Dr. John LeRoy is an experienced surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia who specializes in liposuction, body contouring, and other cosmetic procedures. He feels that patient education and discussion is vital to a successful surgery and is interested in helping patients make the best and most informed decisions about any procedures that they choose to undergo. He has compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding liposuction and body contouring, and he is more than willing to address additional questions and concerns that patients may have.
Good candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18, within 25 pounds of their ideal body weights, and have unsuccessfully tried to eliminate pockets of body fat through changes in diet and exercise. Candidates should be in excellent physical and mental health and should maintain realistic expectations as to what liposuction can accomplish for them.
Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart and lung diseases, should not undergo liposuction. Similarly, individuals taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning medications should refrain from doing so before and after surgery. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and individuals who are allergic to lidocaine anesthesia should not undergo liposuction or other body contouring surgery options.
Liposuction is not an effective weight-loss treatment option for individuals who are obese. Obese patients will run the risk of gaining the weight back if drastic changes in diet and exercise routines are not adopted. Also, removing large amounts of fat through liposuction is dangerous and increases the risk of the patient developing serious complications after surgery. Liposuction should only be used by patients who are seeking to improve the shape of the body through contouring, and it should not be used by individuals as a surgical technique for weight loss.
Although liposuction can reduce the prominence of cellulite, it is not an effective means of permanently curing the problem. The reason is that cellulite is influenced by factors such as gender and genetics that liposuction cannot treat. Therefore, individuals who visit our Atlanta, Georgia practice should not expect body contouring through liposuction to eliminate cellulite from the body permanently.
Liposuction removes fat cells from certain areas of the body. Once removed, those fat cells will not return. However, that doesn't mean that the remaining fat cells will not expand and lead to weight gain. To prevent the return of this weight, patients who undergo liposuction should adopt healthy diets and exercise routines.
During the initial consultations for liposuction, Dr. John LeRoy will give patients instructions on how to prepare for the operation. Patients will be advised to stop taking aspirin and other medications that affect blood clotting. Also, the day before the surgery, patients should pack loose clothes and get plenty of sleep. Since patients will not be able to drive home after surgery, they should also arrange for other people to give them rides. Dr. LeRoy will give patients detailed instructions on the best ways to prepare for their specific body contouring surgeries. Patients should follow instructions closely to ensure a successful surgical recovery.
Patients can normally return to their daily routines about two weeks after liposuction. A full recovery usually takes a few months. However, recovery time depends on the size of the treated area.
Patients will experience bruising, swelling, and numbness during the first two weeks after liposuction surgery, and Dr. John LeRoy recommends that patients continue to wear the compression garments provided to them during this time. He also advises patients to take showers instead of baths during the first week after liposuction. After surgery, patients will visit with Dr. LeRoy for check-up appointments so that he can monitor the healing process and make sure that an infection does not develop. Patients will begin to see optimal results emerge over the next few months.
Patients who opt for body contouring through liposuction should understand that there is no surgical procedure that can take the place of a healthy lifestyle. Although the fat cells that are removed during liposuction will not return, it is still possible for the patient to gain weight after the operation. Remaining fat cells in the body still maintain the ability to expand and contribute to weight gain. Individuals may also find it easier to gain weight in areas on the body that never used to be problematic. To prevent this eventuality, liposuction patients should alter their exercise and diet and habits to complement their healthier figures.
Dr. John LeRoy usually advises patients to begin light exercise routines, such as walking, at least three days after liposuction surgery and to increase their activity levels slowly over the next two weeks. Strenuous activity, however, should be avoided for at least the first month following liposuction to give the body adequate time to heal. Dr. LeRoy will also recommend that patients eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and closely monitor their fat intakes to help maintain their new figures. For more tips on maintaining the results of liposuction, contact our practice today.
Liposuction can be combined with other plastic surgery and body contouring options, such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast reduction, and breast lift. Contact Dr. John LeRoy to learn more about these procedures or to schedule a personal consultation for a body contouring surgery. We offer affordable financing options for all of our cosmetic procedures.
Dr. John LeRoy is dedicated to helping patients in the Atlanta, Georgia area understand what is involved with body contouring options such as liposuction. If you would like more information about liposuction or wish to schedule an initial consultation, contact our cosmetic surgery practice today.
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Premier cosmetic surgeon John LeRoy provides the Atlanta, Georgia area with high-quality body contouring services. Please fill out the form below to schedule an initial consultation for liposuction.