When planning your liposuction procedure, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Avoid these common pre-liposuction mistakes to help ensure that you get the smooth, natural-looking results you are looking for.
1. Not Carefully Choosing a Plastic Surgeon
The first step of your liposuction journey is to put some time and effort into finding the best plastic surgeon for your needs and goals. Start by narrowing your search to include only board-certified plastic surgeons to ensure they have completed rigorous medical schooling and residency programs.
You will also want to make note of any focuses that a particular plastic surgeon may have. For example, you would not want to choose a plastic surgeon who primarily performs facial plastic surgeries if you are looking for a body contouring procedure like liposuction or a tummy tuck. Thus, be sure to check for experience with the procedure you are considering.
Finally, when looking at before and after photos, try to find pictures of people with a similar build and body shape to yours. This will give you a better idea of the liposuction results you might be able to expect from this plastic surgeon.
2. Fudging Information at Your Consultation
It never pays to withhold medical information from your plastic surgeon — be as transparent as possible for your safety and best results.
From your first consultation to your pre-operative appointment, it is important that you remain open and honest with your plastic surgeon. Resist the urge to omit information or provide false information on your medical history documents and when speaking with your plastic surgeon.
At the end of the day, your plastic surgeon will determine whether or not you are a good candidate for a safe and successful liposuction procedure, with only your best interests in mind.
3. Smoking before Lipo
For many people, deciding to move forward with liposuction or another cosmetic procedure is the push they’ve been looking for to quit smoking for good. If you currently smoke, plan on kicking the habit at least four weeks prior to your procedure, or as directed by your plastic surgeon.
After liposuction, you’ll need to refrain from tobacco use to give your body time to heal safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, tobacco use can increase the risk of complications during and after your procedure and slow down your body’s healing process.
4. Not Hitting Weight Loss Targets
Best liposuction results will be seen if you come as close as possible to your ideal weight before your body contouring procedure. While you can certainly lose weight and work on your fitness goals after getting lipo, you don’t want to leave a significant weight loss goal looming right before an upcoming liposuction procedure.
One of the most common regrets that both men and women have after getting liposuction is having not achieved weight loss goals before their procedure. Remember that liposuction is not a weight loss solution, but rather a body contouring tool that can help fine-tune your results.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.