How much time is usually enough for liposuction recovery?

Recovery after liposuction varies from patient to patient and varies depending on the area that was treated. However, there are some general guidelines.

 

Immediately after surgery:

After the surgery you will spend some time in a recovery room monitored by nursing staff until  I give the green light to have you released.  After the procedure you will be woozy from the anesthesia. This is why, before your surgery, you were asked to have a ride arranged to take you home. When you awaken from the surgery you will be wearing a compression garment.Wearing the compression garment is very important to minimize swelling and promote a smooth contour as you heal. My patients generally rate their pain after liposuction as a 3 0r 4 out of 10. The pain medication we prescribed will help alleviate the pain. You will be sleepy and tired after the procedure because of the anesthesia.

 

The first week after the procedure:

Continue to wear the compression garment 24/7

Keep the incisions dry.

Continue to take the pain medication but start to wean off of them.

Some patients may be able to return to work after 3-4 days.

 

One week after surgery:

One week post surgery you will come to my office for a follow up appointment. I will check on your recovery.

You will still be swollen and bruised. Because of the swelling, the final results of the liposuction will not yet be seen.

Patients can go back to work and resume normal activities except for strenuous exercise.

 

Two weeks after the surgery:

Generally patients can take off their compression garments. Up to this time the compression garment should have been worn 24/7 except to bathe.

 

Three weeks after surgery

Recovery varies from patient to patient. Because there are no long incisions or muscles repaired during this procedure, as they would be for a tummy tuck for example, recovery is fairly quick.

Patients can resume a modified workout routine after 3 weeks.

As the swelling subsides patients will start to see the results of the procedure and a sleeker more contoured body will begin to be evident.

By the end of the first month most of the swelling should have subsided.

There will still be some swelling for the next 3-6 months and as time passes, patients will see a better and better result each day.

Depending on the treated area, most patients return to normal activities and work within several days and to full physical activity in about two to three weeks.
You will see the results immediately. However, your shape and figure will continue to improve as your swelling decreases over the next several months.
You will be placed in a post-surgical compression wrap or garment. If a wrap was placed, you will be changed into a compression garment for around one week. It is important to wear this compression garment as much as possible for the first four to six weeks to reduce swelling and obtain a smooth contour.

Liposuction downtime is very minimal depending on the patient. The first 3 days tend to be the toughest ones since you are going through the swelling, soreness, some fluids coming out and even some discomfort (pain) which is typically treated with oral pain medication. With the proper pain medications and compression garment patients tend to do very well and some tend to go back to work after a week of surgery. It is important that you avoid strenuous activities for the first 6 weeks, and you might resume workouts within a month post-surgery and little by little increase the intensity of it with your Surgeons approval. You will start noticing really good results within 3-6 months, but the final results will be within a year of surgery.