As with many different lipo procedures, certain factors determine whether someone is a good candidate for liposuction or not.
Liposuction requirements vary on a whole host of factors, including your current weight, excess skin, and your overall health. During your consultation, your board-certified plastic surgeon will go over these factors with you to determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction.
Here are the top factors your surgeon or liposuction doctor will look at, what they will consider a risk factor, and what makes you a right fit for the procedure.
Who can get liposuction?
Liposuction is designed to sculpt bodies already within 30% of their ideal weight. While liposuction removes fat, it’s not suitable for removing significant amounts of fat.
Each surgeon has different specific criteria for patients to fulfill. The guidelines we share are general rules that most surgeons will follow, not all.
So if you’re in the middle of your weight loss journey, you may want to wait until your weight is within reach of your ideal physique.
Your surgeon will also check the skin in the area you would like to have treated. Candidates for liposuction need good skin elasticity and muscle tone. At Premier Liposuction, we use a skin tightening procedure technology called Renuvion that allows us to retract skin up to 60%.
What are the limitations of liposuction?
Liposuction is a popular treatment that can rid people of insecurities and create a more toned and defined body contour. However, like most things, it has its limitations.
Moreover, the procedure isn’t for everyone, especially those who want to lose a significant amount of weight.
Even if you qualify for liposuction, the results may not last forever. Treated areas are not immune from changing shape. If you gain weight, you might find the results of your procedure become less visible.
What can I do to improve my chances of being approved for liposuction?
One of the most significant deciding factors in whether you qualify for liposuction is your weight history.
Your surgeon will likely ask you how your weight has fluctuated over the years and how long you have been at your current weight. Your surgeon may also ask you about your current diet and exercise routine to understand your overall health and wellbeing.
If you’re still on your weight loss journey, working toward reaching your goal is essential for optimal results. If you struggle to lose weight on your own, or if your weight has been stuck on the same number for a while, then working with a dietician or nutritionist might help give you the boost you need to reach your target.
Are there alternatives if I can’t have general anesthesia?
Many people can’t have a general anesthetic or don’t want to take any extra risks to get surgery. The good news is there are types of liposuction that allow you to have the procedure with local anesthesia.
Tumescent liposuction is an alternative to traditional lipo that only uses local anesthetic injections to numb the treated areas.
VASER liposuction, on the other hand, patients can avoid the risks associated with general anesthesia. Patients receive an oral medication beforehand to help you relax and local anesthesia to numb the treatment area.
Vaser lipo has a range of benefits, including shorter recovery times, lower risk of complications, and often a more affordable price tag.
Conversely, VASER has limits, too. The range of areas that lipo can treat simultaneously is more restricted with local sedation. You may find that you experience more discomfort immediately after the procedure than you would otherwise.
If I’m a suitable candidate, which areas can liposuction treat?
Common areas that patients ask to define include the stomach, hips, arms, and waist. Your chest, back, buttocks and thighs can all be treated, too, if considered suitable by your surgeon.
Your chin and neck can all be treated too, although these usually use slightly different technology to achieve results. You may find your surgeon recommends using ultrasound-assisted liposuction on these areas of your body where fat tends to be more stubborn.
Your doctor will look at the areas you would like to have treated and assess whether they would be suitable for the procedure. They will explain the kinds of results you may expect from the procedure and will go over how long it will take after the process to see the final results.
Are you a good candidate for liposuction?
Ultimately, liposuction is a good option for many people but not for everyone. The main factor that determines suitability is a patient’s weight and their overall health.
Furthermore, you will have to factor in where in your weight journey you reside. The elasticity of your skin and the tone of your muscles will also determine whether lipo is the correct procedure for you.
If it isn’t the right procedure for you, your surgeon may suggest a tummy tuck, body lift, or another type of excess skin removal surgery.
Learn more about what to expect from liposuction. Or, schedule a consultation with one of our Premier Liposuction doctors today.
As you prepare to undergo liposuction, you may wonder how permanent the results will be. You may wonder, can the removed fat return after liposuction?
Liposuction results generally take around three months to become visible, but what happens after that? What if you struggle with gaining weight after liposuction? What if you’re still working on losing weight?
From healthy eating choices to which exercises to do regularly, learn how to maintain your liposuction results.
How do liposuction procedures work?
Liposuction works by inserting a small instrument called a cannula under your skin. The cannula is attached to a device that vacuums fat cells. Your surgeon will skillfully work on body contouring your shape by removing different amounts of fat in each targeted area.
Some procedures include re-injecting fat cells into different parts of your body. This is known as fat transfer.
Because of how the procedure works, the fat cells your surgeon removes cannot return. But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your results will necessarily last forever. The remaining fat cells can still change shape, your skin will age, and your overall fitness level may also alter.
All of these factors will affect how the results of your procedure work as time goes on.
What results can I expect?
The exact results you can expect from liposuction will vary depending on your shape before the procedure and the treated areas. Vaser liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. Instead, look at it as a way of fine-tuning your ideal physique.
As a rule of thumb, you should expect to lose no more than 5 pounds during a procedure. In the end, the treated areas will lose volume and appear more toned.
Your plastic surgeon will discuss realistic results with you during your consultation before surgery and make sure you understand what to expect.
How long will the results last?
The length of time your results will remain will depend on your diet and exercise, how your weight fluctuates, and how your body ages. Ultimately, the longevity of your liposuction results will depend on a range of factors. Some of which you can control while others are out of your hands.
As you can tell, your choices determine some of these elements, and your genetics decides others.
Research found that 43% of patients had weight return after liposuction within two years. Now, that doesn’t mean the fat returned in the same places, but it shows you how easily you can let results slip.
To help you understand what it takes to maintain your lipo results, we’re going to focus on the factors you can control: your diet and exercise.
Which diet should you follow after lipo?
Incorporating more portions of fruits and vegetables into your daily food intake is crucial. Add in whole grains, lean meats, or meat alternatives. You can still enjoy indulgent foods, but keep a balance to maintain your new figure.
If you struggle with your diet, it may be worthwhile having a consultation with a dietician. They will consider your lifestyle, your medical history, and any other dietary requirements to design meal plans to help you stay on track after surgery.
Which exercises are best after liposuction?
Toning the problem areas you had lipo on will benefit you because your results will be visible more quickly with the remaining fat cells covering them.
If you haven’t found the right exercise regimen for you just yet, start by building up some cardio exercise such as running or cycling. Gradually increase the frequency and intensity of your workouts over time. It’s about finding a routine that you’re able to stick with over time.
Once your liposuction doctors clear you to start exercising again after surgery, you will want to make exercising a pillar of your maintenance plan. If you already exercised regularly before: awesome! Keep it up, and you shouldn’t have any issues.
Maintaining your liposuction results
Getting liposuction is a commitment if you want the results to last in the long run. It’s also a procedure – like most cosmetic surgeries – that can’t be expected to look its best forever. Your body will continue to age, and your weight might fluctuate. These factors both affect how your liposuction results will look in the long run.
As we outlined above, staying active, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy balanced diet will help you maintain your ideal weight and stave off early signs of aging.
Does Fat Return after Liposuction?
To keep fat from returning after liposuction, maintain healthy food choices and exercise. This will allow you to get the most from your procedure.
As with any plastic surgery or liposuction procedure, you will need to take care of your body to achieve the best long-term results. Liposuction results last for years with a healthy lifestyle.
While lipo removes fat from specific areas of the body, it does not prevent relapse. Meaning you may gain weight in the same places again in the future if you don’t stay on track with your overall health.Learn more about maintaining your liposuction results. Or, schedule a consultation with one of our liposuction doctors today.
Liposuction and tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, are two cosmetic procedures aiming at improving the appearance of your tummy.
A flat-toned stomach may be challenging to achieve and maintain over the years. Life events such as pregnancy, childbirth, weight gain or substantial weight loss, or simply aging can have an impact on the aesthetics of your stomach.
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much time you spend on the mat doing crunches and sticking to a strict diet plan. You struggle to achieve the desired contour.
A body sculpting procedure like liposuction or tummy tuck can be the perfect solution, but which one is right for you?
Do You Need Liposuction or A Tummy Tuck?
Liposuction is advisable when:
you are close to your ideal weight
your abdominal wall is not stretched or separated
you don’t have skin in excess in your belly area
In these cases, fat removal is sufficient to obtain a flatter tummy with a nice contour.
A tummy tuck is suitable when you need to restore your abdomen wall if your muscles have separated, diastasis recti, or lost tone after pregnancy. An abdominoplasty is also required when laxities and excess skin from conspicuous weight loss after a diet or bariatric surgery.
The two treatments can sometimes be combined to maximize results. However, your plastic surgeon can only suggest this option after an ad-hoc assessment and risk evaluation.
What are the differences between liposuction and tummy tuck?
Liposuction and tummy tuck are two procedures performed using different surgical methods.
Results and post-op recovery for the two treatments are also unique. It is important to understand such differences before opting for one or both treatments.
There are often misconceptions around cosmetic procedures, especially Vaser liposuction. It would be best if you always clarified any doubt you might have before undergoing an operation.
Doctors perform both procedures under general anesthetic, but liposuction is a less invasive treatment. They first separate fat cells and then suction away through small incisions with a thin cannula.
Many choose to lipo other body areas, including the thighs, arms, chin, and face.
Abdominoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure performed on the tummy only to remove loose skin in excess. It may require the repair of your abdominal muscles first. They are repositioned and stitched together to tighten your abdominal wall. The tummy tissues are then pulled down and removed.
The tummy tuck presents more surgical risks than liposuction. Blood clots, fluids building up, and infection are more prevalent risks in tummy tuck operations than liposuction treatments.
Abdominoplasty also leaves a more prominent scar than liposuction with an incision from hip to hip in the lower abdomen.
What are the differences between results?
Both procedures lead to a more pleasing shape of your stomach.
With liposuction, you’ll notice a flatter stomach and less loose skin, unlike a tummy tuck. In other words, the shape of your abdominal muscle will be exactly the same. Vaser liposuction with Renuvion removes excess skin by tightening it with the latest technology.
Results are considered long-term, especially if you follow some essential post-liposuction tips, including home aftercare instructions and lifestyle changes.
After a tummy tuck, you will notice stronger midsection muscles and a firmer abdomen area with more permanent results.
What are the cost differences?
Tummy tuck surgery, a more invasive and complex procedure, is usually more expensive than liposuction.
The average cost for abdominoplasty in the United States is over $6,000, whereas liposuction is $3,637. At Premier Liposuction, prices start at $2,400 for the first area.
What does recovery look like?
The recovery timeline differs significantly between the tummy tuck and liposuction. Knowing the different post-op journeys will make you more prepared for what to expect after your treatment.
Healing after abdominoplasty takes longer than post-liposuction recovery. Additionally, you might experience greater discomfort for a longer period of time.
Tummy tuck recovery
The tummy tuck is a major procedure requiring a slow recovery time.
It can take up to 1 or 2 months to fully recover from surgery and return to your everyday life. This means heavy lifting and intense physical activity.
You might experience moderate pain and feel tired for a few weeks after surgery.
When you go home, you will have tiny tubes in your lower belly for a few days or sometimes weeks. This will depend on your personal recovery process. The tubes allow you to manually suction away the fluids to help avoid infections and drain liquids that might build up in your tummy.
You will wear surgical garments and need to look after your incisions, following the instructions given by your surgeon.
Liposuction recovery
Liposuction recovery is usually quicker and easier compared to a tummy tuck.
The initial swelling and bruising can last for a few weeks. However, you could return to work and moderate physical exercise within the first week after your treatment.
You will need help at home during the first few days of your recovery. Also, the initial discomfort usually lasts 48-72 hours and improves quickly with time.
Tummy Contouring Procedures: A Final Comparison
Liposuction and tummy tuck are two very different treatments.
Depending on your needs and expected outcome, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will clarify which procedure is more suitable for you.
In sum, choose a tummy tuck if:
Pregnancy has weakened or stretched your midsection muscles
Every surgery requires a recovery phase, and each person’s body is different. After a liposuction procedure, the recovery phase allows your body to heal and learn to live without the weight it used to know. Knowing more about what to expect from liposuction recovery can help you get the best possible results.
With the right understanding and plan, you can recover better and faster. So it’s imperative to understand what to minimize or avoid along with how and when to add in the proper exercises gradually.
Learn how to have the most effective, healthy, and enjoyable recovery possible.
15 Tips for Enhanced Liposuction Recovery
Vaser Liposuction is minimally invasive, quick, and the most painless liposuction procedure to date. In addition, whereas other traditional forms of liposuction incur some post-op pain, swelling, and discomfort, Vaser procedures have minimal swelling and bruising.
Regardless of the type of liposuction procedure you choose, you’ll have a period where your body needs time to bounce back.
By following these tips, you may reduce your overall timeline and enhance your results in a healthy way.
1. Make a Plan for Your Recovery
Making a plan for your recovery means more than just knowing how to take care of your bandages.
Ask yourself these questions when planning your recovery:
How are you going to eat? If you’re not ordering from a local meal prep service, make some food so you don’t have to cook. Instead, plan your meals or have friends or family provide you a meal train.
If you need help, who will you call? We have a dedicated after-care team, but you’ll want to have someone you’re close to or comfortable with as a reliable backup or primary contact. Make sure you have support from family or friends. Let at least one person know in advance.
Do you know what you will wear after? Patients who show the best results wear their compression garments religiously for up to 3-6 months.
For example, if you have a closet full of crop tops and get stomach lipo, you may want to consider different clothing during this period, so your garments don’t show.
How will you clean yourself if you cannot get your wounds or your garments wet? You also will not be able to shower for the first 48 hours after your surgery.
Finally, you will not be able to take a bath for at least 7 days (or when your surgeon approves). So prepare to give yourself a sponge bath and to have those toiletries available.
2. Prepare to Eat Right and Hydrate
The right foods, fluids, vitamins, and nutrients promote better healing and are essential to an optimal recovery process. Additionally, inflammation in the body causes most of the pain and strain on the body as you recover.
To alleviate discomfort, eat anti-inflammatory foods. Read our full guide and list of what to eat after your liposuction recovery. Here are some examples of delicious foods to prepare or have on hand before your procedure:
Dark chocolate
Salmon, anchovies, or similar fatty fish
Cruciferous veggies like broccoli and kale
Berries of all kinds
Turmeric
Walnuts
Green Tea
And much more
These types of foods will fuel your body with the nutrients needed to rebuild itself stronger, removing any roadblock to your recovery.
Preparing the proper foods also includes the right fluids. The best fluid is water. Your body always needs water but especially after surgery.
3. Know What to Expect before and after Surgery
During aVaser liposuction procedure, your surgeon will insert a thin, hollow tube through tiny incisions in the area you want treating. As it moves around under the skin, suction is applied to pull the fat out of the targeted site.
You’ll be able to walk out the same way you walked in. After your procedure, you’re free to rest or sleep until you’re ready to leave. Most patients take about an hour or so as you may feel a little bit shaky right after.
In general, you’ll only rest in the recovery room for about an hour after your procedure. While you rest, our team will watch for any signs of nausea or dizziness.
When you go to the outpatient clinic, bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, dark towels to place on your car seats. Also, bring water, crackers, and any pain medication our liposuction surgeons prescribed.
4. Treat the Treated Areas 48-hours Post-surgery
Liposuction is a reasonably easy procedure to recover from, but you will still have mild to moderate pain for the first forty-eight hours after the surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe medications to manage your soreness. You can also take an over-the-counter product like acetaminophen.
If your soreness does not start to improve within the first two days, contact your surgeon.
The first day after your surgery, you’ll likely see some fluid coming from your incisions. This is entirely normal and nothing to worry about. You’ll probably also see bruising around the incision sites.
You’ll need to be the most careful for the first two weeks after your procedure.
It’s important to wear your compression garment around the clock. In addition, you will have to get up and move around every couple of hours. This will help reduce swelling and prevent blood clots.
Avoid bathing or submerging your body in fluid during this time. Showers only for 7-10 days.
After seven days, you’ll have a follow-up with your surgeon. Then, if things have gone well, you will be able to remove your compression garment to shower. But, for the next week and a half, you’ll need to wear the compression garment any time you’re not in the shower.
At Premier Liposuction, we do a 48-hour check-in in-person or virtual. Then, we schedule a call with your liposuction doctor 1 week, and an in-person or video call follow-up at week 2.
6. Plan Your Next Month
After the first two weeks of recovery, you can mostly get back to normal life.
Although, you should still plan on wearing your compression garment for about twelve hours a day during this first month.
Start on a light exercise program during this time, including walking and stretching as your surgeon recommends. The first month after surgery, you can get back to your usual activities.
Please note it’s possible to see still swelling for several months after the procedure. Your results will not be evident until that swelling subsides.
In the meantime, make sure you keep up with a healthy lifestyle to help you maintain your ideal body image.
7. Manage Your Pain
One of the best things you can do to improve your recovery from liposuction is to take your medications.Controlling your pain is important because you aren’t resting, recovering, or increasing your activities as effectively when you’re in pain.
Make sure to take your prescribed pain meds according to your surgeon’s schedule. This means even if you’re not in severe pain when it comes time to take more medications.
When it comes time to take more medication as instructed by your surgeon, stick through the whole plan.
While some soreness or discomfort is expected with any procedure, you should not be in extreme amounts of pain. If the medications don’t seem to work or you’re in significant pain, contact your surgeon. It could be a sign that something isn’t right with your recovery.
8. Wear the Proper Bandages and Clothing
Wearing a compression garment all the time during the first few days after your recovery can be inconvenient. We understand that, but you must wear the garment exactly as your surgeon recommended.
Remember: these garments will help reduce swelling and bruising and improve your recovery as well as help maintain your ideal shape.
You may also have elastic bandages around your incision area. Follow your surgeon’s orders for wearing and changing these, too. Your surgeon will let you know when it’s safe to stop wearing these bandages and clothing, so don’t try to rush things.
9. Take Your Time
On the subject of not rushing, it’s important to give yourself time to recover from this procedure. Although it is a relatively minor cosmetic operation, liposuction is still a surgical procedure, so you need to give your body time to heal before you jump back into the daily grind.
Plan to take a few days off work. Also, prepare for someone else to handle your other daily obligations, including household tasks and even driving.
Your surgeon will let you know when they think it’s safe for you to return to work and return to an exercise routine. They should also give you a date when you may resume other normal activities, including driving and sex.
Follow these guidelines, and don’t try to rush your recovery.
10. Care for Your Surgical Sites
During resting and recovering, take care of your incisions. Any surgical incision can become a site ofpotential infection, so you must avoid this.
Infection can turn into a very dangerous complication. Use any antibiotic your surgeon prescribes as ordered.
The cleaner you keep these, the less visible the scarring becomes, so stay aware of drainage in the first few days after surgery. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for how to clean, dress, and protect the wound and the drains.
If your incisions become red, swollen, or warm, or if they start to bleed, open, or drain an excessive amount of fluid, call your lipo practice immediately.
11. Watch for Complications
Some potential complications may occur after liposuction. The riskiest of these include an infection that could turn into sepsis and a blood clot that could become apulmonary embolism.
These complications are rare but serious, so call your surgeon if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Fever
Pain that only gets worse over time
More swelling than expected
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Leg pain
Redness or swelling in your legs
The symptoms above can all indicate possible infection, blood clot, or a pulmonary embolism. If these occur, seek medical attention immediately.
12. Follow Post-op Instruction to Avoid Scars
Since liposuction involves incisions, many people wonder if they’ll have scars. After all, is it worth having the procedure done if you’re going to be covered in scars afterward?
While there is a small risk of scarring, liposuction scars are usually hard to find.
The incisions your surgeon will make during the procedure will be about as long as your pinky fingernail is wide. They’re usually hidden in a natural fold of the skin to make them less noticeable.
If you follow the wound care instructions your surgeon gives you after the procedure, you should recover with minimal scarring.
13. Wait for Results and Swelling to Go Down
Once your procedure is complete, you’ll likely be anxious to see your new, slimmer body. But as mentioned, it can take several months for the swelling to subside completely.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see miraculous results as soon as you wake up from the procedure.
The majority of your swelling should go down within the first month or so after liposuction, especially if you follow your surgeon’s orders for wearing compression garments.
You’ll start to see some of your results during this time, but you may not see the full effect yet. You should see your final liposuction results about three months after your procedure.
14. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol after Liposuction
As with any medical procedure, surgeons advise avoiding smoking and drinking before and after your liposuction treatment.
For best results, it’s recommended to stop smoking 4-6 weeks before your procedure and stay smoke-free at least four weeks post-procedure. This will help improve the rate and quality of healing and reduce your chance of complications.
Smoking increases the chance of infection because it decreases blood flow.
Alcohol can dry out your skin, which means the surgeon will have a more difficult time stitching your skin back together. This can result in a larger scar than anticipated because your skin isn’t as flexible.
Drinking alcohol also changes your blood chemistry. If you’re being sedated for a major cosmetic procedure, the surgeon may have difficulty estimating the correct dosage to put you under.
Depending on the surgeon, they may even refuse to operate on you, which can mean lost time and money.
So, avoid alcohol and smoking for a few weeks before and after your procedure will help your recovery and overall well-being.
15. Avoid Soaking in a Bath or Other Still Water
While you can shower after a few days, it’s important to stay away from soaking in a bath or other still water.
Even though the incisions are small and close quickly, they can still become infected. Allowing your incisions to close and fully heal before submerging yourself in water will both help the incisions heal quicker and ensure minimal scarring.
Remember: aftercare is just as important as the procedure itself.
You’ve already invested a lot of time and energy into your procedure. Putting a little bit of attention into your aftercare program is going to help you get the best results you’re going to be happy with for years to come.
Learn More about Liposuction Results
To make your recovery as effective as possible, it’s crucial to follow all your surgeon’s orders. Take your time with recovery. Make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the procedure.
If you’d like to learn more about liposuction recovery, check out the many procedures we offer at Premier Liposuction. We offer the best Vaser liposuction, body contouring, fat transfers, and body sculpting so you can achieve the physical results you’ve been working towards.
As you look forward to achieving your body’s ideal physique, you’re probably eager to know how long you may have to wait until you see the liposuction results.
Before you go into Vaser liposuction procedure or fat transfer, you’ll need to know what to expect from your procedure overall, the recovery process, and how to maintain your body’s new image. While liposuction is an excellent way to sculpt your body, it cannot be used as a complete substitute for a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
From how long recovery should take to when you will see visible results, learn what to expect each week after your procedure.
How long after lipo will I see results?
Like most surgeries, the time it takes for results to show varies from one individual to another. But as a rule of thumb, most people will see their final results three months after lipo removes unwanted fat.
Over time, the swelling will go down. Then you will see the results.
How long until liposuction swelling goes down?
You will find the areas where your surgeon removed fat are somewhat swollen right after your liposuction procedure. By the end of the first week, the initial swelling should have reduced slightly, but it can take as long as six weeks for the swelling to go completely.
Your plastic surgeon will likely advise you to wear a compression garment during your recovery to reduce swelling as best possible while you recover.
Liposuction results week by week
After Surgery
Directly after surgery, you will likely feel a little sleepy if you received sedation, and you may feel some pain and discomfort. Liposuction procedures are usually outpatient procedures, so you should be clear to go home the same day.
Your board-certified surgeon will discuss the best options for your specific case. Just make sure you have someone with you who can drive you home because you might feel a bit sleepy too.
Although only local anesthesia is usually needed, you may have received sedation to help relieve pain or reduce anxiety.
24 Hours
The first day after your surgery, you will likely feel sore, but your doctor will have prescribed pain medication to relieve that. Make sure you follow instructions to rest and take your medication as prescribed to reduce any pain or discomfort as much as possible.
You will need to make sure you wear your compression garments to reduce swelling. You may also have some drains in places where there are incisions; this is entirely normal. They’re used to prevent fluid build-up around the incision, so your recovery is as quick and painless as possible.
48 Hours
Much like the first 24 hours, you will need to limit your activity on day two after surgery. Your doctor may advise that you arrange childcare if you have kids and take time away from work. It’s a great idea to cook some meals ahead of time to reheat if you don’t have someone to help you get something to eat.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated too. Looking after yourself at this stage is vital to a smooth recovery. You’ll need to continue keeping up with the pain medication and wearing your compression bandages, usually until three days post-surgery.
First Week
By the time you arrive at a week post-surgery, you will be past the most challenging part of your liposuction recovery. You should notice that you experience significantly less discomfort than you did during the first few days. You can usually return to working from home. Your compression garments will still need to be worn, generally for another week. You should reduce your intake of pain medication so that you only take it when needed.
First Month
Around four weeks post-liposuction should be when you stop experiencing pain or discomfort. There may be minor residual swelling, but you will start to see the liposuction results.
You may still have some bruising around the incision sites. However, it should be fading well. Your surgeon will usually advise you to start light exercising again at this point while still avoiding heavy lifting and other strenuous activities. You can also return to work as usual.
Talk to your surgeon and confirm this if you have a particularly physically demanding job.
First three months
Between six weeks and two months after the procedure, you should be able to see your final results of liposuction. There may be some lingering swelling or bruising, but it shouldn’t be significant enough to prevent you from seeing a significant change in your appearance.
The areas where your surgeon removed fat cells will look tighter and smoother than before. Your liposuction recovery timeline will inform whether you can return to your usual activity level, including more intense exercise and heavy lifting.
You may find that your scars remain visible at this stage but are minimal and easily unnoticeable. Keep them out of the sun or apply sunblock on them, keeping them well-moisturized to improve their appearance over time.
Getting the most from your liposuction results
As with any plastic surgery, you will need to take care of your body to achieve the best long-term results. Liposuction results last with a healthy lifestyle. While lipo removes fat from specific areas, it does not prevent the future gained weight from affecting the same places in the future.
To get the most out of your procedure, maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine after you are cleared to do so following surgery.
Learn more recovery tips. Or, schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified liposuction doctors today.
With liposuction as one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures post-pandemic, you might rush to seek immediate results and overlook some crucial aspects of its recovery.
You can be mesmerized by the fantastic body shape that liposuction can make you achieve, but are you prepared for what’s next?
Liposuction recovery can be challenging, and you should take time to consider your post-op recovery journey.
Surgical fat removal can be a great option, especially when diet and exercise fail to work for specific body areas, such as the belly, back, thighs, arms, or face. But it is essential to build realistic expectations and be prepared for your life after surgery.
Why Does Recovery Matter?
Recovery after surgery plays a significant role in the operation’s outcome. Unlike non-invasive cosmetic procedures and other fat loss treatments, the liposuction healing process can make a huge difference in achieving the desired goal.
How Long Does It Take to Heal from Liposuction?
The recovery process varies from person to person. It depends on the size of the treated area, your age, and general health.
Usually, recovery from liposuction takes between 4 to 6 weeks, but it can take up to 3 months to see full results.
Following your surgeon’s post-op advice together with rest and medication adherence will help you enhance your results and facilitate quicker healing.
Liposuction Recovery Timeline
A typical liposuction recovery timeline includes the following milestones:
Immediate post-surgery
Day 1
Week 1
Month 1
Month 3
Some post-liposuction tips, such as following aftercare instructions, will contribute to speeding up your recovery.
Immediately Post-surgery
After surgery, you should expect to feel some discomfort.
You will:
Feel mild to moderate pain
Notice some swelling and bruising
Be limited in your movements
Our staff at Premier Liposuction will look after your post-op needs until you are ready to go home. In most cases, after the procedure, you will need to rest and sleep for about one hour in our outpatient room.
Your plastic surgeons will give you take-home medications. You will have compression garments wrapped around the treated areas and elastic bandages to protect your wounds.
You will still feel the anesthetic effects, so you should ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
Day 1
On day one, when you get home after surgery, make sure you have somebody to assist you around the house and run errands for you. You are likely to feel sleepy and may need to rest.
As the anesthetic wears off, you may feel more pain. Prescribed painkillers will help you get relief from symptoms. Ice packs and compression garments will help you cope with the swelling.
Wear compression garments at all times. Do not shower or bathe and follow your post-op therapy diligently. This is very important to avoid complications.
You might also see some fluid coming out of your wound. It is normal, so there is nothing to worry about.
Week 1
In the first week after liposuction, the treated area will still appear swollen and bruised, but you should start to feel a bit better. You might also feel ready to go back to work after a few days and get on with your daily activities.
A bit of movement and short strolls are encouraged if you are up for it, but you must avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise.
After the first two days, you must stand up and walk every 2-3 hours to avoid blood clots that can lead to severe complications.
You must also pay attention to cleaning and dressing your incision sites properly to lower the risk of infection and scarring.
Your follow up appointment
At the end of the first week after your liposuction procedure, you must attend your follow-up appointment.
Your doctor will check your wounds and make sure that the healing process is going well.
At this point, you can remove your garments to shower, but don’t take a bath or go swimming. Contact with water can increase the risk of infection.
Your doctor will advise you on how to proceed with your therapy and the level of physical activity that you can undertake.
First Month
During the first month, the pain usually reduces significantly, but you might still feel a bit of discomfort.
You can shower, do moderate physical activity, such as walking on a treadmill, brisk walks but avoid weightlifting unless your doctor gives you the green light.
Bruising and swelling after a few weeks are still expected, and you should keep monitoring your surgical sites and any lumps that might form.
You should start seeing some initial results from liposuction after 2 or 3 weeks if the bruising and swelling improve.
During recovery, you might feel low and have mood swings, but being patient is fundamental for liposuction post-op success. So don’t get discouraged and keep following your doctor’s advice.
First Three Months
At the end of the first-month post-surgery, you can stop using the compression garments and will notice that the treated area looks slimmer.
The liposuction results are now much more visible, although some bruising and swelling might last for a few months.
You should keep an eye on how the treated body part looks and make sure its appearance improves over time. Any persistent swelling, skin rash, or redness that gets worse after a month might be an indication of an infection.
After three months from your liposuction procedure, you will finally see the complete result. Correct and consistent aftercare is essential to achieving excellent body contouring.
Your Personal Recovery Timeline
The recovery timeline for the liposuction treatment can be quite long. You should always listen to your body and respect your individual healing process.
Knowing what happens after your surgical fat removal and understanding the recovery journey will help you to manage expectations and plan in advance for your liposuction.
Recovery is as vital as the procedure itself and is key to a successful liposuction outcome.
If you would like to ask any questions about our liposuction procedures and your personal recovery timeline, contact us to schedule a consultation today.
Worried about your weight? Exploring surgery might interest you. Liposuction vs gastric bypass are two of the most common choices. In this article, we explore the differences.
Liposuction vs Gastric Bypass
Essentially, gastric bypass suits those diagnosed as obese. Whereas liposuction often suits those closer to their ideal weight.
Many seek liposuction for weight loss as a solution, especially if dieting has not worked. Those diagnosed as obese seek bariatric surgery to help them achieve a healthier weight, reducing hunger levels, complemented by a healthy diet and exercise.
In contrast, liposuction is a cosmetic solution designed to remove fat cells and assist those closer to their ideal weight or shape. While these procedures might seem quite similar on the surface, they have fundamental differences.
Gastric Bypass
Several different types of bariatric surgery exist, including gastric bypass. A gastric bypass uses stomach stables to create a pouch at the top of the stomach. The gastric bypass is connected to the small intestine cutting out the rest of the stomach completely. As such, you will take in less food before you feel full. Plus, you’ll absorb lower levels of calories.
A gastric bypass is not accessible to everyone. You will need to be at least 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index of 40 or more. You could also be suffering from an obesity-related health condition such as type II diabetes.
Moreover, it does not provide a quick solution, and instead, patients will need to adopt healthy practices for extended periods before seeing results. For many patients, this is a life-saving treatment and can reverse certain health conditions.
Liposuction
On the other hand, liposuction reshapes and slims the body, removing excess levels of fat and improving the body’s proportions. It is based on improving your appearance and not linked to lifestyle changes or health issues. Instead, you can use this minimally invasive surgery to appear more toned and fit.
During this procedure, a liposuction doctor inserts a hollow device underneath the skin with a vacuum. The vacuum sucks out and breaks down the fat cells in the body. Liposuction targets various problem areas such as the buttocks, thighs, chins, and neck.
Additionally, it’s not a cure for cellulite, which might still appear after the surgery.
Unlike a gastric bypass, this Vaser liposuction might suit those patients best who are not obese and are relatively healthy. Typically, individuals who have this procedure will be no more than 30% of their ideal body weight.
The Liposuction Option
While both procedures require preparation and both have recovery times, liposuction is considered less dangerous if you are not obese or in poor health. Liposuction is far less invasive and does not come with the risks of a gastric bypass. These risks include internal bleeding, blood clots, and infection. A gastric bypass can also trigger anastomosis, where a new connection between the stomach and the intestine forms.
We hope this helps you understand which surgery will be the right choice for you. If you do not have any health issues, liposuction will continue as a far safer solution.
What to expect the day of your liposuction procedure
The day of the procedure, we’ll have you arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to a scheduled procedure time to make sure that you complete any outstanding paperwork. And we safely administer pre-op medications.
At that point, we will take pre-op photos to document what you look like before you embark on this journey. The surgeon will then mark you up, which is essentially a roadmap so we know exactly which areas we’re going to be treating and which areas we’re going to be avoiding. Then, we will have you lie on the table and the procedure will begin. The first step of the procedure is to fill your treated areas with tumescent anesthesia.
That is a combination of normal saline, lidocaine, epinephrine, and sodium bicarb, which will effectively numb the areas that we’re going to be treating. The next step will be to introduce the vaser. The point of the Vaser is to emulsify the fat and to promote skin tightening, which will make the procedure much easier for the provider, for you, the patient, and overall give much better results.
Next, the third step in this process will be the aspiration. We’re actually sucking out the fat.
This is when we introduce the blood cannula into your affected treated areas. And we suck out the fat. After this, the procedure is over. We have you lie on the bed. Our staff will massage you to get excess fluid out. And then, wrap you up in the compression garment or have you hang out in the recovery room. Once you feel fine, you’ll be safe to go home in the care of a family or friend.
That’s what to expect the day of your liposuction procedure.
Spanish Translation:
Hola, soy el Dr. Adams de Premier Liposuction. Qué esperar el día del procedimiento. El día del procedimiento, le haremos llegar de 30 a 45 minutos antes de la hora programada para asegurarnos de que complete cualquier papeleo pendiente, y le administraremos de forma segura los medicamentos preoperatorios.
En ese momento, tomaremos fotos preoperatorias para asegurarnos de que documentamos su aspecto antes de que se embarque en este viaje. El cirujano entonces le marcará, lo que es esencialmente una hoja de ruta para que sepamos exactamente qué áreas vamos a tratar y qué áreas vamos a evitar. En ese momento, le haremos tumbarse en la mesa y comenzará el procedimiento. El primer paso del procedimiento es llenar las áreas tratadas con anestesia tumescente.
Es una combinación de solución salina normal, lidocaína, epinefrina y bicarbonato de sodio, que adormecerá efectivamente las áreas que vamos a tratar. El siguiente paso será introducir el vaser. El objetivo del vaser es emulsionar la grasa y promover el estiramiento de la piel, lo que hará que el procedimiento sea mucho más fácil para el proveedor, para usted, el paciente y en general dar resultados mucho mejores. Tercer paso en este proceso será la aspiración. En realidad estamos succionando la grasa.
Es entonces cuando introducimos la cánula de sangre en las zonas tratadas afectadas y succionamos la grasa. Después de este paso, el procedimiento ha terminado. Le haremos tumbarse en la cama y nuestro personal le dará un masaje para sacar el exceso de líquido y luego le envolverá con la prenda de compresión o le hará pasar el rato en la sala de recuperación. Y una vez que se sienta bien, podrá irse a casa con el cuidado de un familiar o amigo.
Hi, this is Dr. Adams from Premier Liposuction explaining tumescent liposuction.
What is tumescent liposuction?
If you take the word tumese, that means swollen and firm, and if you apply that to liposuction, that means we’re going to take our target areas and make them swollen and firm. And we achieve that by using a dilute combination of lidocaine, epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate. Now, what each of those things do? Lidocaine is the medication you may have heard of that is used to dull and numb the pain in the areas we’re going to treat.
Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is going to be used to vasoconstrict. That means the blood vessels are going to tighten up and that’s going to minimize blood loss during your procedure. The final medication that we use, in tumescent anesthesia, is sodium bicarbonate. That medication is used to dull the stinging sensation when we do inject the fluid into your body.
Spanish Translation:
Hola, soy el Dr. Adams de Premier Liposuction. ¿Qué es la liposucción tumescente? Bueno, si tomas la palabra tumescente, significa hinchada y firme, y si la aplicas a la liposucción, significa que vamos a tomar nuestras áreas objetivo y hacerlas hinchadas y firmes. Y lo logramos usando una combinación diluida de lidocaína, epinefrina y bicarbonato de sodio. Ahora, ¿qué hace cada una de esas cosas? La lidocaína es la medicación que quizás hayas oído que se usa para aliviar y adormecer el dolor en las áreas que vamos a tratar.
La epinefrina, también conocida como adrenalina, se va a utilizar para vasoconstricción. Eso significa que los vasos sanguíneos se van a estrechar y eso va a minimizar la pérdida de sangre durante el procedimiento. La última medicación que utilizamos, en la anestesia tumescente, es el bicarbonato de sodio. Esa medicación se utiliza para amortiguar la sensación de picadura cuando inyectamos el líquido en su cuerpo. explaining tumescent liposuction
There are three main types of fat: white fat, brown fat, and finally, beige fat or bright fat.
The first kind is white fat. This fat you’ll find all over the body. You’ll find it in your belly, in your arms and your thighs-pretty much everywhere. The function of this fat is to store energy for when your body needs it later.
As with almost anything, it’s good to have a certain amount of this fat. But too much can be harmful to your body.
The second kind of fat is brown fat. Now this fat, while it is present in adults, is more common in children and infants. And the function of this fat is to burn fatty acids and generate heat.
Finally, the third kind of fat is called beige fat or bright fat. And this is kind of in between the white and the brown, hence the term beige.
The function of this fat, while still under research, seems to be more to help storing and releasing enzymes and hormones that help in general body functions.
What are the different layers of fat?
Now, all of these fats are generally stored in two layers of the body, the subcutaneous and the visceral. The subcutaneous is the area just below the skin. And that’s what we call the pinchable fat. That’s the area we’re going to be attacking during liposuction. It’s a combination of white, brown, and beige fat. But, you won’t know that during the procedure.
The other layer of fat is called visceral fat. This fat’s deeper down and generally surrounds the organs such as your liver, your kidneys, and your heart.
As I was saying with the white fat, it’s good to have a certain amount of this fat in this layer. But, too much can be harmful, especially too much visceral fat can be harmful. It can lead to risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, artery disease or kidney disease.
So that’s a quick rundown of different types of fat and different layers of fat. Thanks for tuning in and I’ll catch you later.
Spanish Translation:
Hola, soy el Dr. Adams de “Premier Liposuction”. ¿Cuáles son los diferentes tipos de grasa?
Hay tres tipos principales de grasa que vamos a discutir. El primer tipo es la grasa blanca. Esta grasa la encontrarás por todo el cuerpo. La encontrarás en el vientre, en los brazos y en los muslos, en todas partes. La función de esta grasa es almacenar energía para cuando el cuerpo la necesite más adelante. Como con casi todo, es bueno tener una cierta cantidad de esta grasa, pero demasiada puede ser dañina para el cuerpo.
El segundo tipo de grasa es la grasa marrón. Esta grasa, aunque está presente en los adultos, es más común en los niños y los bebés. Y la función de esta grasa es quemar los ácidos grasos y generar calor. El tercer tipo de grasa se llama grasa beige o grasa brillante. Y está entre el blanco y el marrón, de ahí el término beige.
La función de esta grasa, aunque todavía se está investigando, parece ser más bien ayudar a almacenar y liberar las enzimas y hormonas que ayudan en las funciones generales del cuerpo.
Ahora bien, todas estas grasas se almacenan generalmente en dos capas del cuerpo, la subcutánea y la visceral. Ahora bien, la subcutánea es la zona que se encuentra justo debajo de la piel. Y eso es lo que llamamos la grasa pinzable. Esa es la zona que vamos a atacar durante la liposucción. Es una combinación de grasa blanca, marrón y beige, pero no lo sabrá durante el procedimiento. La otra capa de grasa se llama grasa visceral. Es esa grasa que se encuentra más abajo y generalmente rodea los órganos como el hígado, los riñones y el corazón.
Como decía con la grasa blanca, es bueno tener una cierta cantidad de esta grasa en esta capa, pero demasiada puede ser perjudicial, especialmente demasiada grasa visceral puede ser perjudicial ya que puede llevar a un riesgo de diabetes, presión arterial alta, enfermedades arteriales o renales.
Así que es un rápido resumen de los diferentes tipos de grasa y las diferentes capas de grasa. Gracias por sintonizarnos y nos vemos luego.
