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.
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.
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.
Awake liposuction is incredibly versatile and can be performed almost anywhere. You may choose to have your surgeon sculpt your:
Recovery time is generally faster with an awake liposuction procedure, as it does not involve general anesthesia. This means aftercare is less complicated, and you can typically go home about an hour after the surgery. However, your body will still require three to five days of rest before you can return to work, and there may be some restrictions on lifting or other activities for a few weeks.
Realistically it will take some time to see the final results as some swelling will be normal for a few weeks or even months. Once the swelling goes down, the results of your procedure will become more noticeable.
We are able to remove up to 5 liters of fat during a liposuction procedure. At our Florida locations, state regulations limit us to removing a maximum of 4 liters of fat. For reference, 4 liters of fat weighs about 8 pounds.
The price of surgery will vary depending on the doctor and location you choose, as well as the number of areas you wish to treat.