I would like to get knee and thigh liposuction before my knee replacement. Is this possible in my situation?

Question

I am 47 years old. I will need knee replacement surgery within 1-2 years. The doctor wants me to wait to have replacement surgery. I carry all of my weight in my thighs and my knees and I believe that knee liposuction will possibly help prolong my knee surgery. Is liposuction even possible for my situation?

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the question as long as you have about 6 months in between you should not have any issues with infection, when putting in foreign bodies to the body like a knee implant its important to set yourself up for success. For knee and all lower extremity liposuction make sure you see someone who is very experience. You need specific instruments and the knowledge that in the leg the fat that needs removal is at different depth in different areas to ensure smooth results, for instance if too much superficial fat is removed it can destabilize an area and cause skin to sag

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

There is no reason why you should not have liposuction of knees and thighs before knee replacement. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon with good reputation in liposuction would to further clarify your options. Good luck.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The area around the knee anatomically has little fat, and the incisions, wherever made, will be made in an area of little fat.  Knee liposuction in general produces less than fantastic results.  Liposuction may be reasonable to improve your overall look, but reaching an objective weight is probably better before having knee replacement.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear nikkisully,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hooman Khorasani, MD · Answer

Thank you for the post. There is no reason you cannot have liposuction prior to the knee replacement. It should have no implication on a future knee replacement.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This is difficult to answer without pictures, but you may be able to have liposuction before knee replacement, if you're a candidate. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF/J Plasma/Renuvion/InMode BodyTite and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

David Finkle, MD · Answer

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Liposuction is the suction removal of subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat is located just below the surface of the skin and above the muscles and bones. It doesn't remove all of the fat, but it does remove the majority of the fat. The perfect candidate is at or near their ideal body weight and has localized areas of fat that are out of proportion to the rest of the body.  It is not a weight reduction technique. It can be used on any area of the body, but it relies on the skin redraping after the fat is removed. So, if you have loose skin, you may end up with wrinkles or folds after the surgery. Some areas respond better to liposuction than others, the lateral thighs always look nice, the inner thighs and arms, not so much. The tummy depends on how loose the skin was to begin with. It does not remove or improve stretch marks. There are many different terms used for liposuction:
Tumescent liposuctionPower liposuctionLaser liposuctionVaser liposuctionSmart liposuctionUltrasonic liposuctionAnd many, many more. All these techniques vary a little, but the bottom line is that the fat is removed by high powered suction. A small tube or cannula with multiple holes at the end is hooked to a suction device. The cannula is moved rapidly back and forth to remove the fat through very small incisions in the skin. All blood vessels, nerves, muscle, bone and skin is left alone, just the fat is removed. Large amounts of fluid are placed in the subcutaneous fat before the suction begins to reduce bleeding and to numb the skin, this fluid is referred to as tumescent fluid and consists of a balanced salt solution mixed with adrenalin and a local anesthetic. There are 3 choices of anesthesia:
Local anesthesia (the patient is awake)Local with sedation (the patient is given a mild sedation)General anesthetic (the patient is asleep)The choice is based upon an agreement between the patient and the surgeon. Make sure you consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who operates in a nationally accredited surgery center and offers board certified anesthesia. If the price you are quoted seems abnormally low, please do your research and find out why, you do not want to be surprised the day of your surgery! Liposuction can be combined with many other procedures; tummy tuck, breast reduction, thigh lift, arm lift, neck lift and is an essential part of a Brazilian Butt lift (this is where the fat comes from!)
All of my patients are treated post operatively with a compression garment that is worn for 2 weeks and 5 Endermologie sessions that start 3-4 weeks after the procedure. Endermologie is a non surgical massage technique that helps to smooth out the results of the surgery to help prevent wrinkling and rippling of the skin. Liposuction is not a very painful procedure and recovery is usually quick. 
Most people are back to work in 3-5 days and back to vigorous exercise in 2 weeks. Of course, if more areas are treated, there will be more pain post operatively and a longer recovery. I was back to work 3 days after my abdominal liposuction and no one knew any better! 
The cost varies not only from city to city, but from patient to patient. The more areas that are treated, the higher the cost. In the midwest, typical liposuction prices varies from $3,000-6,000 total.
Good Luck!

Sofia Santareno, MD · Answer

I don't see why not... honestly it will even improve your recovery after the knee replacement and will make it easier for the orthopedic surgeon to operate.

Leo McCafferty, MD · Answer

Certainly you can have liposuction of your legs including thighs, knees, and even lower legs, prior to any orthopedic procedure.  I would recommend doing it well in advance and communicating both with your plastic and orthopedic surgeon regarding timing.

Scott R. Brundage, MD · Answer

There is no reason you cannot have liposuction at this time. It should have no bearing on a future knee replacement. I am not sure that by having liposuction will prolong the time you will need the replacement. Liposuction does more to change your appearance than provide the weight loss that could help your knee.

I would like to get knee and thigh liposuction before my knee replacement. Is this possible in my situation?

Answers (13)

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