Liposuction surgery is a way to attain a lean and sculpted body for individuals who are within their ideal weight range but still have stubborn fatty deposits in certain areas.

The final outcomes of liposuction will take time to establish as the procedure involves a recovery period as well as aftercare. Therefore, it is understandable for patients to be concerned about long it will take for the liposuction outcomes to become visible.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

 

Post-Operative Recovery and Results

The initial recovery period after the procedure is around one week. During this period, the patient will likely experience inflammation which will make it difficult to see any outcomes at all.

In order to minimize swelling, it is vital to wear compression garments. The patient should also start light exercise in around one week after the surgery to mitigate the risk of complications. They can resume vigorous exercise in around one month following the surgery.

It may take many months before the patient sees a noticeable change, even after the recovery phase. The individual patient and the body area that received liposuction will determine how soon the patient will notice the results. Some patients experience a difference as early as three months after the procedure while others may see the changes in six months.

In general, it may take up to one year for the final outcomes to manifest. The patient can choose to undergo revision surgery at this point if they so desire.

 

Follow the Surgeon’s Recovery Guidelines

Liposuction permanently eliminates fat pockets. However, the surgical results depend, to a large extent, on the patient. Wearing compression garments can help shape the body and mitigate inflammation. The patient will also need to follow a balanced diet and exercise regimen to prevent the remaining fat cells from getting bigger.

The patient should follow the surgeon’s aftercare guidelines and maintain a healthy lifestyle to experience the outcomes of the liposuction surgery sooner and prevent the fat from coming back.

 

How long until you can exercise?

Within a few days of their liposuction procedure, a majority of patients can resume their exercise regimen. But at the outset, patients should not exercise vigorously.

The patient should ideally start by doing around 25 percent of their regular amount of exercise. After that, they should increase their daily exercise depending on their tolerance.

 

How long will the bruising and inflammation last?

The post-op care technique used by the plastic surgeon typically determines the duration of the inflammation and bruising after liposuction. The level of bruising differs considerably among patients.

The tumescent technique for liposuction used along with the “open-drainage” technique (where the surgeon does not seal the incisions with sutures) reduces the amount of inflammation after the surgery. Most patients who undergo liposuction with the tumescent technique do not have bruising after one to two weeks of the procedure.

 

How long will the inflammation last?

Around 90 percent of the swelling will resolve in four weeks after the liposuction procedure with the open-drainage technique (incisions are not sealed with sutures) and the proper use of compression garments (worn for three to six days).

The inflammation will persist for longer, and around 90 percent of it will resolve after 8 to 12 weeks if the incisions are sealed with sutures (trapping the residual blood-tinged tumescent fluid underneath the skin). The patient may experience significant inflammation for many months with the ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL) technique.

Liposuction may be a suitable option for patients with stubborn fatty deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas 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.