One of the ideal means of looking your best is undergoing liposuction. Liposuction is a cosmetic fat removal procedure, extracting unwanted body fat from targeted areas of your body. The surgery is not intended for weight loss but rather carefully implemented body contouring and sculpting.

Patients throughout Paris, London, and Brussels often ask us what the recovery process is like following liposuction. Let’s take a moment to go over the basics of healing after liposuction.

Focus on Resting

Rest is one of the most important aspects of recovery after undergoing liposuction. After the surgery has been performed, it’s important that patients avoid strenuous physical activities, particularly any types of actions that would involve heavy lifting, bending over, or heightened heart rate. Put your focus on recovery, and know that after a few weeks you’ll be able to participate in all of the activities you enjoyed doing.

How Much Time Should I Take Off from Work?

In order to recover properly, a patient will need to take time off from work. Usually liposuction patients will want to take a week off from work.

When returning to work, a patient may need to continue to take things easy until they are fully recovered. This is particularly true when a patient’s job involves occasional physical exertion or is physically demanding. Deferring certain job duties or even taking additional time off to heal is advisable in such cases.

Pain and Discomfort After Liposuction

Soreness after surgery is quite common, especially around the treatment area. Good rest will help minimize the discomfort a patient experiences and help reduce the duration of this discomfort. Taking pain relievers as advised by your surgeon is helpful as well.

Bruising and Swelling After Liposuction

Bruising and swelling are common following liposuction as well. The major bruising and swelling will typically last for two weeks, with additional bruising and swelling dissipating by the end of a month. Some very minor swelling may persist for a few weeks more.

Walk a Little to Promote Circulation

While rest is crucial to speed up the healing process and prevent complications, walking just a little bit each day (no more than a few minutes three times a day) can help promote circulation and prevent blood clots from forming in the legs. This can also be an ideal opportunity to ease back into your regular exercise routine.

Follow-up Visits with Your Surgeon

Follow-up visits with with your surgeon are scheduled to ensure that you are recovering properly and that there are no complications or serious issues occurring while you are healing. Be sure to attend all of these follow-ups as scheduled, and to contact your surgeon between visits if any issues arise.

Will There Be Post-Operative Scarring?

Scarring is a reality following any surgery, but with liposuction, there is very little scarring to speak of. The cannula used to perform the procedure is quite small, and cosmetic surgeons work through as few incisions as possible when extracting fat. There may be small marks left behind the procedure, but they will be difficult to notice.

Learn More About Liposuction

For more information about liposuction and how it can help you look trimmer, slimmer, and more athletic, be sure to contact our cosmetic plastic surgery center today. We look forward to your visit and discussing these matters in much greater detail.