What exacly is the red stuff that gets sucked out with the fat? (Photo)

Question

Can someone tell me what the red stuff is thats with the fat? Also I havnt gotten to ask my doctor but when am i allowed to take a shower without the garment on? Is it the second day that I would be fine? If you would have to guess how many litters were taken out? thank you once again for your time

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The yellow upper portion of each container is the fat removed during liposuction. The darker colored fluid underneath is a combination of blood and the fluid placed to perform liposuction which has the numbing medication and adrenaline to limit blood loss.  You are able to shower without the garment in place, but timing should be deferred to your plastic surgeon as they know what took place during your surgery.  I can not see any measuring levels on the containers, so its difficult to know how much was removed.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

The fat in the photograph is yellow. The pink or purple colored fluid is primarily the tumescent fluid used to prepare the fat for liposuction plus a very small amount of blood which gives it the color.

R. Scott Yarish, MD · Answer

The "red stuff" is a mixture of fluid and blood (mostly fluid injected prior to the suction).  The yellow is mostly fat.  Assuming these are 1 liter containers, there is approximately 4 liters of fat, just over 4 quarts.  The post op instructions should have been provided for you in detail by your surgeon or the office.  Since we all treat it differently (meaning there is no "best" way), contact the surgeon's office to find out how they like to handle it.  The final result depends less upon what you do afterwards than it does the skill of the surgeon as well as your particular type of fat and how it responds to the suction.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

A mixture of blood and tumescent fluids. Appears as 3 liters but bot sure. Best to see your chosen surgeon for detailed postop instructions.......

Trenton C. Jones, MD · Answer

Quick answer: bloody tumescent fluid. Most lipo procedures begin by placing a volume of saline with lidocaine and epinephrine in an amount equivalent or greater than the volume expected to be removed. This reduces blood loss, promotes anesthesia, and helps liquefy and remove the fat.I allow my patients to shower after two days, but you should follow your surgeon's recommendations.Is there a prize for guessing the aspirate amount correctly? I guess 9.5 liters. Please let me know if I win!

Paul J. Leahy, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Basically, the red component of what is aspirated is primarily the tumescent fluid we use to help provide anesthesia and constriction of the blood vessels to minimize bleeding. There is also some normal plasma from the cells, and a small amount of blood. The yellow component is the fat which generally rises to the top. Hope that helps.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction aspirate or all the stuff that comes out from liposuction is made up of fat, blood and fluid.Most of the fluid that comes out is that numbing solution injected prior to the procedure. Most liposuction procedures involving injecting large volumes of numbing solution.Sometimes as much as 2 gallons. Liposuction causes some bleeding though it is generally considered a procedure that has little blood loss. A small amount of blood goes a long ways to make fluid look red. I'm guessing the containers in the picture are 2 L or half-gallon containers.Based on that my guess is you had 5 L  or 1 1/4 gallons of fat removed. That's a substantial amount of fat.I typically never remove more than 5 L of fat during a single procedure.I personally tell my patients they can take a shower anytime they want to.Many surgeons ask the patience to wait a day or two before taking a shower. always best to check with your plastic surgeon to see what he or she thinks is best for you.Best,Mats Hagstrom M.D.

What exacly is the red stuff that gets sucked out with the fat? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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