Is Liposuction a major surgery? On a scale of 1 -5 (5 is highest), how major of a surgery is it?

Liposuction is indeed a major surgery. Unfortunately, the new branded facilities all over the country are selling liposuction as a non invasive simple operation and are talking everyone into it for the business of it. But, the reality is that liposuction needs proper evaluation as it can really do BAD things. If someones skin does not have the elasticity of youth they can be really irreversibility damaged. We unfortunately see that a lot and need to provide patients with dramatic corrective operations. Then on top of that liposuction carries the risks of other surgeries such as infection, bleeding, damage to internal organs, fluid and electrolyte imbalances and shock. The most ominous complication of liposuction is pulmonary embolism and fat embolism which can be fatal. So, do your homework, make sure that you are being treated by a provider that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and make sure that you do not put price in place of your life and beauty.Good luck.

The answer to this question depends on the size of the area or areas to be sculpted, the type of anesthesia (general or not), the length of the procedure, the skills of the surgeon, the instruments used, your heath, etc... Eliminating general anesthesia and not trying to Sculpt too many areas at one time will lean more towards a minor setting. 

liposuction is safe if performed without general anesthesia and limit the suction to 5 liters max.  Also safety depends on years of experience and expertise.   I would recommend at least 10 years of experience performing in accredited surgical facility preferably only tumescent with sedation only.  Laser,Vaser, smart lipo etc only increases risks of burn and complications and duration of procedure specially if performed under general anesthesia without much benefits and much risks. 

Thank you for your question. There's no simple answer to your question. It could be very simple, done under local anesthesia, like neck or submental liposuction or could be quite complex like VASER Hi Def Lipo body sculpting (chest, abdominal etching, back, waist, hips, +/- fat transfer), done under intravenous sedation. So,  it can cover your scale from 1 to 5. There are two kinds of liposuction: 1. fat reduction and 2. revealing. The first one probably falls in the 1-2 scale, the later is a technically challenging and artistic operation, scale of 5. Even though small hidden incisions are made to extract and/or re-inject the fat, wide areas are undermined under the skin and depending on the complexity of the surgery, there's extended swelling and recovery. The most important caveat is to choose the right board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques. Liposuction can have major complications in the wrong hands and poorly trained surgeon (poor results, perforation of internal organs and even death). Hope this helps.

Thank you for your question. Liposuction surgery is relatively minor compared to other surgeries performed in the hospital for other medical conditions. That being said, it is still a surgical procedure that often requires general anesthesia and in some cases can be rather extensive and lengthy. You need to discuss your procedure in detail with your chosen surgeon to understand the risks involved and maybe that will help to answer your question better.Good luck!

Liposuction is less invasive than a lot of surgical procedures needed to address medical problems. You would be under anesthesia and there is recovery involved. However, liposuction is a safe procedure in the right hands. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF 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

The amount of liposuction performed is key when determining how involved the procedure is as well as the difficulty level of recovery. Liposuction amounts range from 20cc-8000cc. The procedure could be standing local anesthesia for tiny areas or a lengthier procedure lasting up to several hours and requiring an overnight hospital stay. 

On a scale of 1 to 5 I would call liposuction at two.
A tummy tuck or I'm Abdominoplasty would be a five.
I perform liposuction without the use of General Anastasia using local anesthesia up with my aunt sedation.
Patients are typically sore for 1 to 2 days after which ibuprofen is enough to control any discomfort.
It does take several weeks before you see the results because of swelling.
I leave my incisions open so there is drainage which is a nuisance for the first 3 to 5 days.
Liposuction it's also very very safe procedure.
A procedures have the chance of having complications including serious complications.
In the last six years I've performed approximately 4000 liposuction cases and I've had two medical complications both resolved within a few days.
Many complications related to inappropriate judgment or bad technique and some or simply random even when the procedure was done perfectly.
I would say driving on the freeway is more dangerous than having liposuction but this is only my opinion.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom M.D.

Liposuction can vary from a 1 to a 5 on your scale, depending on how many areas are done and the amount of fat removed. Liposuction of the under chin fat would be about a 1 with return to most activities by the next day or even later on the same day. The more you remove the bigger the risks and the longer the recovery. Usual liposuction is about a 2 though. Risks of removing a lot of fat extend even to death from massive shifts of bodily fluids and absorption of the drugs used in the fluid injected before actually sucking the fat out. For this reason you need to see a board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience with liposuction. If you are having more than a couple of moderate areas (less than about 1500 ccs) the procedure needs to be done in an accredited facility with anesthesia monitoring. With more than about 4000 ccs, you need to stay in the hospital overnight.

If liposuction is done well and safely by a well trained and experienced plastic surgeon, and is limited in extent and done on a healthy patient and the patient is monitored by a board certified anestheiologist, then it is safe and relatively low on your scale (surgeons don't use a scale like that or think of surgery in that way). If these caveats are not followed, it can be fatal as has been seen too many times.