Liposuction

After liposuction, you will wake up with tape and a girdle in place. This must remain in place for a week. When the fat tissue is suctioned from under the skin, it leaves small tunnels. By wearing a compression garment we are able to collapse these tunnels and allow healing to occur. This also decreases bruising and swelling and helps give a more even appearance by minimizing skin sagging and dimpling. The garments are usually worn for approximately 6 weeks. Liposuction is therefore best scheduled during the winter months.

Discomfort after liposuction is generally easily controlled by oral medication. Bruising and swelling are normal in the suctioned areas. The bruising should decrease over 3 – 4 weeks, but may last as long as six weeks. The swelling can be a little slower to completely disappear. The compression garment helps reduce the swelling, and the longer it is worn, the more quickly the process will proceed.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure and all surgery carries some risk. By following the pre and post-operative instructions provided by Dr Craig Layt, you can help minimise the chances of complication and speed healing.

Surgery is not an exact science. Incisions and scars are part of any surgery and the location and extent of the incisions will be discussed with you. Every effort is made by the surgeon to minimise scarring. Scars will fade over time, but they are permanent. They can also become hypertrophic or keloid. Scars vary from person to person and are related to each individual’s skin type, genetics and the ability of their skin to heal.

Every surgical procedure involves certain risks and complications (as per the ASPS brochure) including, but not limited to:

Asymmetry is evident physically in every person. No two sides of the body are ever exactly symmetrical in shape, position or size and the surgeon will make every effort to achieve as close to symmetry as possible but some asymmetry is normal.

Delayed Healing and Infection can all be possible healing issues and may require antibiotics or in some cases surgical exploration.

Bleeding, Haematoma or Seroma Collections may resolve themselves but, in some cases may require further surgery.

Loss of Sensation and Numbness may also be experienced. In most cases this will improve over time on its own. In some cases this can be permanent.

Bruising and Swelling may also be a short term effect from surgery and will usually settle in one to two weeks.

Allergies to dressings, medical lotions, sutures or other materials can occur with some patients. You will be advised to cease the use of the dressing, lotion or material that is causing the reaction. In some cases anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed.

Pain thresholds vary from patient to patient. This may lead to different pain management and/or different recovery times to resume normal activities.

Achieving excellent results with minimal risk is a joint effort. It is important to disclosed to the surgeon and clinic and understand the following:

Full disclosure of your medical history including: allergies, personal, physical and mental history, previous surgeries, current medications and co-morbidities (including but not limited to, smoking, vaping, diabetes, prescription and illegal drug addictions, blood or heart disease, obesity or anorexia).

Co-morbidities may impact on outcome and healing post surgery.

Smoking, vaping, or taking recreational drugs must be ceased in the 6 weeks prior to some operations and during the healing phase. Failure to do so may increase the risk of complications, decrease your healing ability and affect your surgical outcome.

You should not take aspirin based prescription drugs 14 days prior to surgery and during the healing phase of the operation unless advised otherwise by the surgeon.

As per the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), all non-rebatable (cosmetic) procedures require a validated screening of Body Dysmorphia to be undertaken.

If Dr Layt is concerned about your mental state or physical state prior to the procedure, he may request evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist, general practitioner or other specialist. This referral is to assess your suitability, increased risks during surgery or any underlying physical or psychological problems which may affect your recovery or mental health.

In some cases this may require surgery to be postponed or cancelled by the doctor in his primary role to consider your care and personal well-being.

All surgery carries risks and it is important to understand these.

Every patient is an individual and therefore final surgical results will vary from patient to patient. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified practitioner.

Similar to other surgical procedures, liposuction carries the same possibility of side effects during the patient’s recovery period. This may include temporary bruising, swelling, redness, numbness, and soreness around the treatment area. Depending on the complexities of the procedure, these symptoms typically ease within a few days to a few weeks following surgery. It is important for patients to adhere to all of their surgeon’s post-procedure recommendations in order to safely heal and achieve optimal treatment results. Dr Layt is dedicated to ensuring each of his patients receives thorough aftercare and follow-up instructions each step of the way.

Generally, liposuction scars can be minimal and may even continue to visibly diminish over time. The incisions made for the liposuction procedure typically measure less than one inch long, which enables the size of the scars to be quite small. When possible, incisions are placed in the natural lines and contours of the body so that visible scarring may be at least partially concealed upon healing. Additionally, patients have benefitted from the use of sun protection and scar-lightening ointments on the treatment area once scars have fully developed to assist with the fading process.