon performs liposuction as an outpatient procedure using general anesthetic or local anesthetic with sedation. The unwanted fat is injected with a large volume of tumescent solution that contains saline, lidocaine, and adrenaline to make the areas firm and numb and to inhibit bleeding.
Dr. Camberos then inserts a narrow, metal tube called a cannula through small incisions and carefully sculpts the area by vacuuming out the fat. Once fat removal is complete, your surgeon closes the tiny incisions with surgical tape or sutures.
The anesthetic contained in the tumescent solution relieves pain for about 12 to 24 hours after surgery.
After The Procedure
Following the procedure, the suctioned area will feel bruised, but oral pain relief is adequate to control this. The resolution of bruising and wound healing will come in a week and a half to two weeks after surgery.
If you work in an office, you may return to work in one week, and two weeks if your work is more physical. You may resume low-impact activity immediately after surgery, but should wait two weeks to resume high-impact physical activity.
Liposuction Information
For more information about liposuction, request a consultation online. Or you can call our office at +1 (619) 598 – 2517 and one of our helpful staff members will schedule your appointment.
- STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. It is best to avoid smoking, second hand smoke and cigarette replacements, such as nicotine patches or gum, in the perioperative period. While you should ideally stop smoking for 2 weeks before and after your surgical procedure, YOU MUST NOT SMOKE FOR A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS BEFORE AND 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY.
- TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your surgery.
- TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.
- START TAKING AN IRON SUPPLEMENT: A good iron supplement, such as Feosol, is required starting one week before surgery and four weeks following surgery. Bowel movements may appear darker than usual as a result. Feosol is available without prescription.
- DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
- LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.
- FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of surgery and bring them with you.
- CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at +1 (619) 598 – 2517.
- PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.
- CLEANSING: The night before surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase II I.
- EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight except for a small amount of water to rinse your mouth while brushing your teeth.
- SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning.
- ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
- CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase Ill.
- MAKE-UP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.
- CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. NO TIGHT PANTS. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.
- CHECK IN/PREPARATION: Surgery Time:
- You should plan to arrive 45 minutes earlier than your scheduled surgery time. Patients less than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. When you arrive at our office on the day of your surgery, give the receptionist the phone number of the pharmacy you would like us to call for any special medications our surgeon and associates might prescribe.
- CARETAKER: Someone must spend the first night after surgery with you.
First, you must understand the normal progress after liposuction.
- It is normal to feel weak and tired during the first 3 to 5 days after the surgery. So, it is normal to get all your body, especially your hands, arms, legs, feet and genitals, swollen.
- You are going to drain fluid through your wounds for at least 3 days after surgery which could be abundant, mostly the first 24 hours. Do not worry in case of seeing blood tinged fluid and being wet during the first days after surgery.
- Having all the operated and surrounding areas bruised is a normal part of the progress, this will disappear after the next 2 or 3 weeks.
- At the beginning, it is probable that you do not like the shape of your body due to the swelling. It is necessary to wait at least 1 month to see a better shape.
- It takes several weeks to feel the skin soft and natural. It is normal to feel different sensations in your skin as itching, numbness, burning, tingling, pins and needles. You will recover the normal sensation slowly during the first year after surgery.
- It is necessary to rest at home at least 2 weeks after surgery. Going out to parties, to the mall and sporting events is prohibited.
- Avoid staying in bed all day long. It is necessary to walk in your house to move around it, like going to the living room, bathroom, etc. You can go up and down the stairs carefully as many times as needed.
- It is necessary to be helped to take showers the first 3 days after surgery.
- Eat any food you normally eat.
- Drink alcoholic beverages only after you have stopped taking your pain medications.
- Do not smoke for 6 weeks after surgery.
- Do not lift objects up to 10 pounds during the first 2 weeks.
- Do not run, jump or perform any other vigorous physical activity for 6 weeks.
- Take a shower every day, wash your wounds carefully with water and soap.
- Wear your post-surgery compression girdle at least 6 weeks after surgery 24/7. Remove your surgical girdle only during the shower.