What To Expect Before, During, and After Liposuction

The average person probably has no idea what a liposuction procedure looks like these days and that’s not their fault.

The technology and the techniques are evolving so quickly that it can be hard to keep up. Fortunately, it’s our job to keep up! In fact, we do more than just keep up. We take pride in bringing new innovations to the table.

If you are currently considering a lipo procedure, you probably have a lot of questions. You might be at the stage where you’re browsing liposuction before and after pictures to see what’s possible. Or, you may be ready to have more detailed conversations with one of our team members.

This blog will take a deep dive into exactly what you can expect before, during, and after a liposuction procedure to help paint a clear picture for you.

Everyone is different. But generally, this is what the process looks like at Toronto Plastic Surgeons.

Before Your Surgery: Initial Consultation

Our first meeting is very important. We don’t simply prescribe one-size-fits-all solutions for our customers, because we believe that there is no such thing in the world of body contouring.

That first meeting is all about getting to know you. We want to know everything about your health history, your diet/exercise routines, and your goals. Our team used to conduct these meetings in person, but we’re now doing them via video calls to limit the number of people in the clinic during COVID-19 restrictions.

From there, we will analyze everything that you have told us and come up with a customized plan.

That plan could include any one of three different types of liposuction treatments:

BodyTite™ Lipo (Radiofrequency Energy)

This is one of our most popular procedures, expertly performed by Dr. Bell. Our team also features Dr. Peter Bray, who is one of Canada’s notable experts on BodyTite.

This procedure is also in high demand because the technology offers the best-reported safety controls and soft tissue contraction in the world of body contouring. It uses radiofrequency energy to melt and coagulate your unwanted fat. This results in easy extraction, gentle procedures, and amazing results.

Our patients often see soft tissue contraction of about 40-50% over 12 months with BodyTite Lipo. If there is anything else that you would like to learn about BodyTite liposuction, feel free to ask your surgeon during your initial meeting.

Vaser Liposuction (Ultrasound Energy)

Are you considering possible fat grafting procedures like a Brazilian butt lift, breast augmentation, or facial fat transplantation? This is most likely the liposuction procedure that you should consider. Vaser liposuction allows your surgeon to easily preserve the extracted fat because of how delicately the treatments are performed.

The technology uses ultrasonic energy to destroy fat cells with a gentle vibration, which means it can be easily removed from your troubled areas.

However, there is not a high level of significant soft tissue contraction, relative to our other procedures. This means that your surgeon may recommend augmenting this treatment with other energy-assisted devices to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the results.

SmartLipo™ (Laser Energy)

You might choose SmartLipo instead of Vaser Lipo because this procedure gives you two treatments in one. Your surgeon will use laser technology to give you an amazing combination of body contouring and skin tightening.

In fact, data shows that SmartLipo can give you a 17% increase in skin contraction and a 25% improvement in skin elasticity.

During your treatment, your surgeon will liquefy the fat and then remove it with a micro-cannula, with almost no bruising. This is a fantastic alternative to more invasive incisional procedures like:

• Tummy tucks
• Arm lifts
• Thigh lifts
• Neck lifts

Nonsurgical Body Contouring Options

During that initial consultation, we will also explore non-surgical alternatives to liposuction.

Once again, there are no cure-all solutions in the world of body contouring. When pursuing the best results from non-surgical treatments, we generally find it best to select a combination of 2 or 3 different treatments.

Some of those treatments may include:

• CoolSculpting
• SculpSure
• Evolve
• Vanquish
• EMsculpt
• BodyFX
• Venus Freeze
• Exilis
• VelaShape 3

We feel it’s important to explore all of your options. Just because you read that Victoria’s Secret models get VelaShape treatments leading up to their shows, doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed to give you runway-ready results. But it certainly could work for you. Dr. Stephen Mulholland led the pioneering of the VelaShape technology, which means he knows exactly when to use it and exactly when to explore other options.

Customized plans always lead to the best results.

Are You a Good Candidate For Liposuction?

Liposuction is a great option for nearly any man or woman who is looking for a little bit of help getting the body they want. Most often, that means people struggling with problematic areas of fat on their:

• Stomach and abdomen
• Hips and obliques (love handles)
• Upper arms
• Thighs and knees

The absolutely ideal candidate is someone who is already healthy and physically active, while hovering near(ish) to their ideal weight and BMI. However, that’s not a prerequisite. We do recommend that you focus on a healthy lifestyle after your surgery, so you can prevent the weight from coming back.

There are a few situations where liposuction may not be the best solution for you. It’s not recommended if you’re currently pregnant or dealing with excessive obesity.

It’s also not recommended if you’re living with conditions such as:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Hypertension

If you don’t have any of those conditions, we can most likely come up with a plan that works for you.

Leading Up to Your Surgery

Once you and your surgeon agree on a plan, they will give you a very simple pre-op checklist.

If you’re a smoker, it’s highly recommended that you quit. Smoking can cause constriction of your blood vessels, so it’s best to quit smoking for 2 weeks before (and 2 weeks after) your surgery. Who knows, maybe you can quit full time? It’s bad for your health, it’s bad for your skin, and that whole smoking keeps you thin theory is a myth.

You will also want to stop taking Advil, Aleve, or Aspirin for the 5 days leading up to your surgery. These medications can thin your blood.

It’s also a good idea to prepare to do as little as possible for the 12-24 hours following your procedure. You might consider getting a babysitter for the night and taking the next day off. Also, keep some easy-to-make meals on hand.

Don’t forget to arrange to have someone drive you to (and from) the clinic on the day of the surgery!

The Day of Your Surgery

To answer your first question, yes, we are open during COVID-19 restrictions. The plastic surgery industry is actually experiencing a bit of a mini-boom during the COVID crisis, with lots of people taking advantage of the ability to recover while they work from home.

We have taken a number of steps to ensure that everything is safe, secure, and sanitary during these complicated times. Our admission process is quite a bit different than it was pre-COVID.

We will arrange for you to get a COVID-19 test about 10 days before your actual surgery. Then, on the day of the procedure, you will get a second COVID test at our screening centre outside of the clinic via a “no touch” infrared camera thermometer.

From there, you will go right inside and bypass any sort of waiting room. Unfortunately, no waiting room means that your driver can’t accompany you inside. They will have to grab a coffee or do some shopping while they wait. Your treatment can take between 1 – 4 hours and we will call them when you’re ready to go home.

Our focus on closely controlling the number of people inside the clinic also means that we need you to be as punctual as possible. If you are more than 5 minutes late for your appointment, we may need to reschedule you.

After screening, a client service representative (wearing proper PPE) will check you into the clinic. You will then quickly meet your treatment provider, and the two of you will head directly to your treatment room. We’re very careful to control the flow of traffic in our clinic, while our staff members all wear distancing alert pagers to ensure they stay 2 metres (6 feet) apart.

Once inside, the next steps will depend on your plan and your treatment. Of course, it’s hard to maintain social distancing during the actual surgery. But you can rest assured that your surgeon will wear full and enhanced PPE. This will include:

• Full face shields
• Wrap-around goggles
• N95 masks
• Bouffant surgical caps
• Protective gowns

Also, all of our staff members undergo temperature checks, twice a day.

Once your surgery is complete, you no longer have to wait in a billing room. Your payment will be taken safely in the treatment room. How much is liposuction? That all depends on how many areas we’re treating. But, pricing for a small area starts at $4,999, and a larger zone would start at $6,999.

Next, we will help you apply any necessary ice packs, while discussing all of your post-op steps. From there, you will sanitize your hands one more time before your treatment professional ensures that the halls are clear and escorts you out of the clinic area.

Your ride home will have been called and they should be ready to take you right back to your house.

The Recovery Process

Liposuction is the second most popular plastic surgery in North America, thanks in large part to the relatively low amount of recovery time.

As we said earlier, you will want to take it easy and rest up for the first 12-24 hours after your procedure.

Overall, it’s recommended that patients take 5-10 days to recover, depending on how many areas of your body were treated. Your surgeon will also schedule a post-op video call to see how you’re feeling and how your body is progressing.

He will also help you outline a full recovery plan to map out when you can return to things like strenuous work or going to the gym.

You may look and feel better than you have in years, so you may be pumped to get back out there and hit the gym again. But you still need to take your time and let your body fully heal itself.

What Your Life Will Look Like Afterwards

The most common “side effect” is feeling great about how you look and how your clothes fit. Most people that undergo liposuction see an almost immediate-boost in self-esteem. They feel energized with more vitality.

Many of our patients enjoy increased mobility or less joint pain after losing the weight. They feel more confident and ready to attack each day, while some also see an increase in sexual interest or libido.

How long will these effects last? That is entirely up to you. If you live a healthy lifestyle that involves a good diet and regular exercise, there is no reason for you to gain the weight back. This look can be the new you, for good, if you make sure you’re doing all of the right things.

If you’re looking for liposuction in Toronto and the rest of the GTA, you have lots of options. Why choose us?

Dr. Thomas Bell is one of Canada’s most in-demand and respected plastic surgeons. Major media outlets and other doctors frequently interview him as a thought-leader in plastic surgery.

Our Dr. Peter Bray is one of Canada’s foremost authorities on BodyTite liposuction. His hands-on approach and innovative techniques consistently lead to amazing results and glowing liposuction reviews from our satisfied customers.

If you want to see what liposuction can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact us. The new you could be much closer than you think!