Liposuction Recovery

Many people do not realize that the recovery of a cosmetic surgery is just as important, if not more important than the surgery itself. Ensuring that you recover properly will lower your chances for side effects and the need for other operations. We will be discussing the liposuction recovery process and the important things you need to know. The things we will cover will help you to recover faster and have the best results from your liposuction procedure.

The recovery time after this procedure varies from patient to patient. Most people are able to recover in 1 to 7 days and most are able to go back to work after one week. The good thing about this surgery is that most patients are back to normal within one month. Below are some recommendations that help in the recovery process.

• Don’t Rush-This procedure is not like getting your blood drawn or a tooth pulled. It is considered invasive surgery which actually causes a trauma to your body. It will take time to heal so don’t feel like you have to be recovered super quick.
• Set Realistic Expectations- YOU WILL HAVE SWELLING AND BRUISING. This was written in capitals to let you know how important this is. Some patients think that right after the surgery they will be able to see the newer version of themselves. It takes weeks to a few months for the final product to be seen in all its glory. Swelling and bruising are a natural part of the bodies healing process.
• Follow Instructions- Your doctor will know exactly what to have you do post surgery to ensure that the recovery is a quick and painless as possible. That being said, some people do not listen to their doctors advice. Follow the instructions they have laid out thoroughly and you will recover much quicker.

Once the surgery has been completed you will be fitted with something called a compression garment. This special wrap gives support to the area which the fat has been removed. It also protects the incision site and any stitches that might be necessary. One of the main benefits of them is the ability to drain excess fluids from the surgery. Once the fluids have been completely drained they should be worn for an additional 24 hours for extra comfort.

Liposuction Bruising and Swelling

As mentioned earlier you will have bruising. This procedure causes trauma to your body and bruising is a natural part of the healing process. Each person is different in their time for bruising to disappear. If you bruise easily you will experience a greater amount of bruising along with a longer period of time for them to go away.

Swelling is one of the side effects that persists the longest after the procedure. Normally almost all the swelling will be gone after 4 to 6 weeks. Sometimes, depending on size of procedure, it takes 8 to 12 weeks for the swelling to disappear. The swelling can be minimized with the compression garments as well as getting plenty of rest. Since your body heals while you are sleeping, getting long hours of sleep every night will help.

Liposuction Recovery Follow Up

Follow up after your procedure is definitely something that you should do. If you do not have any sutures from the surgery then you will just have a 6 week check up with your surgeon. This is to ensure that your body has healed correctly and that there aren’t any malformations.

Some people have multiple liposuctions done to different areas of their body. It has been shown that if you are doing this you should wait a solid 4 to 6 weeks in between the procedures. The closer they are together, the increase in chances of things like infection, blood clots, necrosis (death of skin), or other serious side effects.

There is one serious side effect that you must consider during your liposuction recovery. This is something known as Deep Vein Thrombosis or commonly known as a blood clot. Patients should wait a few weeks before sitting in a car or plane for hours on end because the prolonged inactivity increases the risk of the blood clot. This does not happen very often, but it is worth mentioning to patients.

Physical Activity after Liposuction

If you are someone who exercises or likes physical activity you can ask your surgeon how long it will take to get back to your particular hobby. Every person is different and so is the amount of work they are getting done. Some patients have been able to get back to regular exercise in a few weeks while it takes others much longer. Also many patients ask about the ability to have sex after the procedure. Generally it depends upon the amount of soreness you are experience. We recommend a few days and then you can go ahead with gentle sexual activity.

In general make sure that you are taking it easy after your surgery and the liposuction recovery process will be much easier on you. If you have the right expectations and follow your doctor’s orders you are ahead of the game. You are only a few weeks away from a new and improved version of yourself. Get plenty of rest and you will back to normal activity and ready to take on the world.