Liposuction is a major cosmetic surgery procedure that involves a considerable recovery process. During the pre-operative consultation process, the surgeon will inform the patient on various facets of the liposuction procedure, including the estimated recovery.

The patient can have a reasonable estimate of the time it would take them to return to their routine activities. Following the liposuction procedure, the surgeon will also provide the patient and their caregiver a list of post-operative care guidelines.

Committed cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other cities and states in this amazing part of the country.

Initial Recovery Phase

Once the anesthesia subsides post-surgery, the patient will feel some pain and discomfort in the incision sites. Furthermore, there will be some inflammation and redness following the surgery. The inflammation could remain for several weeks and even months in some patients.

For the first week, the surgeon may place drainage tubes beneath the skin in the incision sites to drain fluid from the wound.

The surgeon will require the patient to wear a compression garment in the treated sites to ensure that the tissue stays firm after the liposuction surgery. The patient will need to wear these garments for a few weeks. At the end of the initial week, the patient will need to visit the surgeon so that they can review the healing progress.

Guidelines for Recovery

The patient should diligently follow the post-op instructions that the surgeon provides to enjoy a safe and predictable recovery period.

The patient will need to stop smoking for a few weeks. The instructions will contain details on draining and measuring the fluid, wearing a compression garment, taking prescription pain medications or antibiotics, and the activity level that is safe in the initial few weeks.

The surgeon will give the patient information on the symptoms that are normal as well as any possible abnormal signs signaling a complication. The approximate recovery duration can differ depending on the amount of fat removed and other variables.

Recovery after Two Weeks

The patient can take mild walks and undertake light activities soon after the liposuction procedure. However, they should avoid aggressive exercises and heavy weight lifting for nearly four to six weeks after the procedure as this can lead to the retention of fluids in the incision sites. The patient should also avoid heat exposure, direct sun, and sunbathing for a minimum of six weeks due to the possibility of inflammation.

The patient should dedicatedly wear the compression garment over the treated sites all the time for the initial four to six weeks. This helps manage the inflammation and enhances skin contraction.

Long-Term Recovery

Healing after liposuction is a gradual process. The outcomes establish continuously over many months as the inflammation subsides slowly. The incision scars will fade away over time and may become barely visible in several months.

The patient should follow-up with the surgeon at prescribed intervals to make sure that their recovery is safe and complete. The prudent Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other suburbs and cities in The Cotton State for liposuction.

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.