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12 FAQs About Liposuction Aftercare

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Home » Resources » 12 FAQs About Liposuction Aftercare

12 FAQs About Liposuction Aftercare

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes unwanted fat deposits from the body using a cannula to vacuum excess fat from the body. This blog addresses 12 of the most commonly asked questions regarding Dallas Liposuction Aftercare.

If you’re wondering, “how much weight can you lose with liposuction?” it is important to note that the goal of lipo is to remove localized pockets of fat to improve body contours, not to shed pounds.

You may be asking yourself, is liposuction safe? And the answer is yes, but a big part of your safety relies on taking your aftercare instructions seriously. As it can be performed on various areas of the face and body, from the chin or neck to the stomach or thighs, liposuction cost and the exact recovery process and timings will vary depending on the specific area. Liposuction recovery and aftercare instructions are therefore one of the most frequently brought up topics in consultations by patients with concerns or questions about their recovery so this blog aims to address these questions.

Guide 

What Happens Immediately After The Procedure?

After the procedure, an adult should drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours. You will be fitted with compression garments and given advice on what to do in your recovery period and what side effects you may experience. 

Any discomfort can be addressed with prescription medications and over-the-counter pain relievers. According to Healthline the best ways to reduce pain after your procedure are to take the prescribed pain medication, drink plenty of water, wear your compression garments, ensure you rest and avoid salt as this can increase swelling. 

Follow-up appointments with your surgeon should be scheduled so they can track your progress and appointments for things like stitch removal may also be necessary. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your recovery or any symptoms you should contact your plastic surgeon.

What Are Liposuction Garments?

Immediately following the procedure, you will be fitted with a compression garment to control swelling and help your skin adjust to its new contour. Swelling after liposuction is a normal part of the recovery process. Compression garments apply pressure evenly across the treated area to help prevent excessive fluid build-up. This reduces the risk of potential complications such as bleeding, bruising, and the likelihood of prominent scarring. The garments also provide significant support to the area and help to shape your body. According to RealSelf most doctors believe wearing a good compression garment is essential to help with swelling or bruising and speed up healing.

How Long Should I Wear Compression Garments For After Liposuction? 

Most surgeons recommend wearing your compression garments at all times for the first few weeks. After that you should continue to wear your compression garments for around 12 hours a day, or when you want additional support or comfort in that area, for a further few weeks.  

Some surgeons will recommend wearing your compression garments 24/ 7 for the first few months following your surgery while others won’t recommend wearing one at all. Surgeons vary on what they believe is the best recovery protocol but mostly, the difference in advice will be based on the specific procedure you have had. 

If a large area was treated with liposuction and a lot of fat was removed you may need to wear your compression garment for far longer than if a minor incision and removal were made. It is therefore important to speak to your surgeon and follow their advice on what is best and safest for you to do.

How To Reduce Swelling After Liposuction? 

Swelling can be present for months after the procedure and should not cause any concern. The best way to reduce swelling after liposuction is by wearing your compression garments correctly and for the specified amount of time. Other ways to help reduce swelling include going for daily walks and having the area massaged.

According to Insider, lymphatic drainage massages are the best way to reduce fluid building up around the area as this helps to pump the fluid back into the lymph vessels. The area should be gently massaged to help with swelling, bruising, and other side effects of the procedure. However, self-massage is generally not recommended and it is normal for some fluid to leak from the incisions. 

What Is Fibrosis After Liposuction? 

Fibrosis after liposuction refers to imperfections occurring as a result of the procedure. These can include lumps, scarring, and thickened areas of tissue. Over time these should improve naturally but they can be helped with regular massaging of the area.

How To Get Rid Of Lumps After Liposuction? 

Lumps are a normal part of the recovery process for liposuction but they can often be minimized by using open-drainage or bimodal compression techniques. These techniques can be discussed with your plastic surgeon if you have any concerns about lumps remaining after liposuction.

Occasionally, lumps do remain after liposuction as the procedure does not guarantee a perfectly flat result so expectations should not be too unrealistic. However, most lumps tend to be short-term or can often be treated by another session of liposuction.

How To Tighten Loose Skin After Liposuction? 

The best candidates for liposuction are those with good skin elasticity, this means that your skin will easily adjust to the size change of an area, so loose skin is unlikely to be a problem. Your plastic surgeon should assess your skin elasticity in your consultation and if you have concerns over loose skin you can have this treated alongside your liposuction procedure. Any loose skin which causes concern after your liposuction procedure can be surgically removed or massage treatments and firming creams can aid in tightening the skin. 

Does Liposuction Leave Scars? 

Liposuction scars can occur as a result of the incisions made to insert the cannula into the skin. Plasticsurgery.org explain that the incisions tend to be small and done in areas that are less obvious or are less likely to scar. 

The possibility of scarring does depend on the procedure, the amount of fat that is removed, and individual tendencies to scar. If you have concerns over liposuction scars, scar removal treatments can be carried out such as laser or applying products designed to fade scars.

How To Recover From Liposuction Faster?

It is important not to rush your recovery or push your body too hard as you will need time to heal and recover. It is important that you follow all the recovery advice your plastic surgeon has given you. American Society of Plastic Surgery explain that it is also important to drink plenty of water, go for walks, wear your compression garments and make sure to look after the incision areas by keeping them clean and protected. 

What To Wear After Liposuction?

Since swelling after liposuction is a normal part of the recovery process it is important that you do not wear restrictive clothing as this would be extremely uncomfortable. 

Loose-fitting clothing is recommended but it cannot be advised what particular size of clothing will be needed as the extent of swelling varies amongst patients. Many patients can wear their previous clothing, while other patients need to buy something in a larger size until the swelling subsides. You will be wearing a compression garment under your clothing so even though the procedure will reduce your size there are post-procedure factors to take into account when deciding on suitable and comfortable clothing.

What To Eat After Liposuction Surgery? 

No specific diet is necessary after a liposuction procedure but your body is recovering from surgery and so you should be eating well to aid the body’s healing process. Anti-inflammatory foods are recommended to reduce the risk of inflammation after the procedure and salt should be avoided since this causes inflammation. To maintain your results you should have a healthy diet post-procedure, as it is possible to gain weight after liposuction.

How Long After Liposuction Can I Exercise?

Some light exercise such as walking is recommended but only around 25% of your normal workout is recommended to begin with and this can be increased depending on your individual recovery. 

The exact time before exercise can be resumed depends on the area that was treated and your body’s personal recovery time. Any vigorous exercise should be avoided after surgery and you should give your body time to recover and not strain yourself. 

What Not To Do After Liposuction?

It is essential that after liposuction you do not take off your compression garments other than to shower or for other necessary activities, unless your surgeon advises otherwise. Vigorous exercise should also not be performed straight after liposuction and you should not smoke for 3-6 weeks after the surgery.

Conclusion

Having an understanding of the recovery process and aftercare that is recommended for any liposuction procedure is a great step in researching or preparing for the procedure. For more information about the specific areas you can have liposuction performed on and the risks involved you can read our blog ‘What Areas Of The Body Can Be Treated With Surgical Liposuction?‘

If you are considering any liposuction procedure you should meet with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, who has significant expertise in liposuction procedures, to help you learn more about the process, risks, and recovery.

Disclaimer

Please note: All materials on the Site, such as text, treatments, outcomes, photographs and images and any other material provided on the Site are for information purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding treatments. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Site.

Though the content of this blog has been carefully prepared, the author of this content is not a medical doctor and the content has not been reviewed by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. 

Unless specifically stated, patients referred to in this blog have not received liposuction from Dr. Liland. This blog does not endorse the work of any doctors or surgeons mentioned. Stories relating to patients’ personal experiences of liposuction procedures should be treated as anecdotal only.

Any application of the material provided is at the reader’s discretion and his, her, or their responsibility.