10 Tips for a Fast Recovery After Liposuction

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Liposuction is one of the most common body contouring procedures performed, because of its ability to target specific problem areas, like the abdomen, thighs, and waist for smoother contours.

As with any plastic surgery procedure, it’s important to follow all post-operative instructions to ensure that you have a smooth, fast recovery.

What you do after the surgery can be as important as the surgery itself.

After you’ve had liposuction surgery, follow these 10 tips to improve and enhance your recovery.

1. Take it Easy

This might sound like a no-brainer after surgery, but the truth is that most people don’t take the necessary time to heal and recover after surgery.

Any surgery puts a lot of stress on the body, so it’s important to plan on taking at least one to two weeks off, allowing your body to heal and allowing the swelling to go down.

The more active you are during this time, the more swelling you will experience, and consequently it will take longer to see final results of liposuction.

Low-intensity activities, like walking, is encouraged. But high-intensity activities such as running or working out should be avoided during the first four weeks after surgery.

2. Take Your Medication(s) as Prescribed

After liposuction surgery, you will be prescribed medication to decrease your pain and swelling for the first few days.

It’s important to take your medication as prescribed because it can be difficult to rest if you are uncomfortable or in pain.

3. Avoid Smoking & Drinking

It’s important to quit smoking and using nicotine products at least four to six weeks before surgery, and four to six weeks after.

Smoking can increase complications like infections and interferes with wound healing because it decreases blood flow.

Excessive drinking can cause dehydration, which can also interfere with wound healing.

4. Get a Deep Tissue Massage

Massages are a great way to get rid of the swelling that starts after liposuction surgery.

A combination of lymphatic drainage with deep tissue massages can both help reduce swelling and get rid of induration in the skin tissues.

5. Wear Your Compression Garment

Compression garments help with reducing swelling, increase shaping, and contouring on the areas that received treatment during the liposuction surgery.

Follow your surgeon’s recommendations about when you should start compression therapy and for how long.

For a smooth recovery after abdominal liposuction, refrain from wearing pants with a tight waistband. Tight waistbands and belts can slow the drainage of fluids for a longer recovery time.

6. Avoid Soaking in a Bath

Even though the incisions used for liposuction are very small, they can still get infected.

Because of this, it’s important to avoid soaking in a bath or a hot tub because any small infection can adversely affect your surgical results.

Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions to avoid any preventable complications.

7. After 24 Hours, Start Short Walks & Low-Intensity Activities

It’s important to rest for the first 24 hours after surgery, but after that you should walk and move (within reason).

Following this schedule will improve blood circulation and help in healing for a fast recovery after liposuction surgery.

Take short walks and do low intensity activities. Any strenuous activities would have the opposite effect by causing more swelling and delay healing.

8. Stay Hydrated

It’s important to drink lots of fluids after any surgery, ideally eight to 10 glasses of water daily.

Dehydration can adversely affect healing.

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Call Your Surgeon

Let your plastic surgeon know if you’re having any concerns or if there has been any significant change after surgery.

This could be increased swelling, oozing, or bleeding. Your doctor will want to know what’s going on and will surely have a fix for you.

10. Enjoy the New You

Liposuction is an amazing procedure that can help shape and sculpt your body by getting rid of those pesky areas that don’t respond to diet or exercise.

It may take a few months for the swelling to go down, so be patient, follow your doctor’s instructions, and soon you’ll be enjoying your new, amazing results.

Schedule a Liposuction Consultation

To meet with body plastic surgeon Dr. Alfredo Lloreda about having liposuction surgery, schedule a consultation today.

About the Author: Dr. Alfredo Lloreda

Dr. Alfredo Lloreda is a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes exclusively in breast & body plastic surgery and non-surgical rejuvenation. He completed his medical degree, graduating with high honors, at Ross University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Lloreda spent a year helping underserved communities in the Caribbean and teaching anatomy, suturing techniques, clinical medicine, and high-fidelity simulation to medical students.

Dr. Lloreda then completed a 5-year General Surgery Residency in Miami, focusing on major traumatic wound reconstruction and burn surgery, followed by a 3-year Plastic & Reconstructive surgery fellowship at world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Florida. He pursued an aesthetic fellowship through the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at the Williams Center alongside Dr. Alain Polynice.