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Smart Liposuction Recovery

Liposuction, or lipoplasty, is the removal of fat from the body by suction. Usually, liposuction can be performed under only local anesthesia. Patients typically experience several weeks of recovery time, but can return to work and normal activities in a few days. Recovery time can be significantly longer if complications arise or if patients do not follow their doctor's after care instructions.

  1. Anesthesia

    • For patients with large areas in need of liposuction, general anesthesia is necessary. After general anesthesia, patients need to be monitored for one to three hours after surgery. After local anesthesia, patients can usually go home after 30 minutes, according to the website Liposuction.com.

    Swelling

    • Post-operative swelling varies greatly from patient to patient, and depends in large part on the technique of the surgeon. Surgeons are increasingly using an open drainage technique, in which incisions are left open to drain and heal on their own. According to the website Smart Liposuction, with open drainage, 90 percent of the swelling should resolve in about four weeks. When incisions are closed with stitches, the swelling can take about eight to 10 weeks to resolve.

    Tips for Faster Recovery

    • According to the website DocShop, tips for faster recovery include drinking adequate amounts of water, avoiding alcohol and wearing compression garments. DocShop also advises against using ice-packs or heating pads, applying hydrogen peroxide and swimming or soaking in water.

    Seromas

    • A seroma is a collection of body fluid or lymph under the skin. Seromas can occur after liposuction, especially if the surgery performed is ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, in which sound waves are used to liquefy fat before suction. Seromas are generally not dangerous but can persist for several months without treatment. A surgeon can drain a seroma to speed healing, according to Liposuction.com.

    Regaining Weight

    • While liposuction does remove some of the finite number of fat cells, weight gain is still possible. After liposuction, the body's remaining fat cells are capable of expanding. It is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program to prevent weight gain after surgery, according to Smart Liposuction.

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