Vaser Lipo. Is it safe to have 3L fat removed with local anaesthesia & IV sedation by cosmetic surgeon? (Photo)

Question

I am booked in for vaser lipo of the upper/lower abs next week by an Australian cosmetic surgeon who has advised I have about 3 litres of fat to remove. The method he is using is local + IV sedation. Is this the best option for the amount of fat I have? Should there be an anaesthetist present? I trust my surgeon and his reviews but am in panic mode after googling the risks. Second opinions welcome!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, #vaser liposuction can be done in-office with local anesthesia or more commonly, I perform this procedure in an out patient surgery center with either intravenous twilight anesthesia or a general anesthetic. Regardless of anesthesia, it is generally outpatient surgery with a short recovery at the surgery center before traveling home or to a recovery facility. Do not hesitate to contact your surgeon regarding this concern. Best of luck!#RealSelf100

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

VASER can be performed without IV sedation and has very little downtime when done under tumescent. It is extremely safe, I perform close to 8-10 per week and have very little complications. I am unsure how the doctor can predict the amount of fat you have prior to removal, but I would focus on contouring and better shape rather than how much fat will be removed.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Edwin Ishoo, MD · Answer

Tumescent or local analgesia is frequently used safely for liposuction and with Vaser, 3 liters would not be unusual; however, in you, it may be aggressive and in that case, I would definitely recumbent having IV access and if your surgeon is using IV sedation, then there should definitely be an anesthetist in the room to administer the IV sedation and to monitor you. It is not safe for the surgeon to also be the anesthetist. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario or at least an emergency . A surgeon who is concentrating on surgery should not be diverting his or her attention from the proper administration of anesthesia and close monitoring and management of the patients vitals.

Alexandra Chambers, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.Vaser is often performed under local anaesthesia and IV sedation.3litres is an average amount to remove in such circumstances and it is quite safe.Providing you will recover under monitoring for 3-4 hours after the procedure. IV sedation is normally administered by a consultant anaesthetist.Discuss with your surgeon your concerns, it is normal to be anxious.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

My practice is almost exclusively devoted to body contouring using liposuction and fat transfer. At least 95% of my cases are done using local anesthesia and mild sedation. 3 L of fat removal is an average case for me. I've done around 2,000 cases this way with only one single serious complication. That patient developed an infection and eventually did fine. I'm more concerned about your doctor's medical qualifications. I would only recommend seeing a board-certified plastic surgeon. Even though I prefer to do liposuction with my patients awake, I have the ability to use general anesthesia and have admitting privileges in a local hospital. To be qualified to do surgery, that is what is required. While most patients do fine having liposuction awake, some patients do not. For those patients, the use of anesthesia is appropriate and sometimes necessary. If not done correctly, liposuction can be excruciatingly painful if awake. In the United States there is no residency training in cosmetic surgery. The only specialty that properly trains physicians in cosmetic surgery is plastic surgery. My guess is the same holds true for Australia.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Vaser Lipo. Is it safe to have 3L fat removed with local anaesthesia & IV sedation by cosmetic surgeon? (Photo)

Answers (5)

More Vaser Liposuction Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (5)

More Vaser Liposuction Questions

Is Vaser liposuction as effective as regular tumescent liposuction?

Vaser lipo. What do I need pre-op?

What will happen if I don't wear my compression garment on my recently lipo'd arms?

Does high definition Vaser Lipo tighten the muscle of the abdomen?

Can I go back to the gym/workout?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS