Liposuction Liposculpture San Diego Information

INFORMED CONSENT  for LIPOSUCTION

(SUCTION ASSISTED LIPECTOMY SURGERY)

This document contains information about liposuction surgery (suction assisted lipectomy) including risks and alternative treatment.  Please read each paragraph, and ask Dr. Laverson if questions arise or if you see words you don’t know.  Your signature at the end confirms your understanding, and indicates your desire for liposuction.

INTRODUCTION

Liposuction is a surgical technique to remove unwanted fat from specific areas of the body, including the face and neck, upper arms, trunk, abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs, and the knees, calves, and ankles.  This is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method for removing localized bulges of fat that do not diminish or disappear with diet and/or exercise.  Liposuction may be performed as a primary procedure for body contouring or may be combined with other surgical techniques such as facelift san diego, breast enhancement san diego, breast lift san diego, tummy tuck san diego,  abdominoplasty, or thigh lift san diego to tighten loose skin and supporting structures.

The best candidates for liposuction san diego are individuals of relatively normal weight who have excess fat in particular body areas.  Having firm, elastic skin will result in a better final contour after liposuction.  Skin that has diminished tone due to stretch marks, weight loss, or natural aging may not reshape itself to the new contours.  Additional surgical techniques (dermo-lipectomy) may be indicated to remove and tighten sagging skin.  Body-contour irregularities due to structures other than fat cannot be improved by liposuction.  Liposuction by itself will not improve areas of dimpled skin known as “cellulite”.

Suction-assisted lipectomy is accomplished with a hollow metal specialized tube known as a cannula that is inserted through small skin incision(s) and is repeatedly passed through the treated area.  The cannula is attached to a vacuum source which provides suction needed to gradually remove the bulge.

Several techniques are applied by plastic surgeons for liposuction.  Most often, Dr. Laverson favors the tumescent liposuction technique involving infiltration of fluid containing dilute epinephrine into the fat bulge prior to suctioning.  This technique reduces bleeding during the procedure.

Specialized support garments are provided at the time of surgery, and will be put on you after the liposuction is complete, while you are still under anesthesia.  This is to be worn for one to two weeks afterward and applies controlled compression to treated areas.  The garment is believed to diminish swelling and improve your final result by evenly distributing residual fat during the early post-surgical period.    

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT

Alternative treatment consists of diet and exercise to improve your physique and/or figure.  These measures reduce excess body fat diffusely, not just in a localized area like liposuction.

Direct surgical removal of excess skin and fat (surgical dermo-lipectomy) may be necessary instead of or in addition to liposuction in situations where there is excess skin.  After liposuction beneath an area of loose skin, the skin will likely wrinkle and sag further.

An additional alternative to liposuction is skin tightening San Diego, skin shrinking San Diego, or laser skin smooting San Diego.  These non-surgical approaches usually require multiple treatment sessions.  Visible results may or may not materialize, and are usually less dramatic than those achieved by liposuction and/or dermo-lipectiomy.

RISKS OF LIPOSUCTION SURGERY

Every surgical procedure involves risk.  Because you are considering liposuction, It is important to understand associated risks.  Your choice to undergo this (or any) procedure should be based on a comparison risk to expected benefit.  Although most patients do not experience complications, please ask Dr. Laverson if you have any questions about the following possible outcomes.

Patient selection – Individuals with poor skin tone, medical problems, obesity, or unrealistic expectations may not be candidates for liposuction.  This includes Liposuction hips San Diego, Liposuction thighs San Diego, Liposuction butt San Diego, Liposuction buttocks San Diego, and liposuction legs San Diego.

Bleeding – It is possible, though unusual, to have a bleeding episode during or after surgery.  Should post-operative bleeding occur, it may require emergency treatment to drain accumulated blood or require a blood transfusion.  Do not take any aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications for seven days before surgery, as this may increase the risk of bleeding.  Non-prescription “herbs” and dietary supplements can increase the risk of surgical bleeding.

Infection – An infection is quite unusual after liposuction San Diego.  Should an infection occur, treatment including antibiotics or additional surgery may be necessary.  In extremely rare instances, life-threatening infections, including toxic shock syndrome have been noted after liposuction surgery.

Skin scarring – Although good wound healing after a surgical procedure is expected, abnormal scars may occur within the skin and deeper tissues.  In rare cases, abnormal scars may result.  Scars may be unattractive and of a different color than surrounding skin.  Additional treatments, including surgery, may be needed to treat abnormal scarring.

Change in and skin sensation – A temporary decrease in skin sensation after liposuction thighs San Diego, liposuction hips San Diego, liposuction waist San Diego, liposuction back San Diego, or liposuction in other areas.  This usually resolves over a period of time.  Diminished (or complete loss of skin sensation) infrequently occurs and may not totally resolve.

Skin discoloration/swelling – Skin discoloration and swelling normally occurs following liposuction.  In rare situations, swelling and skin discoloration may persist for long periods of time.  Permanent skin discoloration is rare.

Skin contour irregularities – Contour irregularities and depressions in the skin may occur after liposuction San Diego.  Visible and palpable wrinkling of skin can occur.  Additional treatments including surgery may be necessary to treat skin contour irregularities following liposuction San Diego.  This includes liposuction thighs San Diego, liposuction butt San Diego, liposuction hips San Diego, and Liposuction Neck San Diego.

Asymmetry – It may not be possible to achieve symmetrical body appearance from liposuction surgery.  Factors such a skin tone, bony prominence, and muscle tone may contribute to normal asymmetry in body features.

Seroma – Fluid accumulations infrequently occur in areas where liposuction San Diego has been performed.  Additional treatments or surgery to drain accumulations of fluid may be necessary.

Long term effects – Subsequent changes in body contour may occur as the result of aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or other circumstances not related to liposuction San Diego.  This includes liposuction thighs San Diego, liposuction hips San Diego, Liposuction neck San Diego, liposuction legs San Diego, Liposuction Buttocks San Diego, and Liposuction in other areas.

Tumescent liposuction San Diego – There is the possibility that large volumes of fluid containing epinephrine that is injected into fat during surgery may contribute to fluid overload or systemic reaction to this medication.  Additional treatment including hospitalization may be necessary.

Other – You may be disappointed with the results of liposuction.  Sometimes, additional surgery is recommended to improve your results.

Surgical anesthesia – Both local and general anesthesia involve a small amount of risk.  There is the possibility of complication, injury, and even death from anesthesia or sedation.   Such complications are rare after liposuction hips San Diego, liposuction thighs San Diego, liposuction legs San Diego, butt liposuction San Diego, and liposuction San Diego in other areas.

Allergic reactions – In rare cases, local allergies to tape, suture material, or topical preparations have been reported.  Systemic reactions which are more serious may occur due to drugs used during surgery and prescription medicines.  Allergic reactions may require additional treatment.

Surgical shock – In rare circumstances, liposuction can cause severe trauma, particularly when  multiple or extensive areas are suctioned at one time.  Although serious complications are infrequent, infections or exessive fluid loss can lead to severe illness and even death.  Should surgical shock occur after liposuction, hospitalization and additional treatment would be necessary.  Individuals undergoing liposuction procedures where large volumes of fat is removed are at greater risk of complications.  Patients contemplating large volume liposuction San Diego, greater than 5000 cc’s, may be advised to have post operative monitoring and aftercare that involves overnight hospitalization.

Pulmonary complications – Fat embolism syndrome occurs when fat droplets are trapped in the lungs.  This is a very rare and possibly fatal complication of suction-assisted lipectomy.  Pulmonary complications may occur secondarily to both blood clots (pulmonary emboli) or partial collapse of the lungs after general anesthesia.  Should either of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.  Pulmonary emboli can be life-threatening or fatal in some circumstances. 

Skin loss – Skin loss is very rare after liposuction.  Additional treatments including surgery may be necessary.

Chronic pain – Chronic pain and discomfort following liposuction is very rare.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance companies exclude coverage for cosmetic surgery San Diego, such as liposuction.  Treatment of related surgical complications may also not be covered.  Please review your health insurance contract for more specific information.  Complications of cosmetic surgery may be a benefit of the limited Cosmetassure policy purchased by Dr. Laverson for all Cosmetic Surgery San Diego patients at Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery.

ADDITIONAL SURGERY NECESSARY

Many conditions may influence the long term result from liposuction.  Even though complications occur infrequently, the risks cited above are particularly associated with liposuction.  Other problems may develop, but are even more uncommon.  Should complications occur, additional surgery or other treatments may be necessary.  Although good results are expected and usually achieved, the practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science.  Your satisfaction with the final result can therefore not be guaranteed.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The cost of surgery involves several charges for services provided.  The total includes fees charged by your surgeon, the anesthesiologist, surgical equipment and supplies, post-operative garment(s), and the outpatient surgical facility.  Additional costs may be incurred should complications develop.  Secondary charges for revision surgery would also be your responsibility.  If this becomes necessary, Dr. Laverson usually does everything possible to minimize additional cost to you. 

DISCLAIMER

Informed consent documents communicate information about proposed surgical treatment with disclosure of risks and alternative treatment(s).  The informed consent process attempts to disclose risks that should generally meet the needs of most patients in most circumstances.

Informed consent documents should not be considered all inclusive in defining other methods of care and risks encountered.  Dr. Laverson may provide you with additional or different information which is based on all the facts in your particular case and the state of medical knowledge with respect to liposuction San Diego, liposuction hips San Diego, liposuction thighs San Diego, liposuction legs San Diego, liposuction belly San Diego, liposuction buttocks San Diego, and liposuction neck San Diego.

Informed consent documents are not intended to define or serve as the standard of medical care.  Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all of the facts involved in an individual case and are subject to change as scientific knowledge and technology advance and as practice patterns evolve.

Please understand the above information and have all of your questions answered by Dr. Steve Laverson Plastic Surgeon San Diego before signing the consent below.

CONSENT FOR LIPOSUCTION SURGERY, PROCEDURE, or TREATMENT

1. My signature below represents a request that San Diego Plastic Surgeon Dr. Steve Laverson and assistants perform liposuction surgery upon me in the specified areas.  The above  INFORMED CONSENT for LIPOSUCTION SURGERY (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy Surgery) has been read by me and is understood.

2. Rarely, during the course of liposuction surgery San Diego, unusual circumstances may necessitate additional or different procedures than those above.  Dr. Laverson is authorized to perform such other procedures that are in the exercise of his professional judgment necessary, desirable, and in my own best interest.  The authority granted under this paragraph shall include all conditions that require treatment and are not known to Dr. Laverson at the commencement of  surgery.

3. I consent to the administration of indicated anesthetics.  Anesthesia involves a small risk and the possibility of complications, injury, and extremely rarely death.

4. No guarantee or warranty has been expressed or implied by anyone with respect to results that will be achieved.

5. I consent to the disposal of any tissue, medical devices or body parts which may be removed.

6. IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME IN A WAY THAT I UNDERSTAND:

a. LIPOSUCTION SURGERY / LIPOSCULPTURE SAN DIEGO

b.  ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES and/or TREATMENTS

c. RISKS OF LIPOSUCTION SAN DIEGO and LIPOSCULPTURE SAN DIEGO

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