What you can and cannot do after the liposuction

The liposuction is a surgery allowing for fat removal from a specific body part. The surgery itself is as important as the daily lifestyle afterward and the optimal results can only be achieved when the surgery is performed correctly and the patient follows the healthy lifestyle after the surgery. In this article, we will outline some recommendations and suggestions for the recovery time after liposuction. These recommendations are universal for each type of liposuction (e.g. vaser lipo, smart lipo, body jet lipo) performed on any body part.

Wear the compression garment after the liposuction surgery

After liposuction surgery, each patient asks “How long should I wear a compression garment?” The answer is several weeks, which might seem a long time, but considering the long-lasting effects, it is quite little. Just after the procedure, the doctor puts bandages and compression garments. Wearing both the bandages and the garments makes that the pressure on the area is maintained, bleeding is reduced or even eliminated, and the contours are properly shaped and kept. You need to ask your doctor before the surgery if you will be provided with the compression garments. If not, you would have to buy them before your surgery. They can be purchased at any pharmacy or medical supply store. It is extremely important to wear the compression garments because they enhance healing by reducing swelling after liposuction, bruising and improving the circulation as well as helps keep achieve the best results.

Take the proper medicine after the liposuction surgery

For at least 2 weeks after liposuction, patients have to avoid some medications including Motrin, Aspirin, Aleve, and Advil because they may increase bruising and drainage. In fact, you should inform your doctor about any medications that you want to take after liposuction. It is significant that you do not take medications containing ingredients increasing bleeding and slowing blood clotting. E.g. you should avoid over-the-counter supplements, e.g. vitamin E as they slow blood clotting. Probably, you will need some painkillers after the liposuction, but the doctor will recommend the best ones. To minimize the risk of improper healing, you should not try new medications or supplements during your recovery.

Don’t forget to exercise after your surgery

Liposuction surgery removes the excess fat, not the skin, so exercising after the procedure is extremely important. Patients have to realize that neither abdominoplasty nor liposuction causes miracles. The fat cells are removed only from a given body part. Also, after liposuction, the fat in a given area will never come back, but it might be accumulated in other areas of the body. So it is impossible to have fat on a treated area in the future, but it is, by all means, possible to put on weight and have more and more fat on any other body part. Thus, it is vital to keep exercising regularly after the liposuction procedure. There are some rules describing how to exercise after liposuction surgery. For the first two weeks, only standing and light walking is allowed. In the third week, you can introduce some cardio training, e.g. cycling, elliptical training, light jogging. After five weeks, you can implement more rigorous training like weight lifting, abdominal exercises, longer and more exhaustive cardio.

You should give up smoking after your liposuction surgery

Because of nicotine, the blood vessels constrict, so their size is decreased and the flowing blood is dropped off. Also, the capillaries and clog small blood vessels are furthered. In general, the blood supply in the tissues is significantly decreased, so the wounds do not heal properly and the risk of postoperative complications is much bigger. In the doctor’s office patients ask “Can I smoke after the liposuction?” And hearing the negative answer, they often continue “And what about vaping?” So, vaping is as dangerous as smoking or even worse than smoking, so it is not a good idea, to say the least. All the plastic surgeons agree in this issue, patients should stop smoking after liposuction, simple as that.

Maintain the right diet after the right liposuction surgery

Following a healthy diet after liposuction guarantees achieving the best possible results, prevents gaining weight and keeps a good health condition. A balanced diet, as well as exercises, should not be treated like recovery steps, but more like a new healthy lifestyle. The diet changes should be permanent, not temporary. The following food must be avoided for a long time after liposuction:

• alcohol (should not be consumed for at least 14 days after the surgery)

• saturated fat (including processed and fried food)

• salty food (should be avoided for 4 months after liposuction)

• sugar

The food that is recommended to eat after liposuction include:

• fruits

• vegetables

• liquids (water, smoothies, juices)

• nuts and legumes

• lean and natural proteins

• fish

• healthy grains

Of course, after the surgery, your doctor will explain to you all the rules of your diet for the recovery time, thanks to which the healing time will be faster. You should follow the diet instructions carefully so that the desired effects will be achieved. However, you need to eat healthily for the rest of your life to maintain your weight and a good health condition.

Liposuction procedure should not be treated as a magical surgery thanks to which all problems with weight disappear. On the contrary, there are many important dos and don’ts after the surgery that influence the final results to a great extent. These factors include care for the treated area, exercising, diet, smoking, and medications. Depending on the patient’s attitude, they can influence the results in a positive or negative way, it is all in the patient’s hands. If you look for cheap liposuction abroad, do not hesitate to contact us. We will help you organize your surgery and stay abroad!