Can I get liposuction while awake?

Question

I Want to get lipo mostly to make my waist smaller and have a more hourglass figure. The problem is I Don't want to be completely out. I want to only be sedated. Is this possible?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

yes liposuction can be performed awake for smaller areas. if you want more tightening or HD lipo it likely isnt the best idea.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after).

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

James Lee, MD · Answer

Hello,

Thank you for your question. You most certainly can have liposuction under intravenous (IV) sedation to reduce the size of your waist (i.e. Lipo 360). General anesthesia is generally required when liposuction is performed concomitantly with another, more invasive procedure, i.e. abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

Please be sure to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon if and when you decide to go ahead with surgery.

I hope this helps!

Ryan E. Austin, MD · Answer

Hi, thanks for your question. In theory, it would be possible to have liposuction done under local anesthetic or light sedation, that said this is really dependent on a variety of factors including your anatomy, overall general health, and how involved your liposuction surgery is. Typically, liposuction is most comfortably done under general anesthetic. I highly recommend that you book an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon in order to discuss all of your options. At your consultation your surgeon will be able to confirm what kind of anesthetic is advised.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction can be performed while awake, but it would depend on your anatomy and your goals. In general, the more fat that needs to be removed or the leaner you want to appear, the more difficult it is to perform while being comfortably awake. Please keep in mind that if you are considered healthy enough to have elective plastic surgery, your risk of morbidity from anesthesia is far far lower than your potential risk of death in a motor vehicle. So, if you accept the risk of being in a car, there is no reason not to go to sleep for surgery.

Michelle Zweifler, MD · Answer

Liposuction may be performed under straight local only, local with sedation or general anesthesia (fully asleep).  This is discussed at consultation.

Leyla Arvas, MD · Answer

Hi, liposuction with sedation could be done only for very smal areas like under chin. To give a hourglass shape is a big operation so its better to get anestesia.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear KRRT1969,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, it is possible to use other forms of anesthesia. 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

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction under local with a little sedation for complete comfort is the safest and best way to get the very best results. You are able to stand up and get the fine tuning you need. Don't ever get lipo under general if you can help it.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

The simple answer is yes!  So go on some complimentary consultations with experts and compare recommendations after a full examination and discussion of desired results 
 
Dr Corbin

Amit Gupta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Yes it is possible if the area of liposuction is not too much, then the local anesthesia & sedation is very much possible.

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