Liposuction recovery is generally very mild. When compared to other plastic surgery procedures, the recovery from liposuction is not bad. There is typically some bruising, swelling, redness, and of course the area treated will be sore for few weeks, but you should be able to resume normal activities within just a few days. It is probably best to hold off on intense exercise for up to four weeks if you had a large area treated, however.
Liposuction recovery tends to go in phases. Here is a timeline of what your recovery may look like:
Weeks 1-2
During the first two weeks after the surgery, you will definitely be sore in the area treated. It should not be unbearable, but your movement of that region will be hindered and it will be sensitive to the touch. You should try to move around a bit, however, to promote blood flow and avoid blood clotting (this is rare). You should be given a compression garment that will help reduce the swelling. The bandages will need to stay on for a few days, and the drains and sutures will be taken out after around five to ten days. You will probably also experience numbness of that region, swelling, and bruising, but you will probably be able to resume work sometime within the first two weeks. Very mild exercise is permissible during this phase, but you definitely shouldn’t do any intense exercise.
Weeks 3-4
Numbness should subside and you should start getting your sensitivity in that region back. The area will probably still be swollen, however. In this stage your body will go through some changes as your new body takes shape.
Weeks 4+
Your liposuction recovery period is coming to an end. Swelling will subside and all numbness will go away, but there will still be some slight bruising that will remain for up to 2-3 months. You will see best results after the six month mark. Scarring will be reduced, and skin will start to look tight and healthy again, and all bruising and swelling should go away.
Here are some tips that will help with your liposuction recovery:
- Drink lots of water and stay thoroughly hydrated at all times
- Do NOT apply heating pads or ice packs over the incisions
- Continue to wear your compression garment until instructed to take it off by your doctor
- Do not take a long bath, go swimming, or sit in a Jacuzzi for at least a week, as this will increase the risk of infection. Quick showers are OK.
- Continue to take all the medicines prescribed to you by your doctor.
Although the risk of complications is pretty rare, you should let your doctor know if you experience any of the following:
- Extreme pain
- Strange odor coming from the incisions
- A fever
- Weird growths around the incisions site, such as blisters or holes
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Discharges from the incisions such as puss
Liposuction recovery should not be too intense. If you are considering getting liposuction but the recovery period concerns you, it probably shouldn’t, assuming you are in good health. Of course, discuss the surgery with your doctor before getting any procedure done.
