Post-operative care and liposuction recovery is just as important as the surgery itself.

And proper recovery processes are essential to help patients avoid infection and/or complications. The time needed to recover from liposuction will, of course, vary from person to person and depend on the overall amount and type of liposuction done. Some patients may need only 2 to 5 days to recover. Some patients, if several procedures are performed at once, will require longer.

Safe Recovery From Liposuction

Below are some general tips to remember when it comes to good, safe liposuction recovery, followed by a few specific details regarding certain types/processes:

1. Be Realistic. All liposuction procedures will have some post-op swelling and bruising. It will also take some time for the full "end product" to show itself, so be patient.
2. Don't Rush It. Any kind of invasive surgery is a "trauma" to the body and it will need time to recover. Take that necessary time. No need to be a lipo recovery hero.
3. Follow the Doctor's Orders. If you've gone to a board-certified surgeon, there's no doubt he or she knows exactly what he or she is doing. Take all prescribed medications and consult your doctor on exactly which over-the-counter medicines should be avoided during recovery.
4. Remember the Emotional Aspect. It's just a little fat removal, sure, but any surgery on the body will have some emotional toll. Don't ignore it.

Compression Garments

Most liposuction doctors advise patients to wear what are known as "compression garments" which should be easily put on and removed by the patient.

Patients who have recently had liposuction typically can't make sweeping movements. Therefore, the best garment has elasticity and may also have a zipper.

The compression garment must also be able to accommodate bandages.

Tumescent Technique Recovery

If a tumescent procedure is performed, patients may request the physician immediately aspirate the fluid from their bodies to minimize sarnoma development.

If the fluid is drained, the physician will place several small holes in the skin to encourage fluid drainage.

Several HK Pads will be placed over the wounds to absorb the drainage. Additionally, a “spandex compression garment” may also be worn to promote drainage.

Lidocaine and epinephrine are the two active ingredients in a liposuction anesthetic.

The lidocaine is used to numb the area where the procedure occurs. The epinephrine is used as a vasoconstrictive to constrict the blood vessels and reduce the amount of blood lost during the procedure.

The more solution used, the less blood the plastic surgeon will suction out during fat removal. This fluid remains inside the patient after surgery.

The patient has two options. The patient can request the plastic surgeon immediately remove liquid from the body through a variety of techniques to be discussed in detail below.

Alternatively, they can allow the fluid to remain in the body and be absorbed over several weeks into the blood stream. The second option increases the chance for sarnoma to occur.

Open Drainage and Bimodal Compression

This technique releases the liquid that accumulates during the tumescent technique.

This drainage technique accelerates healing time dramatically. During the tumescent procedure, capillaries and blood vessels will be temporarily damaged.

This is unavoidable in the process. However, the tumescent procedure minimizes the damage.

Recovery via this method does not require sutures or stitches and is preferred by physicians. Swelling, bruising, and pain are reduced when the incision is left open to allow drainage onto HK bandages.

Other small holes may also be added to further aid in the aspiration of fluid. These holes are typically 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter. Plastic surgeons will refer to the holes as “adits.”

The adits are added in lieu of sutures to encourage drainage. Physicians may also encourage an elastic undergarment to further facilitate the fluid drainage process.

Bimodal Compression

In the past, post operative drainage required patients to wear these undergarments for as long as 6 weeks.

With new techniques, individuals can expect to recover in a couple of weeks, instead of 6 weeks. Less blood is lost during the procedure; therefore, it takes less time to recover.

The garments are typically worn for as long as it takes for the wound to drain completely. After the wound has drained, the compression garment is typically worn another 24 hours for additional comfort.

Some patients continue to wear the garment until they are completely healed. However, this is not necessary.

Post-Op Checkups

Individuals who don't have sutures obviously don't have to return to the physician as often.

In fact, if the patient is healing properly they typically don't have to return to the physician at all.

There is less swelling with most of the newer procedures, so most patients do not have to return to the physician except for their follow-up visit in six weeks.

Of course, if there are complications, patients are urged to see a physician.

Associations and Memberships for Plastic Surgeons

To ensure that you will receive the best recovery possible, select a physician from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. All surgeons featured on or referred to from LiposuctionCost.com are Board Certified Surgeons.

Verify that the surgeon has experience in liposuction as well as other areas of plastic surgery.

Also, verify that the surgeon is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), specifically, The American Board of Plastic Surgery.