Liposuction is performed under anesthesia, so you will be asleep and resting peacefully during the process. After liposuction, you can counter mild swelling, bruising, and soreness with prescription pain medications provided by Dr. Motykie.

In addition to your consultation and surgery date, Dr. Motykie will want to see you at his office in West Hollywood for several follow-up visits to ensure your incisions are healing properly and your recovery is progressing smoothly.

Swelling from liposuction may initially obscure your contouring results, so it’s important not to judge your outcome too quickly. Within a few weeks, you should begin noticing more shapely curves emerging, with full results evident three months post-op.

Incisions with liposuction are small and discreet, leading to inconspicuous scars. Dr. Motykie does everything possible to minimize the appearance of postoperative scarring and can also recommend scar revision techniques and topical products after surgery.

Patients typically need to wait four to six weeks before engaging in strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. However, gentle walks in the early stages of recovery are permitted to encourage circulation, reduce the risk of clotting, and enhance overall mood.

Yes. Liposuction can be combined with many other cosmetic treatments to augment and refine your results. It is commonly paired with abdominoplasty, an arm lift, a thigh lift, breast reduction, gynecomastia treatment, and a mommy makeover. If you are interested in pursuing other treatments in tandem with liposuction, speak with Dr. Motykie during your private Beverly Hills consultation.

When performed by a highly skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon, complications with liposuction are exceedingly rare. However, every surgical procedure comes with certain inherent risks. For liposuction, these may include the following:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Fat embolism
• Seroma
• Fluid buildup
• Skin necrosis
• Anesthesia risks
• Asymmetry
• Poor scarring
• Changes in skin sensation

Reviewing your surgeon’s education, credentials, testimonials, and before and after photos is always a good idea. Next, you should meet with your surgeon in person to ensure you can maintain healthy communication and rapport. Dr. Motykie is a fellowship-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon who welcomes you to schedule a private consultation to see if working together is a good fit.

Dr. Motykie will meet with you during your pre-operative appointment and he will take the time to answer any questions you may have about your surgery as well as to discuss your personal surgical plan in detail. Several different photographic views of the areas targeted for liposuction will be taken during this visit for inclusion in your medical record. These photographs are used to discuss the current contour of your body as well as the planning of your surgery. These photographs will also be used for reference during your actual surgery as well as to show you the difference in your body contour before and after your surgery.

“Safety first” is Dr Motykie’s motto so you will be required to give a thorough medical history, undergo a complete physical examination and obtain certain laboratory tests in order to evaluate your general, overall health prior to any surgery. If you are on a weight-loss plan, it is best to be close to your target weight prior to having your surgery. Some patients ask if it is better to start and exercise and diet program before or after surgery; Dr. Motykie’s answer is always both. If you start your wellness program prior to your surgery your body will be in better health for surgery and if you have already begun a health and wellness program prior to surgery, it will be easier for you to resume that same lifestyle program after surgery.

You will also receive all of your post-operative instructions and prescriptions for medications to be taken during your post-operative course. It is advised that you fill these prescriptions prior to your surgical date and bring them with you on the day of your surgery. In this way you will have all of the medications you need prior to your surgery and any questions and/or concerns you may have can be addressed prior to your actual procedure. Included in these medications are pain medication and antibiotics. You will be instructed to avoid taking drugs containing aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinning medication, anti-inflammatory drugs and any herbal supplements that are associated with an increased risk of bleeding during surgery. A complete list of medications, vitamins and herbs to avoid prior to your surgery will be given to you at you pre-operative appointment and it can also be downloaded by following this link(Medications to Avoid List).Depending on your health, you may be asked to take certain medications or adjust your current medications. Be prepared to discuss your use of any current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and/or drugs.

If you smoke cigarettes, you absolutely must stop smoking well in advance of surgery. If you are a smoker, plan to quit at least two weeks prior to your surgery and not to resume smoking for at least two weeks after your surgery in order to avoid the increased risks of complications associated with smoking. It is absolutely imperative for smokers to follow these guidelines if they do not want to risk any healing complications after surgery. The nicotine in the cigarette smoke can causes the blood vessels necessary for proper healing to shrink which can lead to healing problems after surgery. It is also important to avoid sunlight exposure before and after your surgery because sunlight exposure can cause permanent darkening of post-operative bruising.

Guidelines on eating and drinking the night prior to surgery as well as everything you need to prepare and/or bring with you the day of surgery will also be explained and given to you in your pre-operative packet (Link to Pre-operative packet). Do not go on a stringent diet before or after surgery, as this can inhibit your ability to heal. If you develop a cold or infection of any kind prior to surgery, let Dr Motykie’s office know as soon as possible because your surgery may need to be postponed for safety reasons. Lastly, the consumption of alcohol prior to surgery can lead to an increased risk of bleeding during your surgery and you are therefore advised to limit your alcohol intake for the week prior to surgery. In addition, alcohol can interfere with your post-operative medications and should therefore be avoided as long as you are taking prescription medications (usually the first week after surgery).

During your recovery period, post-operative retreats with full time nursing staff are available. (Link to Retreat page). Reservations for these retreats should be scheduled in advance to your surgery. These retreats will offer personalized shuttle service to and from Dr Motykie’s office after your surgery. If you choose not to stay at a retreat after your surgery, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to take care of you for at least the first day or two after your surgery. (You may also need to have someone drive you back and forth for your first few follow-up visits). You will also be given several post-operative visit dates and specific times that you will need to follow-up with Dr Motykie during your recovery process.

As your healing progresses, your “good” days will increase and your tired, recuperating days will decrease. Many patients get frustrated during the healing process because they want to get out and enjoy their new body and new “look.”  All patients vary in their ability and speed to recovery after surgery. Most commonly patients can expect their final result to be evident at six months after surgery although some patients have continued improvement up to one year after surgery. Most importantly, I advise all of my patients to plan on committing to lifestyle changes including diet and exercise programs after their surgery. Using liposuction surgery as a springboard to a healthier lifestyle will not only improve your results surgery, it will also improve your overall physical, emotional and mental wellness.

In some patients, there is a role for Endermologie or deep tissue massage after liposuction since they can often help to reduce swelling and speed recovery. Also, radiofrequency skin tightening devices can sometimes achieve additional improvement in certain areas, such as the abdomen, neck, inner thighs, and arms.  These sorts of interventions are not necessary in every case and Dr Motykie will help guide you in order to determine if and when these types of modalities may be of benefit to you during your recovery process.

There is a common perception that the fat comes back in different areas of the body that were not addressed during liposuction. Remember, exercise and dieting simply shrink your fat cells but they do not permanently remove them from your body. Therefore, if you return to poor eating habits and/or stray from exercising, the fat cells can fill back up with fat once again. On the other hand, liposuction permanently reduces the number of fat cells in your body because adult fat cells do not divide or replicate. When we gain weight, the fixed number of fat cells that we have in our body grow by increasing in size. Therefore removal of localized deposits of fat makes it more difficult to gain weight post-operatively in the treated areas. However, even though it may be more difficult for you to gain weight in these areas after liposuction, it is certainly still possible if you do not follow a proper diet and exercise program since the remaining cells can still fill up with fat. Lastly, you will most likely not store fat in strange places after liposuction because the overall number and sensitivity of fat cells is still most likely less in other areas of your body than in your original trouble areas.

Once all of your swelling has disappeared you will begin to notice a decrease in your weight. Sometimes the weight loss can be 5-10lbs but it may appear to be much more significant because your body has been “sculpted” to give you a much more fit and trim appearance.  It is not unusual for my patients to drop several sizes in the clothing they wear and have the appearance of losing more than 30lbs even though in reality the actual weight loss may be much less. As your swelling subsides, your new contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop. The fulfillment you feel from the results of your liposuction should continue as long as you control your weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

NIGHT AFTER SURGERY

Temporary bruising, swelling and numbness are common the first night after surgery. The local anesthesia injected with the tumescent solution during you liposuction procedure will remain for 12 to 24 hours following liposuction surgery that will help to minimize your immediate post-operative discomfort.

You may experience some oozing of fluid (Fruit juice in color) from the small access point incisions overnight. This is completely normal so please do not be alarmed or concerned. The fluid is not actual bleeding but rather it is some of the remaining tumescent fluid that was placed during your surgery. Some of this fluid is expected to leave your body after the surgery and it will generally stop sometime overnight.  You may need to go to the bathroom frequently during the night because of the IV fluids you were given during your liposuction surgery. Drink a lot of fluids in order to keep up with this fluid loss. As your body begins to balance itself out, it will rid itself of this extra “water weight and everything will return back to normal.

ONE DAY AFTER SURGERY

The next morning following your surgery, you will return to Dr Motykie’s office for your first post-operative visit. You should leave all garments and dressings intact overnight and until you reach the office the following morning.  Upon arrival to the office you will be escorted to a private examination room where your dressings will be changed and your operative sites will be evaluated. After your examination, you will be placed back into your compression garment and you will be allowed to return to your recovery retreat or back to your home. All of your questions will be answered and you will be given instructions for the following week.

ONE WEEK AFTER SURGERY

The results of your surgery will typically be obscured by swelling and bruising at one week after surgery. In fact, you may even notice during the first week or two after your surgery that your weight has actually increased and some of your clothes may feel even tighter than they did before surgery. Do not be alarmed, this is completely normal and is due to swelling and added water weight. It is a well-known fact that “fat floats” since it is less dense or “lighter” than water. After surgery, the fat that was removed by liposuction is often temporarily replaced with “swelling” (i.e. water).  All of this water adds temporary extra weight and volume to your body. For this reason, during the first week after your surgery you will notice yourself going to the bathroom frequently until your body begins to slowly reach equilibrium and shed all of the extra “water weight.”

Even though most patients can return to work and drive their own vehicles within a few days after surgery,  you may still need someone to drive you to your first few post-operative visits. If you are in good physical condition, your recovery from liposuction may be somewhat easier and quicker because I find that physical activity after liposuction tends to promote healing, improve bruising and reduce swelling.  In regards to an exercise program, use common sense and use pain as your guide; if it hurts, simply don’t do it!  If you are returning to some exercise, whether sit-ups or weights, and it is still very sore, then I would advise you to wait several more days or possibly even a week until returning to the same activity.  When you return to the activity, start at half speed and increase to your normal routine as long as you do not feel any pain during and/or the day after your workout.  Although exercising will not adversely affect your end result, it may temporarily cause more swelling after the exercise that will subside over the next few hours. The majority of my liposuction patients are back to their regular workout routine within a couple of weeks after their surgery.

Each surgeon has his or her preference and philosophy in regards to wearing compression garments after a liposuction procedure. The purpose of wearing a compression garment after your liposuction procedure is to minimize bruising and swelling during your recovery process.

Dr Motykie prefers his post-liposuction patients wear compression garments full-time, 24hrs/day, for the first 7 days, followed by 12-16 hours a day for the subsequent 7 days. Wearing the compression garment for longer than the necessary amount of time can lead to unevenness or “creasing” of the skin in certain areas and should be avoided for periods of time longer than the initial two weeks after surgery. After this, some patients like the support offered by a light compression garment such as spanks or spandex clothing for an additional week.

Some post-operative patients may notice bruising for several weeks after liposuction. It can take anywhere from a week to several weeks to go away completely, but in almost all instances it is harmless and is not a cause for concern.  Sun exposure to the bruises can promote darkening of the areas and delay the lightening process.

ONE MONTH AFTER SURGERY

If you are still feeling a bit tired during this time don’t worry because it will take a few weeks or months to feel completely like yourself again after surgery. Depending on the amount of physical exertion required to perform your expected duties, you should already be back into your normal rhythm at work. Post-operative swelling can last for several months and many patients may actually increase in weight over the first month after surgery due to swelling and retained “water weight.” Don’t worry, this weight gain and swelling is only temporary and it will begin to drop off as the healing process progresses.  Sometimes small inflammation nodules can appear around this time. Typically, these will tend to soften and go away on their own but massaging the area yourself and/or undergoing Ultrasound or Endermologie treatments can hasten the process.

Vigorous exercise and workout routines may begin at this point in your recovery process. Pain is your ultimate guide and any activity that is causing discomfort and/or pain needs to be avoided until further along in your recovery process. During this period, the areas of liposuction may continue to have some temporary numbness that will return to normal sensitivity slowly over time. Lastly, as sensation begins to return some patients experience an “itchy” sensation as the nerves begin to “wake up.” This itching is completely normal and it is often relieved with an over the counter anti-histamine such as Benadryl or Claritin.

Over the next several months many of the benefits of your body contouring surgery will begin to materialize. You will notice your body shrinking, your swelling decreasing and your weight dropping.  Expect some days of tiredness and recuperation as your body continues to heal from surgery. This period is often called the “rollercoaster” time period because you will go through mixed emotions of excitement, frustration and happiness as you come to grips with your new body and the overall recovery process.  Almost all patients go through this period of discovery, learning and healing. You must keep looking forward and realize that over the next several months you will begin to enjoy your new body and its dramatic transformation from surgery.

There are several different “types” of liposuction available in today. All of the “newer” techniques are in reality variations of the original standard technique developed over 30 years ago which employ the infiltration of tumescent fluid prior to surgery in order to decrease the risks of bleeding as well as numbing the target areas both during the surgery and post-operatively. After the fluid has been injected, the fat may be treated using one of the newer technologies such as ultrasound or laser in order to “melt” the fat prior to its removal. After treating/melting the fat, traditional liposuction is always performed in order to physically remove the fatty tissue from the body.

Standard Tumescent Liposuction: Even though the field of liposuction is constantly evolving, all forms of suction assisted lipectomy (SAL) currently being performed utilize some variation of the original tumescent technique first performed back in 1977. The tumescent technique entails infiltrating large volumes of fluid containing dilute amounts of medicine (lidocaine and epinephrine) into the fatty tissues prior to performing the liposuction procedure. The purpose of this fluid is to provide numbing of the area to be liposuctioned as well as minimizing chances of bleeding and bruising during and after the procedure.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction: Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)(Vaser)(High def) uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat prior to its removal by surgical suctioning. The specialized ultrasound cannula is inserted after infiltration of tumescent fluid as above. After the fluid is in place, a specialized ultrasound emitting cannula is inserted that transmits vibrations to break down fat cell membranes for easier transport of the fat molecules from the body by standard SAL techniques.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction (e.g. Smart Lipo, Cool Lipo, Slim Lipo, etc) is a technique that utilizes thermal energy to emulsify and remove excess fat from target areas. Similar to UAL, a specialized laser emitting cannula is inserted taht melts the fat from the target areas prior to their removal via standard liposuction techniques.

When looking into liposuction, do not be allured by gimmicks, lower costs, or quick-fix solutions that pale in comparison to the artistry and skill of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure   Just remember, an excellent liposuction result has far more to do with the surgeon’s integrity, good judgment, skills and artistry than any new machine which promises perfection. As a contouring and sculpting procedure, liposuction is similar in many ways to sculpting a beautiful piece of artwork; finding the right sculptor is far more important than finding the right chisel.