Liposuction Recovery Timeline: What to Expect Day 1 to 3 Months Post-Op
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.
You can check our before and after gallery to see our patient success stories.
If you would like to ask any questions about our liposuction procedures and your personal recovery timeline, contact us to schedule a consultation today.
