This guide is provided to help you prepare for your Smartlipo, Vaser, and Velashape procedures. Doctor Rosengarten will dicsuss these details with you prior to surgery, and answer any questions you might have. You can also find more general information in our FAQ about liposelection.

Preparation for Surgery

• Do not take any aspirin or anti-inflammatories for 2 weeks prior to the surgery. These medications may cause excessive bleeding and bruising during and after surgery.
• You can continue to take prescribed medication as directed. Please be sure that Dr. Rosengarten is aware of all the medications that you are taking.
• Begin taking a multi-vitamin 2 weeks prior to the surgery.
• Keep well hydrated and exercise as normal.
• Purchase two pairs of compression garments as instructed by Dr. Rosengarten.
• To protect your bedding, it is recommended that you buy a shower curtain to cover your mattress from post-surgery fluid. You may leak fluid form the incisions for one to two nights following the surgery.
• Please purchase the following medications:
• Extra Strength Tylenol
• Arnica tablets (available at health food stores)
• Polysporin cream
• Tramacet as prescribed by Dr. Rosengarten
• Antibiotics as prescribed by Dr. Rosengarten

The Day Before the Surgery

• Continue to take prescribed medications unless directed otherwise.
• Begin taking the antibiotics starting the day before the surgery.

The Day of the Surgery

• You may shower the day of your surgery.  Makeup is okay unless the procedure is on your face.
• Eat a light breakfast
• Take the antibiotic as prescribed.
• What to bring with you to the surgery:
• Ipod, cell phone or any other music device that you may wish to listen to
• One compression garment. This may have been ordered for you and in that case the garment will be waiting for you at the Cambie Surgery Centre
• Bring two pairs of old underwear with you. You will wear one of these during the surgery and you will change into the second pair after completion of the surgery. These garments will get soiled during the surgery and so you may want to discard them after the surgery.
• Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing.  Choose clothes that you don’t mind getting soiled due to post-surgery leaking.
• It is recommended that you cover your car seat with a large garbage bag to protect the car seat. Bring a large garbage bag and a towel with you to sit on on the drive home.
• Upon discharge, it is necessary to have a responsible adult drive you home.  Public transit or a taxi is not an acceptable form of transportation.

What to Expect

• Please be sure to arrive at the Cambie Surgery Centre at the prescribed time. You will be notified of this prior to the surgery.
• A nurse will check you in and instruct you to change and to take the Ativan to help you to relax. This medication is optional. Tell the nurse if you do not want to take it.
• The nurse will instruct you to get changed. Keep your underwear on. You will be given a surgical gown to change into.
• Dr. Rosengarten will meet you in the surgical suite where the procedure will occur. He will mark the areas to be operated on and then Dr. Rosengarten will take photos of these marked areas for your chart.

The Surgery

• The areas to be contoured will be cleaned with disinfectant. This will feel cold and wet.
• Local anesthesia will be administered to the areas being treated.  Normally, a small prick is associated with this. After this the areas to be operated on will be numb and you should be comfortable for the rest of the procedure.
• Dr. Rosengarten will explain the procedure to you as it progresses. There is a nurse who is there to make sure you are comfortable and safe during the surgery. She will take your blood pressure and temperature at regular intervals.
• If at any time, you are not feeling comfortable during the procedure, pain medication can be administered.
• From time to time, you may be asked to stand to help with circulation in the legs and to assess the progress of the surgery. There will be washroom breaks during the surgery and you will be given water or juice to drink if you get thirsty.
• The average surgery takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

After the Surgery

• Upon completion of the procedure, the attending nurse will assist you into the compression garment.
• It is normal for fluid to leak through the small incisions.
• You will be brought to the recovery room where you will be given something to drink
• Your blood pressure, temperature and pulse will be monitored.
• Once you are re feeling well enough to do so, you will be discharged. You will need an adult to accompany you home.

At Home

• You can do light activity.  You can climb stairs and lift objects lighter than l5 pounds. Wear comfortable clothing.
• You can eat and drink as normal but alcohol is not permitted for up to 2 days after the surgery.
• It is normal for fluid to continue leaking through the incisions for a couple of days after the surgery so please protect your bedding and chairs, etc.
• Do not shower until the day after surgery.  You can take a bath a week after the surgery.

Pain Control

• Mild to Moderate – 1-2 extra strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours
• Intense Pain – 1-2 Tramacet every 4-6 hours. Do not take Tylenol with Tramacet. Dr. Rosengarten may prescribe another analgesia other than Tramacet. He will instruct you on how to take this medication.
• DO NOT TAKE: Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen or any other anti-inflammatories unless instructed to do so.

The Day after the Surgery

• Attend your scheduled post-operative appointment at Dr. Rosengarten’s office.
• You should be able to resume normal daily activities.  You may return to work if you feel well enough.  Some mild discomfort and leaking is normal.
• Although you may walk and climb stairs, please avoid vigorous physical activity such as going back to the gym for at least 2 weeks after the surgery.
• You may drive a car as long as you are feeling well.
• Eat and drink normally – NO alcohol.
• Continue to take your multivitamins for the month after the surgery.  It is a good idea to continue to take vitamins and antioxidants on a regular basis.
• Continue to drink a lot of water.  Being well hydrated will help with the recovery period.

Wearing the Garment

• It is essential that you wear the garments as prescribed.  It will feel tight and a little uncomfortable at first , but it is necessary in order to get the desired result from surgery. After a while the garment will feel more comfortable.
• The garment reduces postoperative complications such as bleeding, bruising and fluid collection under the skin.
• Continue to wear the garment 24 hours a day for 2 weeks after the surgery .For the next 6 weeks you should wear the garment 18 hours a day. Most people wear prefer to wear the garment during the day and remove it at night before they go to bed.   You may find as the swelling goes down that the compression garments start to feel loose.  It is recommended that a smaller tight fitting garment be used. Dr. Rosengarten’s office can order a new garment for you if necessary.
• Change the garment each day. Wash the soiled garment.
• After two weeks, you can change to a lighter compression garment.
• It is possible to sleep with the garment if you wish.

Care of the Incisions

• Fluid can leak up to two to three days.  It is normal for the fluid to have a pink or yellow color.
• If you notice a large amount of fresh bleeding from the incisions, please call Dr. Rosengarten.
• Apply Polysporin cream to the incisions when you change the garment and after you shower or bathe.

Exercise

• Please avoid vigorous and strenuous physical activity for the first two weeks.  You should, however, keep active.  Walking and climbing stairs is fine.
• After the second week, you can increase the intensity of your activity.  You can lift objects as long as it does not hurt to do so.  You can start to jog short distances (less than 2 kilometers) or do workouts at the gym.
• You can resume swimming a week after the surgery.

What is NOT Normal?

• It is important to call Dr. Rosengarten at 604.716.8910 if you notice any of the following:
• Large amounts of fresh bleeding from the incisions.
• Increasing pain that is not controlled by Tramacet and Tylenol.
• Fever greater than 38.6 degrees C.
• You feel faint or dizzy.
• Redness and swelling over the incision.
• Increasing bruising – it is, however, normal to have bruising and swelling which will get worse for the first 2-3 days after the surgery and then start to get better.
• Note: In the rare event that you cannot reach me and you feel that you need urgent attention; please proceed to the nearest Emergency Department.

Follow Up Visits

• To arrange follow up appointments or any non-urgent questions, please call 604.874.6484 or 604.874.4048 or l.888.876.4748.
• The first follow up occurs the day after the surgery.
• For the next follow up appointments will be scheduled depending on the area of surgery.