16 Questions Patients Ask About Liposuction

To this day, liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the United States. It marks the sweet spot between more invasive surgery on one end of the spectrum, and non-invasive treatments that often don’t yield immediate results on the other. At NuBody Concepts, we have performed over 7,000 liposuctions, and we have answered many questions about the procedure.

Below, we have compiled a list of common liposuction questions and answers:

Does liposuction hurt?

In contrast to old-school liposuction that utilizes mechanical force to break loose the fat cells, modern liposuction methods are much gentler as well as more effective. So-called tumescent liposuction uses the power of water to dislodge stubborn fat. Liposuction is minimally-invasive, meaning a patient is awake and comfortable during the procedure. As needed, a sedative can be added into the water to keep discomfort at a minimum, and a local anesthetic can be applied to the affected area. Before you undergo a liposuction procedure, you should discuss the desired level of sedation with your surgeon.

Is liposuction easier than other surgery?

The most gratifying thing for a plastic surgeon is to hear back from patients who rave about their new body and the new boost in confidence it gives them. Over the years of performing thousands of liposuctions in the Nashville area, the most common sentiment we have heard is “You have changed my life – I wish I had done it sooner!” or “I would do it again in a heartbeat, it was so easy!” It’s not an easy decision to undergo cosmetic surgery, and many women (and men) take months, if not years, to mull over their options. Once a patient has had their procedure, he or she is often surprised how easy it was.

Will the fat come back in other places?

Being able to permanently remove your belly fat sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Indeed, one of the most commonly asked questions is whether liposuction merely shifts the fat to other places in your body. The answer is no. Liposuction is a one-time procedure that removes fat cells from your body for good. If you have liposuction on your stomach, that area will contain less fat afterwards. The same goes for your thighs, your arms, your bra bulges. This doesn’t mean that after liposuction you can throw all caution to the wind and adopt an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Liposuction cannot prevent future fat cells from accumulating if you don’t continue to diet and exercise, but it does remove existing fat cells permanently.

Do I have to go to sleep during liposuction?

No. Liposuction methods may vary between surgeons, but most will apply a combination of water, laser, and radio frequency technology to dislodge fat cells and tighten the skin. All of these methods are minimally-invasive procedures that do not require general anesthesia. Any potential patient discomfort can be minimized with IV Sedation, but not all patients require sedation during their procedure.

Does Liposuction tighten the skin?

Liposuction is purely a fat removal procedure. If you are young and have not gone through pregnancy and childbirth, your skin should have enough elasticity to shrink back to your slimmer contours. But if you have lost skin elasticity due to age, extreme weight loss, or pregnancy, your skin is likely to stay stretched and produce wrinkles and folds after liposuction has removed the fat. Think of it like a shriveled balloon that has lost air. If you fall into this group, you should consider combining liposuction with skin tightening, such as BodyTite or Renuvion.

Can I go back to work the next day?

A typical liposuction procedure lasts about 2 hours. Afterwards, you can expect to resume your regular activities within 1-2 days. A number of our patients have gone back to work the day after having their liposuction procedure, but many take an extra day or two to fully recover. The recovery is swift and if you don’t feel any discomfort, there is no reason you can’t return to work. From a clinical standpoint, the only restriction your doctor will impose is that you cannot drive yourself home after your procedure if you’ve had any sedation.

How soon can I exercise after liposuction?

At NuBody Concepts, we advise our patients to start exercising gently one week post-op, but to lay off heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or strenuous exercise for 2 weeks.

When can I have sex after liposuction?

Many patients worry about having sex too soon after a procedure. Since liposuction involves no cutting or stitches of any kind, there is no concern that you might damage anything. However, you might experience slight discomfort, bruising, or swelling after your procedure. The same factors that might keep you from exercising too rigorously may also keep you from becoming intimate too soon. The bottom line is that you should listen to your body. When it feels comfortable, the time is right.

Will I need stitches with liposuction?

No. The marvel of today’s liposuction methods is that it involves no cutting, stapling, or stitches. The tiny incisions needed to operate the cannula are so insignificant that they are not sutured or stapled. Therefore, you heal easily and can resume most day to day activities within 24 hours.

When will I see the results?

By the time you come in for your follow-up visit 6-8 weeks after your procedure, you typically see 80%-90% of the results you will achieve, but individual cases vary. Most patients see immediate results after their procedure, however some post-operative swelling may temporarily reverse or obscure those results. To see your final results, you should give it 6 months.

Can I have liposuction if I am not done having children?

Yes. Liposuction does not interfere with having children in any way. The fat that is removed with liposuction will not come back to the treated area(s) even if you become pregnant.

Is Liposuction better than fat freezing?

Fat freezing such as CoolSculpting aims to freeze your fat cells in a series of treatments. Over the course of the weeks following each treatment, your body eliminates these fat cells through your bodily functions. With liposuction, the targeted fat cells are immediately gone after your procedure, and no repeat treatments are needed.You can expect to see better and more immediate results with liposuction.

Are patients happy after liposuction?

At NuBody Concepts we are proud to have built our legacy with honesty, a valuable trait lost in today’s world of false promises. Different body types warrant different results, and we pride ourselves on giving straight answers. If we do not think you will have the desired results, we will tell you upfront. Realistic expectations deliver realistic results and happier patients. Our integrity combined with the excellent work of our board-certified plastic surgeon and his 20 years of experience create the result patients are happy with.

Is the procedure done in this office?

You do not need to go to a hospital for liposuction or even most other plastic surgery procedures. At NuBody Concepts, all our procedures in the Nashville and Memphis areas are performed in our Brentwood or Germantown plastic surgery center, staffed with Registered Nurses and an in-house board-certified plastic surgeon.

Has the doctor done many liposuction procedures?

This is an excellent question you should ask wherever you have your consultation. In addition to surgical training, liposuction requires dexterity and a good sense of aesthetics. The longer your doctor’s experience, the more confident you can feel about your upcoming surgery. At NuBody Concepts, we have performed over 7,000 liposuctions at our Brentwood and Memphis offices, making us one of the leading liposuction providers in Tennessee. Our board-certified plastic surgeons have performed plastic surgery and body contouring procedures for over 20 years.

Did you have it done yourself?

This is another excellent question to ask at your personal consultation. At NuBody Concepts, all of our staff have benefited in one way or another from the services we offer, whether it’s liposuction, a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, or any of our aesthetic treatments. We will leave it to you to try and guess their secrets!

We hope that we have helped you better understand what a liposuction procedure entails. If you are ready to get started, use the pink button to schedule a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon in Nashville or Memphis.

If you are looking for liposuction in Nashville, please contact our Nashville Cosmetic Surgery Practice for a consultation. To schedule a consultation for liposuction in Memphis, please contact our Memphis Cosmetic Surgery Practice.