Resources and Info on Liposuction Recovery Tips

Liposuction is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures but recovery is as important as the procedure itself. Because of how common it has become, the risk factors of liposuction have been greatly reduced. This is due to developments and advancements in the medical field. However, you still need to take care of your body after surgery to ensure a swift and SAFE liposuction recovery.

Potential Risks

Any time you undergo surgery there are always risk factors. Liposuction is no different. One of the main risks with regard to liposuction procedures is adema. Adema occurs when fluid collects under the incision site. This can lead to discomfort, swelling, and more serious issues. However, if you follow the proper steps to recovery this risk can be greatly reduced.

How to Recover from Liposuction Quickly

By leaving incisions open in combination with using compression garments, the fluid can drain out, thus helping prevent adema after liposuction.

Using compression garments also begins the healing process more quickly. The uniform pressure is quite comfortable. This process allows the body to heal without stitches. The open drainage allows for less bruising and swelling, which speeds up the recovery time from liposuction procedures.

Many patients feel completely back to normal after about four weeks. In fact, many people return to work after ~3-5 days of rest. Compression garments help this speedy return and allow you to return to light activity with less discomfort.

The Stages of Liposuction Recovery

As you may have seen on the ContourMD website, there are three stages of recovery from a liposuction procedure. There are different recommended compression garments and recovery accessories at each stage, to allow you to recover as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Stage 1 of Lipo Recovery

In the first 1-2 weeks after surgery, you will notice that the first few days are the worst and you should feel a gradual but steady improvement in soreness. You’ll have pain medication for the first few days and further instructions from your surgeon that pertain to you specifically because everyone recovers differently. In general, this is the stage where you will wear the tightest compression garments for support of your muscles, to encourage proper drainage at incision sites, and to speed the recovery.

It is important to wear these garments as per your doctor or surgeon as they not only help with recovery but also with achieving your desired aesthetic appearance post-procedure. If you have a sedentary job (like a desk job) many people can return to work after 1 to 2 weeks, but if you have a physically demanding job you may need to schedule more time for recovery or ask for an alternate task for a while.

Stage 2 of Lipo Recovery

Weeks 3-5 are Stage 2 at ContourMD. You’ll have had your first follow-up appointment with your doctor or surgeon and they will have provided further instruction. You should still wear compression garments during this time. But you can usually switch to a lighter, less bulky compression that can be worn under your clothes.

After one month you likely won’t feel any pain but may have some slight swelling still. You’ll also start to see the visible results from your procedure. You should still avoid heavy activities but many people return to light, low impact exercise at this time.

Stage 3 of Lipo Recovery

Beyond 5 weeks is usually when you’ll see the full results of your liposuction surgery. If you’ve been religious about wearing your compression, most of the swelling and bruising should have subsided. Many people choose to wear a very light compression garment at this point if they feel they still need support or if their surgeon advises so, but some people are also fine to go without one.

Liposuction Recovery Overview

Remember that everyone recovers differently and sees different results from this procedure. You will work directly with your surgeon to tailor your post-op recovery to your body’s needs. The stages mentioned above are a generalized process of what recovery is like for the majority of liposuction patients.

Your recovery may be slower to return to “normal” or you may feel better sooner if compression works well for you. Do not rush your return to strenuous activity, and be sure to rest up, get a lot of sleep, eat healthy foods, and provide your body with the love it needs!