Liposuction - Related FAQ's

Q: I am wearing my compression garment for the third week after liposuction. It’s not as tight as it was the first week after surgery. Is this from the garment stretching out after multiple washings?

A: Initially after liposuction there is swelling and then as you heal, especially after the second to fourth week, the swelling decreases so much that you may need a smaller size of a compression garment to maintain good pressure.

Q: I have a fat face. Can I have liposuction to make it thinner?

A: Is it fat or enlarged muscle? How can the face be treated while leaving it in proportion to your neck and body? Liposuction has been done on cheeks and jowls but there is a rare risk of nerve injury. Bruising and swelling can be considerable. Scarring is rare but not impossible. There are other risks that would need to be discussed by your surgeon prior to you agreeing to have it done.

Q: Can I have liposuction on the love handles and an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) at the same time?

A: Yes you may but there is a slightly greater risk of a serious pulmonary fat embolus by combining both treatments. Speak to your surgeon to understand this.

Q: Can liposuction be done without all that fluid going in and then creating unusual puffiness?

A: This would not be safe. The tumescent liposuction was a major breakthrough in safety as there was much less bleeding during the procedure. Dr. Jeffrey Klein invented this technique and it was extremely innovative. Not using a large volume and dilute anesthetic would increase the risk of bleeding, and limit how much anesthetic could be used.

Q: My friend had liposuction with a tummy tuck and now has a seroma needing a drain. Is this common?

A: A seroma is a rare but well known complication that can occur after surgery through the fatty tissue layers. The seroma is a collection of clear fluid, serum, and eventually stops as the wall of the tissue around the seroma closes down on to itself and seals the area. The drain allows for the fluid to stop. Compression garments may be recommended. If there is not enough slowing of the fluid accumulation, the surgeon may sclerose the cavity by injecting a chemical, sometimes something like an antibiotic that irritates the lining. The inflammation makes the body produce collagen and this “seals up the cavity”. Occasionally this doesn’t work with even a repeated effort and surgery may need to be done.

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