A Better Recovery for Better Lipo Results

By Frank Campanile

Many people who have liposuction believe that once they’re through with surgery and back home recovering, the hard part is over. In reality, the recovery process can have an impact on the quality of your results following liposuction. Here are a few ways that you can address specific concerns you might have during this critical time to ensure a more optimal outcome.

Your Concern: Post-Operative Swelling
Some swelling is perfectly normal after liposuction, especially after traditional (tumescent) lipo. Some of the tumescent solution that was used during the procedure to make fat cell removal easier will be left behind, and the trauma caused to the tissue in the treatment area will naturally trigger the body’s healing response.

Even though post-operative swelling is normal, there are a few ways you can minimize swelling:

• Wearing a compression garment puts pressure on the treated area, increasing circulation and encouraging tumescent fluid to be expelled more quickly. The garment itself offers the added bonus of giving you a more streamlined appearance that makes you look less swollen, too.
• Avoiding salty foods and drinking plenty of liquids helps prevent fluid retention that causes swelling to linger. Watch for sodas and other beverages with a higher sodium content. Instead, focus on water, fruit juices and herbal teas.
• Staying mildly active discourages fluid collection and promotes healthy circulation that also diminishes swelling. Although you shouldn’t be exercising vigorously right after surgery, taking time to move around each day is important.

Your Concern: Skin Laxity after Lipo
Since liposuction removes only fat cells as part of the body contouring process and doesn’t affect the skin directly, it’s common for patients to worry that their skin might look loose after their procedure. Overall skin quality and your skin’s ability to tighten to your slimmer figure will vary from patient to patient, so be sure to discuss any concerns with your surgeon prior to surgery.

During recovery, you can take specific steps to help ensure smooth results:

• The compression garment is again essential; its presence helps encourage the skin to conform to your new curves by holding it in place as the underlying tissues heal.
• Follow best practices for optimum skin health: keep skin hydrated with moisturizers, drink plenty of water, and always protect yourself from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Your Concern: Resuming Daily Activities
Of course you have a full life and you want to get back to your routine as quickly as possible after your surgery. Yet, you definitely don’t want your activity level to compromise your liposuction results. What’s the best way to ensure healthy healing while still getting right back into the swing of things?

• Stay mildly active during the early stages of recovery by getting up and walking around regularly, but respect your limits and listen to your body if you need to rest or feel any increase in discomfort.
• Don’t resume your normal workout routine without checking with your plastic surgeon first; you could be risking your health as well as your surgical results.
• Once your surgeon does give the okay to get back on track with regular exercise, be sure to keep up with your regular trips to the gym, and continue eating a sensible diet. If you maintain your existing healthy lifestyle, your liposuction results will last even longer.