12 Steps to Faster Healing & Less Downtime After Liposuction

With more than 250,000 liposuction surgeries performed in the United States every year, it is a safe and effective way to get the body you’ve always wanted.

But while the downtime associated with liposuction is shorter than many surgeries – and the pain is relatively minimal – lipo is still a surgical procedure that will require time for healing and recovery. As with any surgery there will be some bruising and discomfort for a number of days or a few weeks afterward. And, liposuction swelling can last from 6 weeks to 6 months before fully absorbed.

In this two part article article, board-certified Troy, MI area plastic surgeon Dr. Ali shares 12 steps you can take to help minimize discomfort and speed up the healing of bruising and swelling after liposuction.

CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 of TIPS TO SPEED UP LIPOSUCTION HEALING

#7. Topical Creams Reduce Pain, Bruising & Scarring

Applying Arnica Cream is recommended by many plastic surgeons after liposuction to reduce bruising and promote healing.

Emu Oil, though more expensive, is also touted as a natural healing compound that can reduce pain, improve circulation, facilitate healing, and especially reduce any scarring. Clinical studies have determined that post-operative skin care treatment with Emu Oil can accelerate healing due to its ability to reduce inflammation and redness of scars.

Ask your liposuction team when it is safe after surgery for you to use these creams and oils.

#8. Stay Hydrated After Liposuction

We may be stating the obvious, but hydration is a key component of successful liposuction recovery.  Fluids help the body eliminate anesthetic and dead fat cells from one’s system. Hydration is also essential to reduce swelling and promote healing.

#9. Get Plenty of Rest After Liposuction

Getting plenty of sleep and not overdoing activity in the first few weeks following your liposuction is one of the best ways to help your body heal. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, and take a nap, chill out, or medicate midday if you are fatigued.

#10. Walk Every Day After Liposuction

Exercise is not recommended during at least the first 6 weeks of liposuction recovery, but light movement multiple times a day can help to speed the body’s healing. Taking short walks a few times per day is a great way to get moving without straining your body or exhausting yourself.

After two or three weeks milder activities such as yoga or swimming can often be resumed as well, if incisions are fully healed. Ask your liposuction team when you mave resume these activities. But sooner is usually better, to keep the body active!

#11. Ask for Help When You Need It After Liposuction

Some daily activities are best left to others while you recovery – so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it after lipo. Activities such as lifting small children, carrying laundry up the stairs, or unloading groceries from the car can put too much strain on your treatment area. So, ask a family member or friend for help when necessary – especially during the first few weeks after lipo!

Your liposuction team can advise you when you resume normal daily activities such as lifting, carrying, exercising and other strenuous activities.

#12, Massage After Liposuction

Finally, both self-massage and lymphatic drainage massage performed by a professional can help eliminate fluid buildup, hard stops and “lumps & bumps” after liposuction. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage is a specialized form of massage that is believed to decrease recovery time and improve results by reducing post-surgical swelling and minimizing fibrosis (scar tissue formation). Three to five lymphatic massage treatments are typically recommended for optimal results, but patients may experience benefits from as few as one or two treatments. Your surgical team may be able to recommend a Certified Lymphatic Massage therapist in your area.

Gentle self-massage using a cream (like arnica or Emu Oil) or a body butter can also help your treated areas heal smoothly as well as reduce swelling, tightness, and discomfort after liposuction. Your liposuction team can advise you when and how often self-massage or professional massage should be started.

Liposuction | Troy, MI Area

Liposuction permanent fat removal can be truly life-changing for patients. And our Troy, MI area liposuction patients universally agree that the discomfort and limitations of recovery from lipo surgery are more than worth it to get the body they have always wanted.

Following these twelve simple steps can help you minimize discomfort and accelerate healing so that you see a slimmer, more contoured body as soon as possible after lipo.

If you live in the greater Troy, MI area and would like to get the body you have always wanted, schedule a liposuction consultation at AMAE Plastic Surgery today!

Liposuction | Troy, MI Area: 248-335-7200

How Much Downtime is there after Liposuction?

Liposuction is the second most popular cosmetic surgery in the U.S. for a reason – it can truly transform your body in a single procedure with minimal pain and downtime. Every year surgeons perform more than a quarter million liposuction procedures in the United States every year.

For, many people the only thing holding them back from getting liposuction is concerns about recovery: from worries about downtime and missing work to apprehensions about post-operative pain.

Board-certified Birmingham, MI plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed more than 1000 liposuction procedures. In this article the lipo experts at AMAE Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, MI explain what to expect during the recovery process – so you can decide if liposuction is right for you.

Liposuction Recovery in General

To begin with, remember that ANY surgical recovery varies from one individual to the next. Your age, overall health, skin condition, medical history all play a role in determining your recover speed and comfort.

Additionally, the location and amount of fat that is removed will play a role in your recovery. It’s common sense that more extensive fat removal will require a longer recovery.

And, perhaps most importantly, how well you follow post-operative care instructions can be the biggest factor in ensuring a shorter and more comfortable recovery. For example, smoking and alcohol use during recovery can lead to delays and complications.

Liposuction Recovery: “Downtime”

Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, so patients almost always go home the same day. You will be very drowsy and will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours. Most patients sleep or dose most of their first day home.

For about 24 hours there will also be some drainage from the surgical sight. This is very normal. Occasionally Dr. Ali may also use small drains to prevent fluid from building up around the incisions. (We will tell you exactly how to care for them.)

Patients are typically quite sore and likely still feeling residual effects of the anesthesia or pain medication for the next 2 days – so it’s not safe to drive, operate machinery, or go out alone for 48 hours. But walking for 10 minutes every 2 hours can help with the soreness a bit and is also important to prevent the development of blood clots (DVTs).

It’s important to enlist help around the house for the first few days, especially if you have young children to care for!

By the third day most patients are up to gentle daily activities like fixing meals or straightening up the house.

Liposuction Recovery: Time Off Work

Some patients with a “desk job” that does not require strenuous activity, lifting, carrying or prolonged standing may even be able to go back to work on the third day. However, it is very important to get up and move or walk for 10 minutes every couple of hours to prevent blood clots.

This means lipo on a Friday and returning to work on Monday is possible for some (but not all) patients with sedentary jobs. You will still be quite sore on day 3 – so gauge your time off from work accordingly. Dr. Ali can help you with this during your first consultation.

Most people can return to work after a week. But patients with a particularly physical or demanding job, may want to schedule 2 weeks off in order to recover more fully. Discuss the type of work that you do with Dr. Ali during your consultation at our Birmingham, MI office. He will be able to help you assess the amount of time you should schedule off work – based on the extent of your liposuction surgery and the type of work that you perform.

CLICK HERE to Read about Pain Management After Liposuction

Liposuction | Birmingham, MI

If you are considering liposuction and have more questions about recovery, downtime, returning to work, or anything else, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali. He will answer your questions, address your concerns and help you decide if liposuction is right for you.

Dr. Ali has helped more than 1000 men and women in the Birmingham, MI area get the body they’ve always wanted with liposuction, so call us today.

Liposuction | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200

Which is Better for Me: Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Tummy tuck surgery and less-invasive liposuctions can both help a man or woman get the flat, toned mid-section they want. But they are very different procedures, and each has pros and cons. Understanding these differences can help patients understand which is right for them.

In this article, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali, at AMAE Plastic Surgery in the Troy, MI area outlines some of the difference, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, of tummy tuck surgery and liposuction.

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction: Anesthetic

Since liposuction is far less invasive, it can typically be performed under local anesthetic. This means the specific treatment area can be numbed and the procedure performed while the patient is awake, but mildly sedated with relaxing medication.

Alternatively, a tummy tuck is a much more extensive surgical procedure that must be performed under general anesthesia. Patients are “put under” for a tummy tuck and are not awake.

Of course, any procedure performed under general anesthesia will always carry more risk than one done under local anesthesia. But choosing an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon helps to reduce risks associated with a general anesthesia – so complications are very rare.

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction: Surgery

Liposuction removes stubborn, excess fat that is stored between the muscle and skin. But there is no change or tightening to the skin at all. Depending on the amount of fat removed during liposuction, the skin will need to tighten on its own. Additionally, liposuction does not tighten the abdominal muscles.

On the other hand, a tummy tuck not only removes unwanted fat, but also excises excess skin and tightens abdominal muscles.

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction: Scars

Liposuction will only leave very tiny scars that are typically barely visible and will fade with time.

There are a few options when it comes to a tummy tuck – full or mini – that determine the degree of scarring. The full tummy tuck, with removal of excess skin and muscle tightening, means a larger incision is necessary. A skilled board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Ali will typically place the scar strategically over the bikini line, where it is less visible.

The mini tuck – which does not require muscle repair or substantial skin removal – has less scaring than a full means a larger incision typically placed over the bikini line. This larger incision allows for. But is still more scarring than liposuction.

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction: Downtime

Downtime is dependent on the type of Tummy Tuck (full or mini) a patient selects. But in general, after about two weeks, most patients can return to light exercise and driving. Depending on the type of employment, patients can expect to turn to work within 2-3 weeks. It’s important to consider how demanding duties are before determining the best time to resume work.

Liposuction downtime is far less, ranging from only 2 to 7 days. Since liposuction involves much less discomfort and swelling, some patients may even return to light activity in as soon as 2-3 days. They can also expect to resume normal activities shortly after.

Recovery periods should be evaluated by the plastic surgeon, to ensure the best decision is made for the patient’s specific case. At AMAE Plastic Surgery in the Troy, MI area, Dr. Ali works closely with patients to develop a specific post procedure recovery plan.

Is a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction Better for Me?

Liposuction is a procedure for patients within 30% of their ideal weight who need help getting rid of pockets of stubborn fat. Candidates for this procedure tend to have healthy skin and muscle and expect skin to firm up following removal of fat.

However, a tummy tuck is the best procedure for individuals with excess fat and loose or excess skin in their midsection, and/or weak or stretched abdominal muscles.

Liposuction & Tummy Tuck Surgery | Troy, MI Area

At AMAE Med Spa in the Troy, MI area, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped many patients get the body of their dreams. If you would like to set up a consultation to further understand which procedure is right for you, contact us today! Dr. Ali and his staff will help you make the best choice for your needs. And financing options are available!

Liposuction & Tummy Tuck Surgery | Troy, MI Area: 248-335-7200