Liposuction

Usually, liposuction is performed under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation so that you won’t feel pain during the procedure itself. Post-operatively, some soreness, tightness, and swelling are normal and can be managed with prescribed medications. Most of our Washington D.C. area patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate and say it feels similar to intense muscle soreness.

Aside from your initial consultation, you’ll be seen the day after your surgery and regularly over the course of the next year. These post-operative visits allow us to monitor your healing, provide support, and address any questions that may arise. Typically, most patients have about 3–5 follow-up visits within the first six months, with the final check-in occurring at the one-year mark.

You’ll begin to see noticeable changes within a few weeks as swelling starts to subside. However, it can take several months for the full results to become apparent as your body adjusts and residual swelling continues to subside. Final results are typically visible within three to six months. 

Dr. Bitar places incisions strategically in inconspicuous locations, such as natural skin folds or areas hidden by undergarments. The incisions used for liposuction are typically very small—just a few millimeters long. With proper care and time, most scars fade significantly and become barely noticeable.

Light walking is encouraged within the first few days after surgery to promote circulation and reduce the risk of complications. You’ll want to avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and high-impact workouts for at least four weeks. Once cleared by Dr. Bitar, you’ll be able to reintroduce exercise and gradually return to your usual fitness routine.

Absolutely. Liposuction is often combined with other body contouring procedures, such as a tummy tuck, breast surgery, or a Brazilian Butt Lift. It can also enhance the results of non-surgical skin tightening treatments. During your consultation, we’ll discuss all your goals and determine whether combining procedures is the right choice for you.

Common risks of liposuction include bruising, swelling, temporary numbness, and contour irregularities, like lumpiness or uneven skin texture, as your body heals. These are usually mild and improve on their own with time, compression garments, and follow-up care.

In rare cases, risks may include infection, bleeding, fluid accumulation (seromas), fat embolism, or changes in skin sensation. Patients who smoke or have certain underlying health conditions may face a higher risk of complications, which is why we require a thorough health screening and pre-op clearance before moving forward.

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take every precaution to prioritize your safety. This includes careful patient selection, the use of board-certified anesthesiologists, and providing attentive, personalized postoperative care.

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take pride in ensuring that we provide our patients with the best possible surgical experience, anticipating potential problems or setbacks and addressing them before they occur. This process includes pre-operative preparation, the actual surgery, and post-operative care.

• General Complications
  General complications can occur with any surgery. Cosmetic surgery is typically a safe procedure performed on healthy patients and, like all surgeries, carries a low risk. To further reduce the risk of complications, we operate at a first-class surgery center with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. To avoid postoperative complications, we advocate for early mobilization – patients seen in our office one or two days after surgery- and active participation in their own postoperative care. When we create a partnership, the results invariably improve.

• Bleeding
  Before surgery, our patients undergo testing to ensure they do not have any common bleeding disorders, as determined by their own physicians and through laboratory tests. Bleeding is rare with any form of liposuction. Before liposuction, we inject a tumescent solution that constricts the blood vessels and minimizes bleeding. In our practice, the rate of significant bleeding has been minimal.

• Infection/Wounds
  The most important step in avoiding infections and wounds is to perform the surgery at a first-rate surgical facility with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. Patients are given the appropriate intravenous antibiotic coverage throughout the surgery. During the surgery, the patient’s skin surface is cleaned thoroughly. After the procedure, our patients are prescribed antibiotics to minimize infection. As a result of these extra precautions, my rate of infection after liposuction is extremely rare. Since liposuction involves no skin removal or tissue manipulation, other than suctioning fat out of the body, open wounds are extremely rare.

• Nerve Injury
  We exercise caution around the nerves in the body and avoid aggressive liposuction techniques to minimize nerve injury. Temporary loss of sensation from a “stunned” nerve or a bruised nerve may occur in the time period after surgery, but sensation in the vast majority of cases returns within a few weeks.

• Irregular Skin Contour
  Since fat is removed from underneath the skin, and the skin is left intact, some minor irregularities on the skin surface can form. This is a common occurrence in liposuction and is not clinically significant or noticeable, except under very careful observation. In rare instances, either an excessive amount of fat is removed or appropriate liposuction is done, but the skin retracts abnormally. In this situation, a significant skin irregularity may form. The treatment involves either liposuction around the area, fat injections into the area, or a combination of both to smooth it out. This technique is highly effective and successful.

When searching for a plastic surgeon in the D.C. area, board certification, surgical experience, and patient satisfaction are key factors to consider. Dr. George Bitar is a board-certified plastic surgeon with affiliations that include the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and a U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor. With a reputation for meticulous technique and natural-looking outcomes, Dr. Bitar and his team at the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute are proud to be a trusted choice for liposuction and advanced aesthetic surgery in the Washington, D.C. region.