Liposuction while you’re awake? The idea might sound intimidating, but awake lipo is quickly becoming the gold standard for body contouring, and for good reason. This approach allows you to remain conscious during the procedure while staying completely comfortable, leading to faster recovery times and impressive results that speak for themselves.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Hakimi has been performing awake liposuction at his Beverly Hills practice for years, watching patients walk out the same day and return to their normal activities within just 48 hours. Compare that to traditional liposuction under general anesthesia, where recovery can stretch into weeks, and you’ll understand why more people are choosing to stay awake during their transformation.
Here’s a closer look at what happens during the awake lipo procedure and why it’s becoming a patient favorite in Beverly Hills and beyond.
How Awake Liposuction Actually Works
The process starts with oral medication and a local anesthetic. The same type used at your dentist’s office (lidocaine), but with a different dosage and delivery method. The lidocaine is mixed with epinephrine and saline and injected into fatty tissue to reduce bleeding, make fat cells easier to remove, and, most importantly, block nerve signals to numb the area. While the oral medication helps keep you calm, the local anesthetic does the heavy lifting when it comes to pain management.
Since no general anesthesia is used, you’ll remain alert and able to communicate with Dr. Hakimi throughout your procedure. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable they are, even as the cannula (a thin, hollow tube) is inserted through tiny incisions to break up and suction out unwanted fat. Some like to chat, while others listen to their favorite music.
The entire process typically takes one to three hours to complete, depending on how many areas are being treated. Since you’re awake, Dr. Hakimi can ask you to change positions or stand up during the procedure, allowing him to see exactly how your body looks from different angles and achieve symmetrical, natural-looking results.
What Does Awake Lipo Feel Like?
During your procedure, the treatment area will be numb, but you’ll still feel something. Just not necessarily pain. More like some pressure, tugging and movement. Some patients describe the sensation as “weird,” while others compare it to a particularly intense deep tissue massage. If the cannula ever veers toward more sensitive or tender areas, you’re awake, so you can let Dr. Hakimi know. He’ll adjust his technique to ensure your comfort throughout the entire process.
The Awake Lipo Experience
One of the biggest advantages of awake liposuction (aside from the results and recovery time) is the experience. With awake procedures, you can have a normal breakfast before you come in. You can enjoy your morning coffee and not worry about many of the restrictions associated with general anesthesia (like fasting). There’s also no sore throat from a breathing tube, no vomiting or nausea afterward, and in many cases, we don’t even need to place an IV.
Overall, it allows for a more relaxed experience. You walk in feeling like yourself and leave the same way, but with more sculpted contours and the confidence that comes with them. It’s advanced body contouring without the drama that often accompanies traditional surgery.
The Two-Day Recovery Advantage
Here’s where awake liposuction really shines: most patients are back to their regular routines within 48 hours, which, according to Dr. Hakimi, is mostly considered a social downtime.
Without general anesthesia weighing down your system, your body can focus entirely on healing. You won’t experience the grogginess, nausea or fatigue that comes with being “put under,” and most patients feel well enough to handle light activities after just a few days. You also won’t have drains placed, giving you one less thing to deal with. What you will experience is some soreness, swelling and oozing from the entry points, which should be manageable.
There are still some aftercare instructions to follow, like wearing your compression garments as directed, limiting strenuous exercise for up to two weeks and scheduling your lymphatic massages. But all in all, awake lipo allows for a much quicker and smoother recovery overall.
Who Makes a Good Candidate?
Awake liposuction is sought by patients for a variety of reasons. Some just prefer a quicker recovery, while others are looking to target a specific area (such as the back, abdomen or arms) without much fuss. Then there are those who don’t like the idea of general anesthesia. Like, at all. And that’s completely fine.
All of these reasons are valid. Awake lipo has an excellent safety profile, offers beautiful results and reduces many of the risks associated with major surgery. That being said, it isn’t right for everyone. Dr. Hakimi recommends awake liposuction for patients who:
- Are treating smaller areas of stubborn fat
- Want a seamless look with Lipo 360
- Need highly targeted, lymph-sparing lipedema liposuction
- Prefer to avoid general anesthesia
- Are in good overall health
- Are close to their ideal weight
There are only so many areas that can be numbed at the same time, so those looking for full body contouring may be better candidates for Total Definer Liposuction. Adjunct procedures will also influence your surgical plan. Adding breast implants or a tummy tuck will call for general anesthesia, while skin tightening or fat transfer can still be done using local anesthesia.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Hakimi for Awake Lipo
“I had SUCH an incredible experience with Dr. Hakimi! He performed liposuction on my arms and helped me finally get rid of stubborn fat that wouldn’t go away no matter how much I dieted or exercised. As someone who most likely struggles with lipedema, losing fat can be extremely difficult, but Dr. Hakimi gave me results I never thought were possible.”
— Caridad G.
“Dr Hakimi is a true gem! There are so many “Beverly Hills” doctors that can take advantage of patients because of their status or location. Dr. Hakimi truly cares about his patients and takes the time to educate you 100% on whatever you are inquiring about. He is not pushy or aggressive, he has excellent bedside manner and really cares about the people he is seeing (even if he’s not going to end up doing any work on them) highly recommend him. Sweet and genuine doctor.”
— Sarah G.
From the consultation to the procedure and follow-ups, everything has been an amazing experience. Even though I was awake during the procedure, I felt no pain at all. The recovery has been surprisingly easy—I just felt sore the next day and didn’t even need the pain medication. Now, at just three days post-op, I can already see a noticeable difference, and I couldn’t be happier with my results!
— Leanna V.
“I did awake lipo with [skin] tightening with Dr Hakimi on my arms and upper/lower abdomen on Oct 30th. . .the procedure was amazing. I did not feel ANYTHING. I chatted with the staff throughout the entire procedure, and listened to whatever music I wanted. The anxiety/anticipation of not knowing before the surgery was way way way worse than the surgery itself. As soon as the meds hit, I was good to go lol. After surgery I went home and napped, then woke up and took a nice 30-60 min walk and felt great.”
— Kayla M.
“I had an absolutely outstanding experience with Dr. Hakimi. I felt heard, respected, and completely comfortable. Dr. Hakimi is not only incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, but also warm, approachable, and genuinely invested in helping you achieve the best outcome possible.”
— Lina A.
Discover the Awake Lipo Difference at Hakimi Plastic Surgery
Dr. Hakimi has perfected the awake liposuction technique over years of practice, helping patients achieve their body contouring goals with minimal downtime. When you’re ready to experience the results and two-day recovery that has made this procedure so popular, book your consultation by calling us at 424-239-5201 or completing our online contact form!