Tumescent Liposuction & Laser-assisted Liposuction Fredericksburg

Reason for Surgery

Dr. Palmer performs liposuction to remove areas of unwanted fat. If diet and exercise have failed to give you the look you want then liposuction may be the answer. Recent advancement in liposuction include the tumescent technique and laser-assisted liposuction, both of which Dr. Palmer offers.

Before the Surgery

A medical history along with a careful examination is conducted in order to evaluate your general health. Dr. Palmer will discuss with you the areas that cause you concern and will determine if your concerns can be addressed with liposuction. Preoperative instructions will be given. You may be asked to stop certain medications. You will receive a prescription for an antibiotic to begin the night before surgery. You will be asked to not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.

Method of Surgery

Dr. Palmer performs most liposuction in the office with a combination of local anesthetic and IV sedation. The tumescent technique has revolutionized liposuction. Tumescent anesthesia allows for marked increase in patient safety and comfort while the office setting introduces a dramatic decrease in cost while increasing patient convenience. The patient presents the day of surgery having taken a prescribed antibiotic. A nurse places an IV and Dr. Palmer photographs the patient and makes appropriate skin markings to clarify with the patient the areas to treat. The patient is then placed on a monitor and sedation is begun. Anesthetic fluid is introduced into the fatty tissue to be removed using a pump. A series of instruments called disrupters are then used to break the fat up and liquefy it for efficient removal. The final stage is the actual removal of fat using vacuum pump suction. No sutures are necessary because the incisions are so small. The patient is fitted with a compression garment and can immediately resume normal activities.

Laser-assisted liposuction (CoolLipo and SmartLipo) is a process that uses laser energy to assist in breaking the fat down. A major advantage of this method is the skin tightening that can be obtained. The laser heats the collagen in the skin which causes it to shrink, thus tightening the skin. This procedure is not suitable for everyone and Dr. Palmer will help you decide if this is right for you.

Post-Operative Information

The recovery is variable in accordance with the extent of treatment, however everyone should be able to walk normally and to go up and down stairs immediately. We do require that you have someone you trust take you home and then have someone stay with you at least 24 hours for safety. You can return to work when you feel you are able. We recommend at least one week off work although two weeks is appropriate in some cases. That being said, we have had patients return to work in as little as two days. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least two weeks and even longer for more extensive liposuction. You will have drainage from the puncture wounds for 48-72 hours and this is expected and desired. This is how we avoid the use of drains. You will need to wear your compression garment until all drainage has stopped. Some prefer to wear it longer and that is acceptable. For abdominal liposuction, many patients find it more comfortable to transition to “Spanks” type garments (ask us for the particulars on this). You will receive a narcotic pain reliever for post-op discomfort and you should take a stool softener to prevent constipation. We follow our patients up closely post-op until we feel all is well. A final result is expected in 3-4 months when all swelling has resolved.

Liposuction Pre and Post-Operative Gallery