Liposuction - Related FAQ's

Q: My friend is having liposuction for her tummy. I’m trying to convince her to just keep working out but she won’t listen. Is she making a mistake?

A: Many women and men have inherited a tendency to gain weight in a certain location, whether the hips, outer thighs, lower abdomen, despite exercise and diet! They can try do do 1,000 sit-ups a day and that tummy won’t flatten. The fat cells there are under a different hormonal influence. Liposuction removes a significant amount of those fat cells and the body can obtain the desired shape. Diet and exercise continues to maintain good health and shape.

Q: It’s been four weeks since SmartLipo and I have a lot of bumps on my belly. Can I have these injected with steroid to reduce the swelling?

A: You need to see your surgeon to evaluate your condition. You may have swelling that is concentrated in some areas or you may have residual fat. It is too early, though, to consider revising your lumps. If you were instructed to wear compression garments, then continue to do so. Your surgeon will probably tell you to wait several weeks or months and return for followup examination. Endermologie and Velashape lymphatic massage may help but your surgeon must approve of this.

Q: I had liposuction one month ago and still see some irregularities. My surgeon recommended deep tissue massage. Why?

A: Swelling is normal after liposuction and deep tissue massage can help reduce this temporarily. It can be done with Endermologie or Velashape and other devices. Usually it resolves spontaneously without help, and compression garments help, but these deep tissue massages expedite the resolution. External ultrasound and other techniques have been used also.

Q: How long after abdominal liposuction do patients have to wait before having sexual intercourse?

A: After a couple of days there isn’t much of a concern with increasing bruising, but you’ll have to ask your surgeon based on the amount of liposuction, was there much bleeding (usually, not much), was this a second surgery in the same area working in scar tissue which might make it more sore? These are some of the variables the surgeon will contemplate when answering your question. The openings through which the liposuction cannulae are passed for the liposuction could theoretically get infected if there is much friction or if the incisions get soiled so these need to be healed well, or at least protected, before you traumatize these areas.

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