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Traditional male or female liposuction and awake liposuction both provide a solution to eliminating excess fat and contouring the body when diet and exercise fail to help you reach your goals. However, you probably have a couple of questions, including what’s the difference, and which procedure will benefit me most?

These are questions double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Kristopher Hamwi hears often. Here is more information about traditional liposuction and awake liposuction to help you learn about the differences.

To determine which procedure will best suit your needs, schedule your complimentary consultation today!

Asleep Liposuction Vs. Awake Liposuction

Liposuction is a safe, surgical procedure that permanently removes stubborn pockets of subcutaneous fat cells. This versatile treatment targets smaller deposits of fat to contour and sculpts a leaner appearance. Traditionally, this procedure is performed with the patient under general anesthesia, or asleep.

During awake liposuction, the treatment area is numbed with local anesthetics, but the patient is not put to sleep with general anesthesia. This permits the patient to be interactive during the procedure.

Both asleep and awake liposuction procedures are performed in the same manner. The most significant difference between the methods is that awake liposuction allows Dr. Hamwi to ask a patient to contract muscles and move into or hold certain positions that being asleep would not allow. This allows Dr. Hamwi to evaluate the outcome of the procedure before it’s even finished.

Any areas that can be treated with asleep liposuction can also be treated with awake liposuction. Some of the more common areas include:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Waist
• Flanks
• Arms
• Armpits
• Legs
• Chest
• Chin

Why Would a Patient Want to Be Awake During Liposuction?

Optimal Results

All patients want the best results possible, and with awake liposuction, Dr. Hamwi gets a better sense of the symmetry and shape he’s sculpting into your body. Awake liposuction allows for patients to contract their muscles for Dr. Hamwi to have more control over the areas he’s working on. Dr. Hamwi prefers awake liposuction because he can make adjustments throughout the procedure to ensure optimal results.

No Going Under

Many people have anxiety about the feeling of going under general anesthesia. Awake liposuction avoids the typical medications used with general anesthesia, which helps reduce risk to the patients. For some patients, these risks include complications due to allergies or medical conditions, including diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, kidney issues, and lung conditions, to name a few.

Awake liposuction also allows for a faster recovery from anesthesia. After an awake liposuction procedure, patients can stand and walk out of the office unassisted. Patients who experience awake liposuction don’t often need pain medication as quickly as those who have asleep liposuction.

One drawback to awake liposuction is that some patients may feel some level of pain, like occasional stinging, despite the local anesthetics. You may also experience strange sensations like pressure during the procedure. However, most patients tolerate the procedure well.

Cost Savings

Local anesthesia is less expensive as it doesn’t require the presence of an anesthesiologist. While this benefit may be quite alluring, cost shouldn’t be the determining factor in choosing awake liposuction. However, Dr. Hamwi will never sacrifice patient safety or comfort for the sake of financial consideration.

How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for Awake Liposuction?

Typically, good candidates for the best awake liposuction in Tampa are men and women in good overall health who generally have tolerated anesthesia well in the past. During your private complimentary consultation, Dr. Hamwi will help you determine if awake liposuction is the right choice to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Typically, candidates for awake liposuction should:

• Be physically healthy and at a stable weight
• Be non-smokers or willing to quit prior to surgery
• Understand the risks of the procedure
• Have a positive outlook and realistic goals

Schedule Your Awake Liposuction Consultation with Dr. Kristopher Hamwi Today!

As one of the top-rated plastic surgeons in the country, double board-certified Dr. Kristopher Hamwi uses his vast training and experience to help guide you through all aspects of your body contouring journey with the best awake liposuction in Sarasota.

Enhance your overall figure by partnering with Sarasota’s awake liposuction expert – Contact us today to learn more!