One of the common questions patients ask me is how to recover quickly after liposuction. Even though liposuction is a relatively less invasive and straightforward procedure, the patients are required to follow a complete recovery process to achieve the desired results. In this video, I will give you some useful tips to recover faster after liposuction.
1. Take sufficient rest
Like other plastic surgery procedures, liposuction will leave your body bruised, swollen, and traumatized. The primary recovery period after liposuction is 5-7 days. During this period, you would be required to take sufficient rest. In order to recover faster, you must stay in bed most of the time. You need to provide your body enough time to heal. Not taking rest can prolong the recovery period and trigger complications.
Be sure to avoid physically demanding activities like bending, stretching running, jumping, weightlifting, sports, and exercise during the recovery period. These activities will put extra strain on your body and the incisions, which will lead to health and aesthetic complications. You may take slow and short walks every 4-5 hours during the recovery period. This will help avoid blood clotting and constipation.
2. Compression garments and drain tubes
After the surgery, you would be required to wear compression garments for a few days or weeks. These special garments will expedite the healing process by reducing the swelling, keeping your new body intact, and decreasing the discomforts. The garments will also hold the incision together while they fully heal. Be sure to wear the compression garments for the time period recommended by your surgeon. Of course, you can take them off when taking a shower.
You may also get drain cannulas in the surgery site. These cannulas are meant to drain away the fluids discharged from your body at the surgery site. It is important to keep the cannulas in place as recommended by the surgeon because it helps prevent unforeseen complications like seroma and infections that may otherwise delay the healing process.
3. Incision care
Make sure to keep the liposuction incisions clean and hygienic. Not doing so will prolong the recovery period. For example, infections can attack the surgery area when the site is not clean. Do not touch the incisions and don’t let your friends and persons other than the medical staff touch the incisions. When changing the bandage or dressing, be sure whoever is doing it has washed his/her hands with soap.