Almost everyone who has struggled with their weight or shape wants to fix that part of their life. The majority of people have taken proactive steps to manage their weight at some point. Maybe it was an exercise program or dieting. Those who have a harder time achieving desired results may seek medical help, and try weight loss medication or gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery. But even when those methods successfully yield significant fat reduction, many people are left desperately trying to lose stubborn fat pockets. This is where Awake VASER Liposuction often enters the conversation. Vaser Liposuction can be performed on most parts of the body. Some of the most commonly treated problem areas include the abdomen, thighs, chest, back, chin and legs.
While Awake Liposuction is very effective, many people who seek cosmetic surgery come into the office with unrealistic expectations. They view VASER lipo as a magic wand that will make them perfect. It is very important that their cosmetic surgeon communicates the likely outcomes of their procedure. It is also absolutely critical that the patient follows their surgeon’s aftercare recommendations if they want to achieve their best possible result. If those two steps don’t take place, patients may leave their cosmetic procedure feeling let down by the outcome. Fear of being unsatisfied with the result of liposuction is one of the most common worries that prospective patients experience. And in many cases, it can be avoided by setting a realistic expectation with a talented, board-certified cosmetic surgeon and following their post-operative instructions diligently. But there are a handful of other things that concern people who are considering getting Awake VASER lipo.
While Awake Lipo is substantially less invasive than prior iterations of liposuction, there is still some recovery involved. Some of the most common symptoms immediately after the operation include mild soreness, bruises, redness of the skin and swelling. Your surgeon usually will provide medication to help address the pain in the days immediately after the procedure. To address the swelling (and improve the body’s shape after the procedure) patients will be asked to wear a compression garment. The swelling normally will decrease after the first week, but the patient should wear the compression garment for the full time period advised by their doctor. Recommendations are often catered to a patient’s healing process, which is why patients must attend scheduled follow-up appointments after their VASER lipo. Some swelling may persist for up to 6 weeks; but the vast majority of patients are able to go back to work comfortably a couple of days after their liposuction is performed.
During the liposuction process, a few small holes (2-4 millimeters) are made right under the skin so that unwanted fat deposits can be separated from the surrounding tissue and suctioned out. The incisions made for Awake VASER Lipo are tiny and are placed carefully in inconspicuous locations in case a patient scars easily. Scarring is one of the things that is most impacted by a patient’s compliance or noncompliance to the aftercare plan. We all heal and scar differently, but following your cosmetic surgeon’s instructions in caring for these small wounds is the best way to mitigate the formation of any scar tissue after Awake Lipo.
Many patients are not thrilled with how they look immediately after a liposuction procedure. For some patients, swelling drastically diminishes change in appearance in the days after the procedure is done. The unwanted fat has immediately been replaced by inflammation and retained fluids. Patients who experience these symptoms can look puffed up for a few days. But as the swelling subsides, people begin to notice the transformation.
After VASER, patients may experience some skin laxity (loose skin). As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and may not bounce back after significant changes in shape. This extra skin can also be left behind after significant weight loss. At Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons, we often perform skin tightening with Renuvion (J-Plasma therapy) alongside a lipo procedure. Each patient’s case is unique. At a boutique practice like ours, we customize procedures to fit our patients’ likely needs and exact physiology. But even if you go for a higher volume cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles, you should remember to ask them about skin tightening in conjunction with your body contouring.
After swelling has subsided, and the skin has finished adjusting to the patient’s new shape, patients get to see their final results 3-6 months after the procedure. For those who went in expecting instant gratification, these weeks of waiting can be incredibly difficult. At Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons in Los Angeles, and at most other practices with board-certified cosmetic surgeons, we prepare our patients for this reality, and help them set expectations for their outcome, by exhaustively discussing recovery and results prior to any lipo procedure.
The VASER ultrasonic system is a truly incredible piece of technology. It uses targeted ultrasonic waves to gently remove fat cells from surrounding tissue; but unfortunately it is not a time machine. It can not influence a patient’s future behavior. The fat that the VASER removes is gone forever if they are above the age of 30. That means that maintaining your results after Awake VASER Liposuction comes down to your ability to maintain a healthy diet regime, remain hydrated, and (as soon as the doctor has given you the go ahead) engaging in physical exercise. After your liposuction procedure, it is on you to enable your body to get back in shape and keep your results. It is often our inclination to fall into a sedentary period after a procedure. It feels like self-care, but this is actually the opposite of what your body needs. Obviously, patients shouldn’t push themselves harder than the doctor recommends, and they should listen to their body if anything they’re doing feels abnormally uncomfortable. But patients should begin walking from the day after they undergo their procedure, and should progress to low impact workouts and increase intensity at the intervals recommended by their cosmetic surgeon.
Some of the most common concerns about Awake VASER Liposuction include unsatisfactory or impermanent results, recuperation, scarring and delayed improvement in appearance. Many of these problems can be mitigated or avoided all together by following post-operative care instructions and setting realistic expectations with a reputable and talented cosmetic surgeon.
But every patient has different questions and concerns. If you are considering a liposuction procedure, the best thing to do is book an initial consultation with a quality practice. Always ensure your have looked at their results and outcomes and confirmed their board certification. We recommend checking if they use the VASER ultrasonic system and whether they do their procedures awake to minimize the risks and recovery times of your procedure. If you’re looking for a cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles, set an appointment with Dr. Jain at Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons LA. His boutique practice customizes procedures to a patient’s specific needs and desires. He works alongside a talented body sculptures, ensuring that his patients receive improvements to their body contour in addition to safe, expertly done, cutting edge surgery. We specialize in liposuction, high-definition liposuction and liposuction fat transfer done awake, without the risks of general anesthesia.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF
SURGEONS
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
COSMETIC SURGERY
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
