What is Awake Lipo?
Awake liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure where the patient is awake during the surgery. If you want liposuction but the thought of going under general anesthesia makes you nervous, awake liposuction might be perfect for you. Awake liposuction provides a faster recovery since general anesthesia is not needed.
How Does Awake Lipo Work?
Awake liposuction essentially works the same way as traditional liposuction except that you aren't asleep during the procedure. Your surgeon will use sedatives and local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during this minimally invasive surgery.
When you're ready, the surgeon will carefully pass a cannula into your body through small incisions and then further numb the area with a tumescent solution, which is a local anesthetic that reduces pain and bleeding. They will then remove any unwanted fat. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, so your surgeon will shape and sculpt the body, removing fat strategically to get the desired body shape.
What Are the Benefits of Awake Lipo?
Because you're not asleep during this type of liposuction, your surgeon can talk to you during your procedure. This can result in better results since your surgeon can ask you to flex specific muscles or move into a certain position. This can help them sculpt your body more effectively, allowing them to see certain aspects of their work more clearly as they sculpt and contour your body. This can result in a better finished product.
Awake liposuction is also less risky because local anesthesia poses fewer risks than general anesthesia. It also lets you get back to life more quickly. You will have to take it easy and rest after your liposuction, of course, but skipping general anesthesia means avoiding feeling groggy and disconnected for hours after your surgery. General anesthesia can stay in your body for up to 24 hours after your procedure, affecting you much longer than a local anesthetic.
Awake liposuction also utilizes tumescent fluid. This mixture of fluids and lidocaine not only helps numb the area but also makes the fat swell, making it easier to remove. The result is less swelling and bruising after the procedure. This makes recovery faster and easier.
What Parts of the Body Can Be Treated?
Awake liposuction is incredibly versatile and can be performed almost anywhere. You may choose to have your surgeon sculpt your:
- Abdomen
- Arms
- Armpits
- Ankles
- Axillary/Bra Bulge
- Upper Back
- Mid Back
- Lower Back
- Chest
- Chin
- Hips
- Love Handles
- Knees
- Neck
- Pubic Area
- Thighs
Am I a Good Candidate for Awake Lipo?
The best candidates for awake liposuction are nonsmokers who are generally healthy and close to their ideal body weight. But there is a lot more wiggle room in the criteria for awake liposuction than there is for traditional liposuction. Patients with a BMI of 40 who aren't good candidates for general anesthesia are eligible for awake liposuction. They may need multiple surgical sessions to achieve ideal results, but awake liposuction is an option for many who would otherwise be denied liposuction surgery.
