Are you considering liposuction to remove pesky excess fat? Over the years, liposuction has become the gold standard fat removal procedure. Modern cutting-edge techniques and equipment have paved the way for reduced recovery time and optimal results. Local anesthesia liposuction or awake liposuction minimizes pain and recovery time and is a safe alternative to other types of liposuction in properly selected patients.
Awake liposuction (using the tumescent liposuction techniques) is a quick, minimally-invasive fat removal procedure. Like traditional liposuction, awake liposuction aims to reduce extra fatty tissue from problem areas. What is important to know about awake lipo is that it can allow for a faster recovery compared to traditional liposuction and it does not require anesthesia. Avoiding general anesthesia means no recovery from general anesthesia. The risk of nausea, vomiting, constipation, and exhaustion after surgery is reduced with local anesthesia as compared to conventional liposuction with general anesthesia.
The best candidates for awake lipo are healthy individuals who are not getting the results they want from traditional weight loss measures. Patients should also have good skin elasticity to ensure the newly contoured skin is firm. If you are interested in liposuction and are wondering if you are a good candidate for this procedure, please get in touch with us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith at our NYC office.
Local anesthesia liposuction is a fast, safe, less costly way to benefit from liposuction. You’ll remain awake and conscious throughout the treatment, but you’ll feel only minor discomfort at the beginning of the procedure. . Awake lipo is performed by making small incisions in the numbed treatment area and infusing a tumescent solution into the fatty layer under your skin. This solution is a combination of saline, lidocaine (pain reliever), and epinephrine (reduces bruising). Your doctor will use a thin cannula to suction out excess fat cells and recontour the treatment area. The cannula is very small, which means minimal incisions (smaller than a pen cap) and barely noticeable scarring.
The treatment time is around 1 – 3hours, depending on the amount of excess fat you have. You will go home shortly after awake liposuction. Please remember to organize a ride home. Even though you will stay awake for your procedure, driving immediately after is not permitted. You will be offered oral medication for relaxation that can impair your ability to drive after the procedure.
The recovery time for awake liposuction is relatively quick. Most patients can go home within 1-2 hours and return to normal activities in just a few days. The fast recovery is possible thanks to the less invasive techniques we utilize for fat removal and skin tightening. Awake lipo doesn’t require general anesthesia or large incisions. It’s best to get ample rest and avoid strenuous activity for 3-5 days post-procedure. Pain, bruising, and swelling should be very minimal.
Like traditional lipo, awake lipo treats unwanted fat in several areas of the body, just at lower volumes. Awake liposuction is ideal for treating small amounts of fat in the chin and common problem areas like the arms, thighs, abdomen, hips, love handles, and back.
Traditional liposuction may be a better option if you have a lot of excess fat in a specific problem area. When you visit our NYC office for your consultation, Dr. Smith will review the benefits of awake vs. asleep liposuction for your unique case.
Local anesthesia liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure to help eliminate stubborn, unwanted fat. One of the main reasons patients prefer awake liposuction over other methods is the speedy recovery with minimal downtime. In addition, awake liposuction is comfortable, low risk, and has an easy recovery.
Here’s a list of the benefits of awake lipo.
● Low risk of postoperative nausea
● No need to be asleep during your procedure
● No breathing tube
● No anesthesia costs
● Short recovery time
● Accelerated return to regular activities
You will notice a difference in your appearance after the initial swelling subsides, which generally takes 1-2 weeks. Only one session of tumescent liposuction is needed to achieve the desired results. Most patients will wear a tight compression garment for a couple days after surgery to help reduce swelling.
The results will continue to improve over the following few months. You will see a very satisfying change in your appearance by 3-4 weeks. You should see the final results after around 3 months. or once the swelling has completely subsided. Keep in mind that while awake lipo is a permanent fat removal solution, extreme weight gain can lead to some fat reaccumulation in the treatment areas. Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle to ensure you get long-lasting results.
Local anesthesia liposuction usually starts at around $4,000 – $6000 depending on the treatment area. Naturally, every patient is unique, and the cost of awake lipo heavily depends on how many areas are addressed and how much fat will be removed. Some patients may add other treatments like skin tightening procedures or Morpheus8 injections at the same appointment, increasing the overall cost.
You’ll receive a quote for your procedure during your initial consultation. Be sure to talk to Dr. Smith if you’re interested in combining liposuction with another cosmetic treatment.
Tumescent lipo is an innovative fat-reduction technique for small, defined fat deposits. There is an option to harvest and reinject the fat. In most cases, patients can undergo a fat transfer such as to the breasts or buttocks under local anesthesia at the time of awake liposuction. However, you may need general anesthesia if a fat transfer involves larger volumes of fat.
Awake lipo in NYC is easy, convenient, and safe. Contact our office today to learn if this is the right procedure for you.
Dr. Smith and his staff are absolutely incredible. They made me feel welcome, comfortable, and listened to from the moment I first arrived for a consultation, all the way to my surgery and afterwards. The care I received from Dr. Smith, Annalise, and Julia was exemplary. I am thrilled with the results of my procedure, and sincerely can't recommend them highly enough.
All photos are of models except before and after images.
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