Approaching the date of a liposuction procedure can fill some patients with apprehension and anxiety, but it doesn’t have to. Liposuction is a safe and effective procedure that produces satisfying results with little downtime, especially when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. At New Reflections Plastic Surgery, board-certified Dr. Nikesh Patel and his expert staff are committed to providing comfortable and relaxing care while you work on perfecting your dream body. If you are interested in liposuction or have a procedure that is fast-approaching, take note of these simple recovery tips to ensure a successful recovery and that your results match your expectations.
After Your Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, meaning you are free to return home the same day as your surgery. You can expect to feel a bit sore and swollen immediately after your procedure. You should plan on bringing a spouse, family member or close friend with you to take you home after your surgery and help you settle into your recovery. Liposuction is commonly completed using local anesthesia so you should not have to worry about any lingering grogginess or sedation like you would from general anesthesia.
As a surgical procedure, liposuction does require that you set aside some time from your busy schedule to focus on healing. Typically, patients can expect to take three to seven days off from work and wait two to three weeks before resuming exercise and other strenuous activities. If you have any pressing concerns or responsibilities that require your constant attention, such as taking care of children, make sure you find some short-term help. In the days following your liposuction procedure, your focus should primarily be on recovering and allowing your body to heal optimally.
Your treated areas will be bandaged and your incisions may be sutured shut, depending on your surgeon’s technique. Surgical drains are sometimes also placed to collect any excess fluids. Compression garments are commonly used around the treated areas to help minimize swelling and bruising. You may feel a bit sore and tender for a while, but your side effects should improve within a week or two. Your liposuction surgeon will describe all post-op expectations with you during your initial consultation, including when you will need to come back in for a post-op check-in.
Speeding Up Your Liposuction Recovery
While your body can only heal so quickly, you can take certain steps to minimize side effects and get to enjoying your results that much sooner. Swelling is the main side effect of any liposuction procedure and can distort your contours. Wearing compression garments has been shown to reduce swelling and help your skin conform more tightly to your new contours. Swelling will ultimately take three to six months to dissipate completely, but you can help eliminate some of the immediate, most visible swelling using compression.
Drinking water and eating healthy can also help you eliminate excess fluids that might make you appear swollen. While drinking more water to reduce swelling might sound contradictory, it can actually have a direct impact on your fluid retention. When you become dehydrated, your body naturally begins to hold onto water as a safety mechanism. Ensuring your body is well-hydrated at all times will prevent your body from holding onto extra water unnecessarily. Eating a diet full of plenty of fruits and vegetables can also reduce your daily sodium intake, helping you avoid dehydration and excess swelling.
In addition to your diet, rest is a large component of how well and how quickly you recover from your liposuction procedure. Not getting the proper amount of rest or returning to work and exercise too soon can slow down your body’s healing process and even increase your risk for complications. Make sure you take your recovery seriously and plan ahead so that all potential distractions and other responsibilities are minimized while you rest up.
Maintaining Your Liposuction Results
While the fat that is removed during your liposuction procedure is gone for good, you are not immune from gaining more fat from an unhealthy lifestyle. Some patients view liposuction as a lasting solution for eliminating their stubborn fat and believe that they can simply eat and live however they’d like after their surgery without fear of repercussions. In order to maintain your results and continue enjoying your new contours well into the future, you should be prepared to eat healthy, exercise regularly and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Your surgeon will discuss all expectations with you prior to your surgery to help you understand what sort of results you can expect. Liposuction is a fat loss procedure, not a weight loss procedure, and is meant primarily for patients with mild to moderate pockets of stubborn fat. If you are truly interested in liposuction and have struggled to experience satisfying results from diet and exercise, then liposuction may be able to help you build your desired contours.
Experience Less Downtime and Discomfort with Liposuction from Dr. Patel
At New Reflections Plastic Surgery, Dr. Patel uses a gentler and more advanced liposuction approach that produces less swelling, discomfort and downtime without sacrificing results. Rather than wait three to seven days before resuming their normal schedules, patients of Dr. Patel can expect to be back to their normal selves in only a day or two. His patients’ results are typically evident in just a few weeks and patients can expect to be “bikini ready” after only 12 weeks. Dr. Patel uses both traditional tumescent liposuction and laser liposuction at his office in Freehold, New Jersey.
Schedule Your Consultation at New Reflections Plastic Surgery Today
As a care center dedicated to the highest quality patient experience, Dr. Patel and the staff at New Reflections Plastic Surgery will be with you every step of the way on your liposuction journey. From the minute you enter our office and are greeted by our concierge-style service to the date of your surgery and beyond, you can expect to experience comfortable and compassionate treatment. To schedule your liposuction consultation and learn about the New Reflections difference, call us today at 732-354-3792.
