You know it’s time for a nip or tuck. You’ve done your research. You’re all in! But now what? Let’s talk about what happens between the before-and-after photos, so you know just what to expect during your liposuction experience here at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery.
Step 1: Schedule Your Consultation
Planning your first visit is as simple as can be. Request a consultation through our website or give us a call at (636) 530-6161. You’ll be connected to a member of our friendly front desk staff, who will ask you a few basic questions about yourself and set up your appointment for you.
If you’ve never had a plastic surgery consultation before, it’s understandable to be a little nervous. But once you step through the doors of our office, you’ll notice a different atmosphere than the one you experience at your normal doctor’s office — it’s relaxed, it’s sophisticated, and it’s focused on your transformation.
Like any doctor’s visit, this appointment begins when a member of our medical team takes your vital signs and asks you some basic questions about your medical history. During this appointment, you’ll also meet with one of our surgeons for a physical examination and a more in-depth discussion of the procedure and the results you want. This appointment is an important time for you to ask questions and share your concerns. We want you to feel educated and confident about whatever decision you make.
Step 2: Prep for Surgery
If you decide to undergo liposuction here at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, the weeks leading up to your surgery are the time to begin preparing. Your surgeon will give you a document that details the lifestyle adjustments you’ll need to make in order to prepare yourself for surgery. One of the most important things you can do to prep for surgery is to quit smoking. In a previous blog post, I mentioned how dangerous smoking can be in regards to breast augmentation, and the same rules apply to liposuction surgery.
Step 3: The Big Day!
The day of surgery is when all your anticipation and preparation pays off. You’ll arrive at our clinic bright and early in the morning. Keep in mind that you’ll need a friend or family member with you, since you won’t be able to drive yourself home afterward. Depending on the extent of your liposuction procedure, you will either be “put under” with general anesthesia or simply sedated and kept comfortable with local anesthesia.
In either case, your comfort and safety is our utmost concern, and your surgeon discusses everything that will happen before your surgery begins. Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, so you can return home the same day.
Step 4: Recovery
One of the things that makes St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery special is our use of rapid-recovery techniques in many surgeries. This approach, which is really a combination of techniques used during and after surgery, ensures that ours are some of the most comfortable plastic surgery patients in Missouri.
That said, you should expect some bruising and swelling in addition to the typical soreness. Depending on which areas of your body were treated, you may require a few days to a week off from work. You’ll need to spend a bit more time away from strenuous activities, including working out. Your surgeon will provide a more specific timeline that’s unique to your procedure.
Step 5: Payment
Because liposuction is a purely elective cosmetic procedure, it’s not covered by private insurance. However, we’re pleased to offer third-party financing through both Prosper™ Healthcare Lending and CareCredit®. We believe in doing everything possible to help you achieve your best body, and our staff is happy to help you navigate the financing process.
Step 6: Work It!
Now that the hard part is over, it’s time to enjoy your new body and your new confidence. Liposuction leaves behind very small, inconspicuous scars, so get ready to feel newfound confidence in whatever outfit you choose. By following your surgeon’s instruction during the recuperation period, maintaining your weight after surgery, and living a reasonably healthy lifestyle, you’ll be able to enjoy your results for many years.
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