What to Expect When You Meet
With a Liposuction Specialist

Advice: Meet with more than one doctor. Trust your instincts. Choose the one whose professionalism and results give you the most confidence.

The consultation is a very important time for you and a doctor. It is your opportunity to discuss your areas of concern, expectations, and goals. Your plastic surgeon will also assess your skin tone to identify whether you will benefit from the surgery and, if he or she thinks it’s wise to proceed. The surgeon will then explain what methods of body contouring will work best for you. He or she will then take a medical history, measure your body mass index and assess your state of mind. The purpose is to identify any conditions or issues that may affect your ability to benefit from liposuction. The doctor will also describe the pre-op visit, the procedure, and post-operative care. Be sure to take notes during your consultation in case you or a family member has questions later.

Questions to ask your plastic surgeon.

The questions below are only a starting point. As you consider all the aspects of the surgery, additional questions will occur to you. Remember, there are no silly questions. Be sure to bring a written list so you get all your questions answered.

• What are the risks and complications associated with liposuction?
• What results can I expect?
• What type of anesthesia does the physician recommend for my procedure? Why?
• How long will it take for me to heal? How long will it take before I can go back to work or resume my normal activities?
• What alternate procedures to surgery are available?
• What are my options if I’m not satisfied with the results?
• May I please see your before and after pictures?
• What will the procedure cost?

Making the most of your liposuction pre-op visit.

This is the appointment shortly before your surgery date when your physician will get a clearer picture about your current health and when you can voice any concerns you have and ask additional questions. Your plastic surgeon may perform a physical examination or assess the findings of an additional examination they may have instructed you to get from your primary care physician. He or she may also evaluate blood work, EKG results, or other tests relevant to your age or health. The surgeon can then more thoughtfully assess whether there is anything standing in the way of moving forward.

It’s important that your doctor gets honest answers

Be prepared to answer these important questions:

• Do you have any history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or bleeding disorder?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you have any breathing problems, including shortness of breath, bronchitis,
  emphysema, or COPD?
• Do you have allergies to any medications?
• What medications do you take? (Including supplements, vitamins, herbs etc.)
• Do you smoke, drink alcohol, or use any other drugs?

Instructions you’ll want to write down.

At your pre-op visit, your doctor will discuss the procedure in more detail including incision placement and anticipated results as well as the volume of fat removal that is acceptable at the location where your surgery is being performed. You will also complete a surgical consent form. And, you will be told what steps you need to take to prepare for your procedure. For example, you may need to order the compression garment you will wear home from your surgery. Your instructions will also include what you shouldn’t do before surgery – things like eating or drinking on the day of the procedure or supplements, herbs and/or medications to avoid.

Following your doctor’s instructions can have everything to do
with a successful outcome.