Epsom Salt & Liposuction

Individuals who find themselves unable to remove pockets of fat on their body through normal diet and exercise may be candidates for the medical procedure known as liposuction. Following the surgery, Epsom salts are often utilized to help heal the damaged skin.

Identification

• Liposuction is the medical removal of excessive amounts of fat in areas of the body prone to such accumulation; these areas may include the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, back, neck or chin. Epsom salt is a colorless, crystalline salt typically used in baths to reduce inflammation and sooth skin disorders or injury, such as that from surgery incision.

Function

• Swelling and bruising is commonplace following liposuction surgery. Many patients return home the same day and will be responsible for much of their own healing. "You may also take warm Epsom salt baths, which will help with swelling and bruising. You may bathe two days after the surgery," says Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Carmen Kavali.

Benefits

• In addition to soothing skin scarred by liposuction incisions, Epsom salt is composed primarily of magnesium, an important bodily element absorbed through the skin and credited with a number of healthy attributes, including the enhancement of muscle control, elimination of toxins, and an increase of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that brings on a feeling of well-being and relaxation.