Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgical procedure that removes excess fat from specific areas of the body.
The results of liposuction can be dramatic and long-lasting, but it’s important to know the recovery process – what to expect before, during, and after your liposuction procedure.
You may have already heard from a friend, or acquaintance, or read on social media that the healing process is distressing, painful, and complicated. Much of the bad press given to liposuction procedures comes from the painful recovery attributed to old-fashioned post-operative care.
You should know that it does not need to be this way! We want each of our patients to have as stress-free a recovery process as possible. In this article, read the tips and advice we give to patients in our Park Plaza Plastic Surgery Center in New York to provide them with detailed, useful information on liposuction recovery.
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Tips To Help Your Liposuction Healing Process
After liposuction (fat removal), you are able to leave our surgery center approximately 2 hours after surgery. This depends on the extent of your surgery, but since this is an outpatient procedure, you will leave a health facility on the same day.
There are certain actions you can take to help reduce swelling, bruising, and pain, and to overall make liposuction procedure recovery easier for you.
Make sure your body rests properly after the procedure. When you feel better, usually 1-2 days following the procedure, start with walks, firstly in your neighborhood. As you feel better, you can slowly include light exercise.
Most patients are able to return to work one week after the treatment.
It is not a secret that being hydrated is vital for our health. This is especially important during your recovery process. Try to intake up to 10 glasses of water or other liquids such as tea daily. Not only it prevents dehydration, but it also helps flush out excess fluids from your body.
Avoid carbonated beverages as they can cause bloating which can interfere with the proper healing process.
There is no doubt that exercise is great for your body, but it can increase bruising and swelling after your liposuction surgery, so take it easy for a few weeks! Do not exercise strenuously until your follow-up visit with the surgeon, usually 6 weeks after the surgery.
Some light exercise such as walking as we have already mentioned above is recommended.
Try not to force yourself and your body in the first few weeks and talk to your plastic surgeon about a possible return to regular exercise.
Starting one week after surgery, we highly recommend a series of 5-6 weekly massage and ultrasound treatments which are given in-house. These treatments facilitate the healing process by helping to reduce swelling and by increasing the blood supply.
Consultations at our center are carefully planned as New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lefkovits goes over your post-operative care plan with you.
You will be carefully monitored, and if you encounter any doubt or happen to have any complications, you should always speak openly with your surgeon.
What Not To Do After Liposuction
The period after your liposuction can feel stressful to your body. Therefore, eating a balanced, nutritious diet is another thing that can give you great benefits and speed up liposuction recovery. Do not tire down your body with diets. During your liposuction recovery, try to eat a diet rich in proteins, antioxidants, vegetables, and fresh fruits.
Avoid processed and salty food – excess salt could only make the swelling worse.
Avoid baths or swimming for some time after the surgery, since water can increase swelling in the area where liposuction was performed.
You should also avoid sitting in a hot tub or sauna during this time so as not to increase blood flow which could lead to infection or bruising around incisions made during liposuction.
Tight clothes or anything that restricts circulation in your upper arms or chest area and makes it hard for blood to flow freely through those areas should be avoided in the first few weeks.
Additionally, avoid wearing tight clothing or belts around your waist during the recovery process because they can compress blood vessels. This can consequently slow down circulation and increase the risk of blood clots.
During your recovery, it is important that you do not lift heavy objects until your surgeon says it is okay. This is simply because lifting heavy things could cause severe bleeding or even permanent scarring!
As with any procedure, it is strongly recommended to avoid cigarette use after a liposuction procedure. Smoking increases the risk of infection since it reduces blood circulation.
You should actually stop smoking 4-6 weeks before surgery, and continue non-smoking for at least four weeks after the treatment.
When it comes to alcohol, it can get you dehydrated, and it may dry up your skin, leaving you with larger scars than thought, as the skin is less elastic. Drinking alcohol can affect your lipid profile as well.
Possible Complications During Your Liposuction Recovery
Even with the new post-operative care techniques, you may experience the following after your liposuction procedure:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pain
- Infection
In order to minimize these risks it is important to find an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon who practices the latest post-operative care with liposuction techniques.
Learn More About Liposuction – Schedule Your Free Consultation
At Park Plaza, we believe that aftercare is just as important as the procedure itself. An individual approach, equal treatment, cost-efficiency, and your satisfaction are at the top of our priorities.
Dr. Lefkovits, a New York City cosmetic plastic surgeon has more than 30 years of experience performing liposuction. Please call our New York office at (212) 750-9494 and schedule an initial liposuction consultation.
