While liposuction is typically an outpatient procedure, full recovery can take some time. You may be wondering: How long does it take to recover from a liposuction procedure? How soon will I see the results? How much time do I need to take off from work?
While these concerns are common, the answers always vary. Liposuction recovery time is different for each patient, and several factors go into determining how long it will take, such as:
- The extent of the procedure
- The location of the surgical sites
- The body type of the patient
- The elasticity of the patient’s skin
It’s natural to want to show off your new figure right away, but rushing recovery could negatively affect the final results.
What To Expect After Liposuction
While there is no way to prevent downtime after plastic surgery, there are ways to move it along and even safely hasten the process. The following timeline will inform you of what to expect at different liposuction healing stages.
- 24 hours after surgery
The anesthesia will wear off by the evening after surgery. During this time, many patients notice swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the treated areas, which is normal. If it’s irritating you, pain medication will help ease the discomfort. You will also be fitted with a compression garment or bandage after surgery. Dressings will also be in place to cover the entry points to the wounds. The length of time you wear these depends on your procedure’s nature; it can stretch to a few weeks or a month depending on how you progress postoperatively. It may feel uncomfortable, but it’s essential to keep it worn throughout recovery to avoid unwanted and excess swelling. - One to two weeks after surgery
Within two weeks post-op, you’ll notice a significant reduction in pain and soreness. Many patients can return to work after 5-7 days. But if you have a physically demanding job, you may want to ask for extra time off. - One to two months after surgery
One month after surgery, you can slowly get back into your workout routines. Of course, this will depend on how you feel, if swelling is minimal, and your doctor clears you. During this time, you may do light exercise for half an hour each day and then increase it to an hour after about six weeks. - Three to six months after surgery
Within three to six months, your results should be more obvious. You’ll be well-rested enough to resume your usual activities. And if given clearance by your doctor, you can start engaging in more rigorous activities like sports.
What You Can Do At Home While Recovering
Physical Activity
After the first 24 hours post-op, try to walk a little bit each day. This will improve blood circulation and prevent blood clots, pneumonia and constipation.
After surgery, some changes to your diet are needed as you will be on medication. Eating probiotic-containing foods like yogurt will help rebalance your gut, especially since you’ll be on antibiotics for the first week of recovery. You should also increase your protein intake to help reduce swelling, regenerate muscle tissue, and heal post-surgical wounds. Avoid snacking on processed foods as the high amounts of saturated fat may contribute to prolonged swelling. Make an effort to avoid excess sodium/salts as this can worsen the postoperative swelling. The goal is to speed up the recovery process as much as possible, and you can achieve this by eating healthy.
Hygiene
I don’t advise my patients to take long baths or go in hot tubs for the first 3-4 weeks, which may risk infection in the wound area. After the first 48 hours, a quick shower is good enough to help you feel refreshed and clean without affecting the wound with too much water.
Signs You Should Look Out For
Liposuction is relatively safe. All surgical procedures come with some risk and post-op side effects. Knowing some of the more common post-liposuction complications to look out for will help you stay calm during your home recovery. If you begin to notice something irregular, call your doctor immediately.
- Infection
An infection may be indicated by extreme redness, drainage, lingering pain at the incision site, or tenderness in the wound with pus forming. A high fever can also be an indicator of infection. - Skin irregularities
Skin irregularities are often the result of too much liposuction done on an area that the tissues get fatigued and weaken. This can lead to an undesirable outcome. - Hematomas and Seromas
Hematomas and seromas are common side effects after cosmetic procedures. A hematoma is a pocket of blood that clots in the treatment area, resembling a large bruise. This complication may require additional treatment to drain it.
On the other hand, seroma is a condition that occurs when sterile body fluid pools beneath the surface of the skin. They can become infected, so they need to be removed through draining with a needle in the office.
It’s essential to follow all your doctor’s orders to shorten your liposuction recovery time. Take your healing one day at a time; patience is key if you want to see your desired results.
Liposuction is a great confidence booster. To get the best results, it’s essential to work only with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.