What To Expect After Abdominal Liposuction
For many patients, liposuction is the most effective treatment option to reduce unwanted fat deposits and trim and contour the waist. If it is determined that you are a good candidate for abdominal liposuction surgery, it is essential to follow your surgeon’s in-depth postoperative care instructions. Considering that recovery from an abdominal liposuction can vary from person to person, here is a general overview of what to expect:
The First 3 Days/Week 1
It is important to rest after you arrive home from having your abdominal liposuction. During this period, you could experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort that can be managed with pain medication. You should avoid stairs and lifting, but your surgeon will recommend you begin taking short-easy walks within hours after your surgery to boost blood circulation, reduce swelling, and prevent blood clots. Your doctor will recommend a compression garment to reduce swelling and support your tissues as they heal. You may have small drains placed at your incisions to reduce fluid build-up. It is important to keep your surgical site clean and dry.
Weeks 2 to 4
After the first week, your pain should lessen, and your mobility will increase. You may still have bruising and swelling, and your incisions will still need care. Provided your surgeon approves a return to work, you might be able to do so by now. Many patients begin to return to light exercise, continuing to avoid high impact activities and heavy lifting.
Week 5 to 6+
By week 5, the pain should have fully subsided, and your results should be visible. It is normal to still have a small amount of swelling or bruising in the area, however, as that improves, so will your mobility. After 6 weeks of recovery, your results should be fully visible, with all the swelling and bruising gone. Your plastic surgeon may allow you to stop using your compression garment at this time and will provide guidelines for resuming physical activities.
Improving Your Abdominal Liposuction Recovery
In order to have a fast, safe recovery after liposuction, follow your surgeon’s postoperative care instructions, book any required follow up appointments, and boost your body’s healing ability. Here are some additional tips to improve recovery:
- Stay home, get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications (i.e. ibuprofen, aspirin).
- Keep your incision sites clean and dry, avoiding baths, hot tubs, and swimming pools.
- Eat healthy, nutritious foods (i.e. whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables) to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
- Keep moving. Even though you will need lots of rest, and your mobility may be restricted, you can boost healing by encouraging optimal blood circulation. Short, easy walks around your home, will prevent blood from pooling, help reduce swelling, and prevent blood clots.
- If advised to do so, wear your compression garments to reduce swelling, to provide pressure on the area, and to support the contours liposuction is intended to create.
Abdominal Liposuction At Okanagan Health Surgical
The most important factor during recovery from any surgery is to not push yourself. You may start to feel okay and ready to get back to your normal routines, but this can impact your healing, potentially causing harm. Listen to your surgeon’s liposuction recovery advice and take it slow.
At our private Kelowna clinic, our team of board-certified plastic surgeons are skilled and experienced in the latest body contouring procedures, including liposuction. Whatever your needs, we can help you safely and quickly achieve all your aesthetic goals. If you feel abdominal liposuction is the right choice for you, book your complimentary consultation at 1-250-868-9799 or by filling out the contact form.
FAQ
Q: Is abdominal liposuction safe?
A: Every surgery comes with risks and benefits, but liposuction is a safe cosmetic procedure. The risks are limited when you choose a trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. Smaller areas of fat removal involve a shorter procedure with the fewest risks. Although rare, liposuction risks include:
- Infection or poor wound healing
- Skin discoloration or sensation changes
- Bruising and swelling for an extended period
If you have long-lasting or severe pain, redness or swelling in your surgical sites, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
Q: Can I have a body contouring procedure if I’m a smoker?
A: The best candidates for any plastic surgery are those who do not smoke. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking at least one month before your procedure and continue to avoid smoking for at least one month afterwards. Smoking can reduce blood flow which restricts your body's ability to heal and increases your surgical risks.
Q: How long will the results of an abdominal liposuction last?
A: In some cases, patients require more than one procedure to get the results they want. Once the fat has been removed from an area, it will not return, however, with weight gain, remaining cells can expand. That's why it's important to retain a healthy lifestyle after your body contouring surgery.
