Recovery and Healing after Liposuction

Liposuction also known as "lipo" is a cosmetic surgery that helps to remove excess body fat. There are a number of techniques used by surgeons to loosen the body’s fat before removing begins. These are laser, super wet, ultrasound, tumescent and other power-assisted techniques. The recovery process is the same no matter whether a patient undergoes ultrasonic liposuction, laser liposuction or any other surgical procedure.

Liposuction surgery is generally performed using either local or general anaesthesia. This affects the recovery time immediately after the surgery.General anaesthesia is used on patients who are undergoing extensive liposuction with other procedures such as breast augmentation or tummy tuck. When only liposuction is being done, surgeons use local anaesthesia.

Patients who are recovering from liposuction surgery conducted under local anaesthesia don’t experience the groggy after effects associated with general anaesthesia. However a number of sedatives and pain medications prescribed for use during and after liposuction may cause dizziness, nausea and light-headedness. Therefore it is recommended that no matter which anaesthesia has been used, patients should avoid driving for some time.

After liposuction surgery, the first few days of the recovery period may be quite messy. This happens because anaesthetic and other fluids leak from the port sites or small holes made by the device (known as cannula) that physically removes the excess fat from the body. Many surgeons advise wearing absorbent pads until the leakage subside. This prevents stains on bed linens or clothes.

Bruising and swelling occur immediately after the surgery and may take few weeks to subside completely. Bruising would resolve within several weeks, but swelling may last for four to six months. This is the main reason that the final outcome of the surgery cannot be judged until around four to six months.

The area where the surgery has been done may feel hard and numb for three months. It’s advisable to visit a doctor if there is prolonged localized swelling and firmness which may indicate the formation of a seroma – a type of fluid pocket which would be drained by the doctor.

Barring infections or any other complications, complete recovery after liposuction surgery takes about six months. A number of patients have reported resuming light activity and going back to work one week after surgery. Sports and other types of vigorous activities can be resumed after a month of recovery.

The surgeon may recommend some tips to optimise the healing process and to ensure that the best possible results are achieved. The surgeon may ask the patient to wear a compression garment which is quite similar to girdle, usually for two to four weeks after the surgery.

Follow your surgeon’s instructions during the recovery process after liposuction Sydney is the place to search for some of the most renowned surgeons throughout Australia.