Before
The first step to undergoing Seattle cervicofacial liposuction is to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Santos. During your appointment at Seattle Plastic Surgery, he will ask about your lifestyle, medical history, and goals for the procedure. This will help him understand your unique circumstances and customize a procedure that will get you the results you want. He may also briefly examine the potential treatment areas to evaluate your skin quality and anatomy.
If Dr. Santos believes that facial liposuction will help you achieve your ideal look safely, he will describe the procedure and make recommendations based on his examination. He may also recommend procedures in addition to or instead of facial liposuction. This may include a facelift, Botox injections, buccal fat removal, or a chin implant.
During
On the day of your procedure, depending on your specific needs, a licensed anesthesia provider will place you under either local or general anesthesia. If under local anesthesia, you will remain partially awake, but perfectly comfortable. Once adequately sedated, Dr. Santos will begin the procedure by injecting the tumescent fluid into the treatment areas.
After the fat has adequately broken up, he will make a small incision hidden within the face’s natural contours. Through this incision, he will place the liposuction cannula. Moving it gently back and forth, he will collect the excess fat. Once he treats all the planned areas, he will stitch the incisions and you can slowly wake up.
If you combine cervicofacial liposuction with a facelift or other procedure, he may perform either procedure first. This depends on your anatomy and needs. Often, liposuction will come first and then he will remove leftover extra skin to achieve tight, youthful contours.
After
For at least two weeks after surgery, Dr. Santos will instruct you to wear a compression garment. The garment promotes the best results and skin retraction. This also helps reduce swelling and make your recovery more comfortable. He may prescribe antibiotics and prescription pain medications, though many patients find a limited need for prescription strength painkillers.
Side effects may include swelling, bruising, redness, itchiness, tenderness, and pain. Generally, these side effects improve within one to two weeks. Dr. Santos usually recommends that patients return to work after about five to seven days depending on their job. However, many patients can safely do some basic household chores within one to two days.