How Long Does Liposuction Take?

• 29 March 2021
• MCC Marketing

Last updated on July 10, 2024

People who are actively trying to lose weight but who aren’t fully satisfied with their results may be considering liposuction to remove the last remaining fat and contour their body’s lines. As long as you’re currently at a stable weight and can commit to maintaining your weight after the procedure, our experts at My Cosmetic Clinic at Balmain, NSW can perform a lipo procedure in just a few hours and get you on your journey to loving your body.

How Long Does Liposuction Take?

There’s no standard time for a lipo procedure because each person is different and requires a different amount of fat to be removed. Depending on the area you’re having treated and how much fat you’re having removed, your procedure can take between one and three hours to complete. However, this is only the time for the actual surgical procedure. The preoperative and post-operative procedures will extend your time in the clinic to a full day.

The area of the body you’re having treated has a significant impact on how long your lipo procedure takes. For instance, if you’re having the procedure on your abdomen, it will take approximately one hour. Again, this can differ based on the amount of fat we’re removing as well. A lipo procedure on the neck, conversely, will probably take less than half an hour to complete. We will provide you with time expectations prior to your surgery day.

Full-Time Commitment

In addition to the surgical procedure, you will be required to arrive for your appointment at least an hour before your surgical time to allow for our preoperative procedures. This involves checking your vitals and preparing you for anesthesia. We won’t rush your preoperative workup, so you can expect us to take the full hour to prepare you for your procedure. You’ll also have to stay in the recovery room for at least an hour following the procedure as well.

Each person responds to anesthesia differently, so there’s no set time you’ll be in the recovery area following your surgery. You’ll need to be fully recovered from the anesthesia, which can take an hour or so depending on when your oxygen levels return to normal. You won’t be able to drive a motor vehicle for 24 hours after your procedure, so you’ll have to have someone with you to drive you home and stay with you until the next day.

An Additional Note About Anesthesia

In most cases, patients who undergo lipo surgery do not have to get general anesthesia. We prefer using twilight sedation and a tumescent local anaesthetic to reduce the risk of complications and recovery time. This means you probably won’t have to stay in the recovery area as long as you would if you did have general anesthesia. That being said, if you prefer general anesthesia, that can be arranged, but plan to spend more time in the recovery room.

Overall Recovery Time

Recovery after lipo surgery is swift, as you’ll be able to walk immediately following the procedure and can return to work after just three days. We’ll ask you to wear a compression garment over the treatment area for 24 hours a day for the first week, and then 12 hours a day for the next two weeks. This garment encourages blood circulation and helps you recover more quickly from the procedure. Even if you feel great, keep this garment on.

You can begin to return to your everyday activities, including exercise, as soon as you feel up to it, which usually takes most patients between one and two weeks. However, this time is dependent on how many areas you have treated and where those areas are. If several areas are treated during the same procedure, expect your overall recovery time to be extended to up to four weeks. You likely won’t need compression garments for longer than three weeks.

The Ideal Candidate

Surprisingly, the ideal candidate for lipo surgery isn’t someone who is obese, as this procedure is designed to remove fat that refuses to shift or go away with exercise and diet. While you may still lose some weight after the surgery, you should be at a stable weight to get the best results. Even though this procedure can be safely performed on anyone of any age, the younger you are, the better your skin will aid in the healing process.

You should also have reasonable expectations about your results from lipo surgery. Your life won’t drastically change if you decide to have it, but you will probably feel better about your appearance. In general, lipo surgery is a procedure that has a high satisfaction rate combined with a low risk of complications, which makes it a great choice for many people. However, we’ll go over your options to make sure it’s the right procedure for you and your goals.

Book a Consultation

The only way to know if lipo is a procedure that could provide a solution to your stubborn fat is to meet with our doctors and learn more about the surgery. We’ll develop a personalized treatment plan for you that provides the details of what to expect every step of the way. Contact our team at My Cosmetic Clinic at Balmain, NSW and schedule your initial consultation today.