Liposuction Q and A

What Is Liposuction Recovery Like?

Liposuction is an extremely popular and effective procedure for contouring the body and removal of fat from areas unaffected by diet and exercise. The following is a Q and A about recovery from this procedure.

What can I expect right after my Liposuction operation?

Usually I utilize general anesthesia to maximize patients’ comfort level. Most patients wake up from anesthesia with little pain because I infuse a solution containing Lidocaine, an anesthetic, with salt water and Epinephrine, a medicine that constricts blood vessels and greatly decreases bleeding and bruising. This fluid is injected into the area to be treated with liposuction because it loosens the fat and makes it easier to remove it. A fair amount of fluid is injected, and for that reason, residual fluid may leak out onto your bed later at home and I recommend that you cover your sheets with old towels the first night after surgery. The fluid also provides anesthesia, so you will awaken with little pain right after the surgery. I prescribe pain medication, however most patients describe the pain after liposuction as similar soreness after a strenuous workout.  Usually stronger pain medications are replaced by anti-inflammatories like Tylenol one or two days after surgery.  I place an elastic garment on the areas treated and this decreases swelling faster and also assists with skin contraction and contouring.

How soon can I return to work and resume normal activities after Liposuction?

Most patients return to work 2 to 4 days after Liposuction. The elastic garment should be worn full time for 2 weeks and as much as possible for six weeks after surgery. The garment should be snug, but not too tight or painful. You can return to most normal activities after one week or so, and weight training and cardio workouts can resume at that time as well. However you may notice increased swelling right after your work out, and this is normal.

When can I expect to see my final result from Liposuction and how long will it last?

Most swelling will settle down after 4 to 6 weeks, however it can take as long as 4 to 6 months for all swelling to resolve.  Do not expect to lose pounds, but rather inches around your waist, torso or extremities. Liposuction is not a weight-loss tool, but rather an excellent option to remove unwanted fat from areas of your body unresponsive to diet and exercise. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, with a solid diet and reasonable exercise routine to maintain and enjoy your final result. If weight gain does occur, it tends to be noticed in areas not treated by  liposuction. The reason for this is those areas treated have fewer fat cells and thereby show weight gain less.

Liposuction is an excellent option for those patients wishing to contour regions of the body when diet and exercise fail