Preparation for Surgery
It is very important that Dr. Van Laeken is aware of the state of your general health prior to surgery. Please let her know of any allergies you have, medications, herbal supplements, or vitamins you are taking as well as the reasons for taking them. It is also important that you inform Dr. Van Laeken if you have a tendency for Keloid scarring (thick, wide, or raised scars).

If you are a smoker we encourage you to quit prior to proceeding with Liposuction. Smoking can interfere with the blood flow to the skin, and will inhibit the healing of the incisions.

Depending on your age as well as your general health pre-operative tests may be ordered, such as blood tests, or an ECG.

It is important that you avoid taking vitamin E, anti-inflammatories or aspirin products for 2 weeks prior to surgery. These products are anti coagulants, and could lead to hematoma formation and bleeding during the surgery.

Most patients who have sedentary jobs plan to take 1 week off work. If your job involves a great deal of physical activity Dr. Van Laeken can advise you as to how much time you should take off.

Procedure
Dr. Van Laeken operates at several different hospitals, but generally performs Liposuction surgeries at either the False Creek Surgical Centre, or the Vancouver Plastic Surgery Centre. These are both state of the art, fully accredited private surgical facilities.

The procedure is performed under a spinal or general anaesthetic.

The incisions are usually smaller that ¼ inch. Dr. Van Laeken tries to make these incisions in very discreet areas. The incisions normally cannot be seen when wearing a bathing suit.

Recovery
When you arrive home from the clinic, you will be in your surgical compression garment. For the remainder of the day it is a good idea to rest in bed and apply ice packs to the affected areas. Drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration. You should get up and do short walks the day after surgery. Gentle massage in the areas of surgery is recommended to help avoid folds and rippling in the skin. Massage also helps to resolve the swelling. You may bath or shower as long as the water is only lukewarm as hot water can increase swelling.

A surgical compression garment is the most important part of the recovery period, as it helps to prevent any fluid building up under the skin, as well as aids in supporting the skin. Dr. Van Laeken suggests that you wear the garment day and night for 6 weeks post surgery. Be sure to put on something that has elasticity and support while you wash your garment, the more you wear the garment the better your recovery will be.

There will be swelling for up to 6 months post operatively and bruising for approximately 6 weeks.

Potential Complications
There are risks associated with any type of surgery. Although the incidence of complications is rare Dr. Van Laeken feels that all patients should be informed of the potential complications prior to proceeding with surgery.

This procedure is subject to the same complications as all other surgical procedures such as infection, bleeding, and failure to heal, which could require appropriate treatment including possible further surgery.

Haematoma - Blood can gather under the skin and cause a blood clot. If this does occur, Dr. Van Laeken can drain the area. Indications of a haematoma are a firm, painful lump that causes colour change in the skin. This rarely occurs after 48 hours post operatively.

Infection - Signs of infection are localized heat, redness, fever, and pain. Dr. Van Laeken can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Occasionally the area will need to be drained.

Seroma - Serum can accumulate underneath the skin. On occasion it is necessary to have the fluid drained.

Necrosis -Tissue loss that can occur when blood supply to the skin and tissue is compromised.

Swelling - There can be persistent swelling.

Hypersensitivity / Numbness - The sensation can be altered temporarily or permanently.

Phlebitis - This is due to a small blood clot, usually in the leg that gets into the blood stream and becomes lodged into the lungs. This is extremely rare.

Asymmetry - Symmetry is not always achieved.