How long dose it take to heal completely from Liposuction?
Dr. Vi Sharma has worked in the field of cosmetic surgery
He has a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, Monash University; and former member of the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practice.
Excess fat can be a problem for many people or they are struggling with it. When a healthy diet and exercise fails to get rid (results may vary for every person and its not guarenteed) of fat lumps, liposuction is often a good option to achieve the desired body shape. Liposuction can target many areas such as the abdomen, thighs and hips.
Unfortunately, some men and women may have unrealistic expectations of their liposuction, and when their desired results are not immediately achieved, they often feel that the surgery was not successful. Knowing what to expect after the procedure and following your plastic surgeon’s instructions for aftercare can help you achieve the results you want.
What happens after liposuction?
After the Liposuction, you can expect some discomfort and you will see bruising, redness and swelling. Prescribed medications can help relieve discomfort. You may be instructed to wear compression garments to help reduce swelling and promote healing. Swelling usually begins to subside by the end of the first week, but compression garments should be continued until the fourth week or as otherwise directed. Some degree of swelling may last up to six weeks, but you should feel comfortable enough to return to work within a few days.
It may take 5 to 7 days before you can return to work and 4 to 6 weeks before you can return to physical activities such as exercise. Long-term recovery usually takes 3 months. This allows the swelling to decrease.
Recovery phase after Liposuction Treatment
Immediately after surgery. Your doctor will use a compression garment to apply pressure to the areas that had liposuction.
The first 72 hours
After you are home from the procedure, it is important to lie down and rest. You will wear compression garments and small drains may be placed at the surgical sites to prevent fluid from accumulating. Dr. Ortiz will provide you with detailed instructions for caring for your incisions and drainage sites.
You will experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort, although you will receive a prescription for pain medication. During the first three days, you will want to limit movement to walking around the house, avoiding stairs, and lifting.
First and second week
Once the first few days have passed, you will notice that the pain is much less and you have more mobility, although swelling and bruising will be noticeable. It is important to still maintain the incision sites, wear compression garments and avoid lifting. However, you can walk more easily at home, and depending on your job, you can plan to return to work after two weeks.
Third to sixth week
After three to four weeks, the pain should be almost gone. If not, much of the swelling should have subsided. However, there may still be some, which is normal. As the swelling and bruising heals, you will see your results improve and you should be able to start walking around and doing light exercise.
After six weeks, your liposuction recovery should be over and your activity should be back to normal. However, these are only general guidelines.
You can’t rush your recovery, but you can improve and strengthen how your body heals with these tips:
- Eat a nutritious diet of whole grains, lean proteins, and fruits and vegetables to get vitamins and minerals that promote healing and reduce inflammation.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- During the first few weeks of recovery, allow yourself plenty of rest and good sleep. Sleep is an essential part of healing!
- Follow the directions for caring for your incisions to prevent infection, and take extra care to keep the dressings clean and dry.
- Don’t stop. Even if you are unable to exercise for a few weeks, it is important to keep moving, although we recommend that you start slowly in the first few days. Then start with short walks to keep the blood flowing, which can promote healing.
- Wear compression garments to reduce swelling, keep pressure on the area, and maintain the contours created by liposuction.
- Don’t pressure yourself. It’s easy to think you’re fine and try to get back to your usual routines, but you could be doing yourself some serious damage.
Keep in mind that the recovery process is different for everyone and the type of liposuction that was performed.
