Lipo FAQ

Below are answers to some of the common questions about Lipo. Please keep in mind that every Lipo case is unique and therefore these should only be taken as a general guideline. For specific details about your case, please schedule a consultation with a Lipo specialist near you.

Do I Really Have To Wear Compression Garments After My Lipo?

After their surgery, most Lipo patients are required to wear some sort of elastic compression garment. Many patients are less than enthusiastic about this, because the garments can be irritating or uncomfortable to wear. They also frequently look funny because they're intended for function, not beauty. However, they are very important to wear, because they help assist in the healing process after Lipo surgery.

Compression garments can help a Lipo patients to reduce bleeding and swelling. They can also help assist in the post-surgery draining process. The faster fluid exits the body, the better and more quickly the body will be able to recover, and the more quickly post-surgery swelling will go down. The pressure supplied by compression garments help encourage excess fluids to leave the body as quickly as possible shortening the healing time after a Lipo.

How Long Do I Have To Wear Compression Garments After My Lipo?

The amount of time that you will need to wear a compression garment after your Lipo will depend greatly on what went on during your surgery. The biggest factor is whether or not your Lipo doctor stitched your incision sites shut. If the incisions were left open, you will probably only need to wear your garment for a few days. The rule of thumb is: you can remove your compression garment 24 hours after your incisions have completely stopped draining.

If your Lipo surgeon chooses to close your incisions, then you will have to wear a garment for a much longer time. Sewing the incisions shut traps excess fluid in the body for much longer, which thus requires a longer time spent wearing the garment. If your Lipo surgeon closed your incisions, you will probably have to wear the garment for somewhere between 2 and 6 weeks.

If you do not wear your compression garments for the full time specified by your Lipo doctor, you could experience complications including lengthier healing time, less pleasing results and more serious health issues. The most basic rule regarding the wearing of compression garments after Lipo is to do what your doctor says. Your Lipo surgeon will know what the proper length of time is, and he or she can give you more detailed instructions on how to best recover from your Lipo.

Does It Matter How Much Experience My Lipo Surgeon Has?

An experienced and skilled Lipo surgeon understands the process of creating beauty and knows how to maximize a patient's results. Experienced surgeons are also much better equipped to deal with possible complications than newer and less skilled doctors. Frequently, a tried and true surgeon using an old Lipo technique can get better results more safely than an inexperienced surgeon with the latest and greatest technology.

How Can I Find Out How Much Experience My Lipo Surgeon Has?

One easy first step is to check and make sure that your Lipo surgeon is board certified. If your Lipo surgeon has received certification from the American Board of Plastic surgery, then you already know a number of things. For example, you know that the Lipo doctor graduated from a reputable medical school and that he or she has completed a five year residency. You know that he or she has had specific training in cosmetic surgery, and isn't just someone who does Lipo on the side. Doctors who have actually studied cosmetic surgery and aesthetics or have had several years of experience performing Lipo tend to perform much better Lipos than those who have not. One can frequently find this out from a Lipo doctor's website or by simply calling their practice.

Another good way to check out a Lipo doctor is to go in for a consultation. While you are there, be sure to ask a lot of questions. If you are proactive, you can find out a lot. Ask how many times the doctor has performed the specific procedure that you are going to undergo. Has the doctor received special training in this method of Lipo? If you can find someone who specializes in the type of Lipo or the body area that you wish to have operated on, your results will typically be much better.

During the initial consultation is a good idea to ask your Lipo doctor approximately how many Lipo procedures they have performed in the past and how many Lipo surgeries they currently perform a week.

The office visit is also a good time to ask to look at Lipo before and after pictures of their patients. While you should remain cautious, this can be a highly useful exercise. You can sometimes tell if a Lipo doctor's patients seem to have excessive bruising or swelling, or if they have a lumpy or unpleasing appearance. These can be signs of inexperience. However, remember that some Lipo doctors only show their best pictures, which means that your operation may not turn out exactly like the photos. Feel free to ask how often there are complications and how frequently people are dissatisfied with this doctor. You may also be able to find more about the Lipo doctor's reputation by googling their name and "reviews".

One final indicator that may help you know whether a Lipo surgeon is a good choice is if he or she has privileges at a bona fide, accredited hospital. Your Lipo surgeon may perform some of his or her minor surgeries in a private office, as this is both cost-effective and can help with confidentiality. However, if your Lipo surgeon doesn't have a good reputation and a good relationship with a local hospital, and if he doesn't have the ability to perform surgery there, that may be a sign to keep looking. The best cosmetic surgeons typically have full privileges at a hospital near them or own the clinics where they operate.

What Is Skin Elasticity and What Does It Have To Do With Lipo?

A person with elastic skin has tight-fitting skin that doesn't appear to have excess wrinkles or bags. One way to test your own skin elasticity is to pinch a section of skin on the back of your hand for several seconds and then let go. The longer your skin takes to go back to being flat, the less elastic your skin is.

Skin elasticity is determined by a number of factors. It is partly genetic, and it tends to be connected to age. Older people tend to have less elastic skin than young people. Also, people who have previously been obese but who have lost significant amounts of weight tend to have less elastic skin.

Because Lipo removes excess fat, it tends to work best on people with highly elastic skin. In people with relatively elastic skin, the skin contracts over time and adapts to the new smaller form of the patient. This leaves the site of Lipo with a trimmer and more streamlined appearance. Sometimes, if a person has extremely inelastic skin, or if a person already has wrinkly folds of excess skin, then Lipo can exacerbate this problem.

Patients who have large amounts of excess skin, but who nonetheless wish to lose fat through Lipo should consider whether they think the improved appearance due to weight loss would outweigh the possibility of a slight increase of excess skin. During consultation you can ask your Lipo surgeon if he or she thinks that you may have a problem with excess skin; additionally your Lipo surgeon to recommend additional treatments that address this problem.

What If I'm Too Scared To Get Lipo?

If you are planning to get Lipo but are afraid that you might be too nervous and anxious, talk to your Lipo surgeon and ask if he or she would be willing to prescribe something for you to take. Similarly, if you know that you have a history of depression, anxiety or panic attacks, it would be best to alert your Lipo surgeon as to this fact. If you are already taking anti-anxiety medication, make sure that you tell your Lipo surgeon this so that he or she can know what type of medication to give you.

Some people have an extreme phobia about needles. Given that needles figure very prominently in Lipo, some people worry that they will be unable to undergo the Lipo procedure. Most people can overcome this fear enough to get through surgery with the help of mild anti-anxiety medications. However, a small number of patients simply can't get over their fear of needles. These patients sometimes choose to have general anesthesia during their Lipo. This increases the risks and the costs of Lipo surgery, but for some patients it is worth it.

Is It True That Lipo Can Cure Metabolic Disorders?

Obese people, especially those who carry a severe excess of weight around their abdomen, frequently experience metabolic problems. These metabolic issues can lead to high blood pressure, reduced levels of high density lipo-proteins, and a host of other health issues. Traditional thought has held that these metabolic problems can only be solved through regular exercise and healthy dieting. However, some doctors are beginning to wonder if simply removing the fat can also help. These doctors suggest that abdominal Lipo can help treat this metabolic syndrome. They reason that once the excess fat has been removed, the body will stop the production of the chemicals which cause obesity-related metabolic issues.

Unfortunately, while several international studies suggest this positive link between abdominal Lipo and metabolic syndrome, many United States doctors remain skeptical. One United States doctor stated, "Rarely do we find that international studies that are not repeated in the U.S. offered findings that are really noteworthy." While similar studies have been performed in the United States, doctors point out that these studies are not entirely reliable because of either their size or duration.

Most doctors seem to agree that exercise and a healthy diet are the safest and best way to lose weight and improve one's metabolic health. Nevertheless, exercise can be difficult for those suffering from extreme obesity. Similarly, some people are genetically predisposed to storing excess abdominal fat, and find it difficult or even impossible to lose significant weight by themselves. In these cases, Lipo could possibly help patients begin their path back to health.