Recovering after liposuction will vary from patient to patient, depending on what area or areas were treated, as well as how much excess fat was removed. Typically, you’ll experience bruising along with some soreness and swelling for a few weeks. But you should be able to go back to work after only a few days.
Immediately Following Liposuction Treatment
Immediately after the procedure, the treated areas may be covered either with compression garments or, in some cases, elastic bandages. These are placed to help reduce swelling and keep the skin compressed to the contours as your new body shape develops.
Dr. Vu will give you specific recommendations for post-care. They will include, but are not limited to:
- Proper care of the site and bandages
- Signs to look for that may require a return trip to our office
- How much and how often to take any medications prescribed
- How long to wait before a follow up visit is required
If you have other questions Dr. Vu did not cover, be sure to ask. Also, if there are instructions you don’t understand, ask for clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions about Recovery After Liposuction
- How long do I need to stay in bed?
Answer: You really shouldn’t stay in bed. Staying immobile increases the risk of blood clots in the lungs or legs. Dr. Vu will likely encourage you to get up and walk within hours of your liposuction treatment. You should be able to walk outside your house by the next day.
- When can I return to work?
Answer: If you have a fairly sedentary job, you should feel up to going back to work with two or three days. You may need to move a bit more slowly, as you’ll probably still be sore, but if you work at a desk, you should be able to do that fairly comfortably.
- When does the swelling and bruising go away?
Answer: This can be widely different for each patient. Dr. Vu advises and includes six complimentary SmoothShapes® treatments for post liposuction patients to help the healing process and get you to your full results faster. SmoothShapes® will help reduce swelling and even out the skin that is retracting.
- How long before I can resume exercise?
Answer: Most of the time, you should be able to pick up your regular exercise routine within just a few days after your treatment. It’s best not to jump back in at full force, though. Start with about a fourth of your usual exercise routine and increase slowly each day.
Some patients have more than one area treated in the same day. If you choose to do this, be prepared to have more soreness, swelling and bruising, and understand your activity and mobility may be quite limited for a while.
One to two areas treated on the same day will not usually cause issues. Four areas, on the other hand, may necessitate an entire week of resting in bed and recuperating at home before you can resume your normal activities.
