9 Tips for Quick Liposuction Recovery
Liposuction is the procedure of choice for patients who want to get rid of pockets of fat in stubborn areas. Recent statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that liposuction surgery is the second most popular of the cosmetics after breast augmentation. During liposuction Baton Rouge plastic surgeons remove excess deposits of fat from the target area to give the patient their desired figure and body contour.
First things first, it’s important to grasp the recovery process after liposuction.
Recovery Timeline After Liposuction
- 48-72 hours after surgery – most patients experience a degree of pain and discomfort during the first few hours after having liposuction surgery. Your surgeon will provide pain medication to help improve your comfort levels. During this time, patients should wear the compression garment, get enough rest, and limit physical activities.
- 1-2 weeks after liposuction – over the first two weeks after liposuction surgery in Baton Rouge, some pain and discomfort may persist. Most patients are however able to return to work so long as they avoid strenuous activities. Continue wearing the compression garment and watching the incisions and fluid drainage.
- 2-5 weeks after surgery – around this time, pain should have fully subsided and the results of the procedure should start to become noticeable. All incisions should be fully healed at this time. In some cases, the treated areas may continue to show some signs of bruising and swelling. The majority of patients though are able to resume moderate exercise after week 3 or 4. Intensive exercises should continue to be avoided until you get the green light from your surgeon.
- 6+ weeks after surgery – typically, swelling and bruising have resolved by this time and the patients can see what the procedure achieved. There’s no more need to wear compression garments, and most patients have the clear to engage on high impact exercises.
Liposuction Recovery Tips
Below our top recovery tips for a speedy and non-interrupted liposuction healing process.
1) Eat Well for Lipo Recovery
There’s no understating the role of a good diet to help ensure quick and uninterrupted recovery after liposuction. Patients who maintain a good diet will experience less swelling. Eating well means incorporating vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients that will help your body regain its strengths. Prior to the procedure and asides from food, one should always properly prepare for liposuction. With regards to a proper diet for recovery, keep the following rules in mind:
- Reduce intake of salt because it encourages the body to retain water which can worsen swelling. Choose foods that are low in sodium.
- Increase intake of protein because it helps with wound healing, as well as re-growth of skin and muscle. Every meal or snack should include a good source of protein.
- Decrease intake of sugar because it can suppress your immune system, cause mineral imbalance, and increase blood glucose levels
- Consume small amounts of food multiple times daily to avoid nausea or bloating
- Fruits such as watermelon, strawberry, grapefruit, celery and zucchini are an important part of the post-liposuction recovery diet.
2) Keep Moving After Liposuction
It’s important to rest over the first 24 hours following lipo surgery. After that, some light exercises such as taking a short walk can speed up the body’s healing process. Keep in mind though that intensive exercise should be avoided over the first few weeks after liposuction. Your surgeon should issue very detailed instructions about what’s allowed and what’s not allowed in terms of physical activities.
3) Hydrate on Low-Calorie Beverages
Proper hydration is important to prevent dehydration during recovery from liposuction. Typically, one should take about 8 glasses of water on a daily basis. However, after liposuction, try to increase this to about 10-12 glasses. Other beverages that you can take in place of water include tea, diluted fruit juice, and skim milk. Stay away from Gatorade because it contains high amounts of sodium.
4) Keep the Area Clean
Changing bandages regularly helps keep the liposuction area clean to prevent infections from developing. Although you might feel tempted to clean the area with water or other products, avoid doing so over the first few weeks.
5) Know What to Wear
Knowing what to wear is equally important to ensure a speedy recovery process. Clothes that fit too tightly can irritate your skin and slow down the recovery process. It’s important that you are comfortable during the recovery process, and many surgeons recommend that you wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
6) Ditch the Bathtub
You might feel like you miss a nice warm bubble bath, but this is not the time to soak in any bathtub. Soaking in water can reduce the rate of healing and increase your risk of getting an infection. In the place of soaking in the bathtub, consider getting a gentle massage.
7) Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic drainage massage (which focuses on releasing accumulated toxins from the lymph nodes) has been shown to decrease recovery time while minimizing discomfort and pain experienced by the patient. This type of massage – which should be done weekly – has also shown to boost the patient’s immunity, lowering the risk of infection.
8) Follow Your Liposuction Surgeon’s Instructions
Your surgeon will provide post-care instructions that you should adhere to for uninterrupted healing and recovery. A compression garment will be provided. While this is not the most comfortable piece of clothing, it helps enhance post-surgical results. Make sure to put this garment on for as long as needed. Any medicine that is provided should be taken strictly according to the surgeon’s instructions. If you have any specific questions that are custom to your recovery process, always reach out to your surgeon for clarification.
9) Schedule Regular Follow Ups
Follow up appointments provide an opportunity for your surgeon to gauge your progress and monitor the healing and recovery process after liposuction. Make sure you attend all the post-op appointments as scheduled by your surgeon.
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