The recovery time after liposculpture depends on a number of different things. The doctor that performed the procedure and the type of liposculpture, along with your body’s ability to heal all affect the recovery time and process. Although some people may be a little leery to have a liposculpture procedure done in the first place, it is, for the most part, a relatively simple procedure. Most people can resume their normal activities within a week, and they are completely healed within a few months. However, the first couple of weeks after having liposculpture done are the most important to the recovery process.

The First Days of Liposculpture Recovery

Going Home Post-Surgery

One of the most common questions that people have before undergoing liposculpture is when they can go home. If the procedure was done using just local anesthesia, the patient can usually leave shortly after. The waiting time before leaving for home is usually no more than thirty minutes.

After a liposculpture procedure is performed using general anesthesia, the waiting period before leaving home is just a little longer. The patient is placed in a recovery room and vital signs are monitored. It is important to monitor the blood pressure in particular to ensure that it is not too low. Also, since general anesthesia can cause a variety of side effects on some people, the patient is monitored for symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Leaving the Hospital

It is recommended that the patient has someone with them for at least twelve to twenty four hours after a liposculpture procedure. This person should be there to help with moving around, medications, and any other needs that the patient may have. Some grogginess can last for the remainder of the day, but should dissipate by the next morning.

Pain associated with a liposculpture procedure can range from mild to severe. This is usually quite mild, though. In many cases though, the pain is more of a discomfort after a couple of days. For many, pain medication is only taken for the first couple of days to a week, and some patients may not even need it at all.

There will be some leakage of fluid from incisions for about two to three days if they were not stitched closed. This is normal. The fluid is a mixture of lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic, and epinephrine, which shrinks capillaries. It may be tinged with blood and betadine, and it can stain most fabrics. Although, most of this fluid is extracted during the procedure, some will remain trapped under the skin. The doctor that performs the liposculpture will leave small incisions in the area open to let any remaining fluid drain. This helps to minimize swelling and bruising.

It is important to drink an adequate amount of fluids the first few days after a liposculpture procedure. This will keep your body hydrated and speed the healing process.  The day of the procedure, a patient can almost always get up and move around. Rest is recommended for the first couple of days, but they are not confined to bed. If they feel comfortable enough to get up and move around, then they are recommended to do so. This encourages circulation, and helps to prevent any clotting of the blood.

First Few Weeks of Liposculpture Recovery Time

Resuming Normal Activities

Most patients find themselves up and around within a couple days to a week after a liposculpture procedure. Many are able to return to work within a few days. Although normal physical activity can resume within a week, patients should wait until at least a month after the procedure to partake in vigorous activity. Showers are fine just after a liposculpture procedure, but baths, jacuzzis, swimming pools, and any other activity that involves soaking your body should be avoided for at least a week or more.

Swelling, Bruising, and Numbness

The majority of the swelling that occurs after liposculpture usually goes away within the first few weeks. The rest is almost always gone within a month or two, or within three months at the latest. Wearing compression garments, taking an anti-inflammatory medication, and massage can help reduce the swelling. Unlike many surgical procedures, it is not recommended to apply heat or ice packs to the area.

There is almost always some bruising after a liposculpture procedure. Depending on the patient and procedure, the amount and severity can vary greatly. It can range from mild to severe, but it usually goes away within the first couple of weeks.

Numbness is very common after a liposculpture procedure, and it should be expected. This can take several weeks to go away. The majority of the time, all numbness is gone after a few months.

Compression Garments

Doctors will advise their patients to wear a compression garment after liposculpture. This is important for a number of reasons. This garment not only covers the liposculpture areas, but they also help to minimize any swelling, improve blood circulation, and accelerate the healing process. A compression garment will give support to the surgical areas and allow the patient to return to daily routines sooner.

The length of time that a compression garment must be worn depends on the type of procedure and the doctor’s aftercare instructions. If an open drainage technique is used where the incisions are not closed, the garment is typically worn for no more than a week or two. If the incisions are stitches closed, the garment should be worn for a longer period of time since the fluid is trapped under the skin.

Potential Problems After Liposculpture

Although liposculpture is a relatively safe procedure, there are some things that every patient should be aware of. These complications are relatively rare, but it is always best to err on the side of caution. Choosing a surgeon carefully will reduce risks during a liposculpture procedure. In this case, the cheapest is not always the best.

Perforation

Since the doctor is unable to see the tool use to siphon fat from the body, there is some risk that major organs can be perforated. Symptoms of this may not be very apparent during the procedure, which makes it very dangerous. Tumescent liposculpture carries a smaller risk of perforation since it is a gentler procedure, and the tools used are smaller.

Shock

A small number of patients can experience shock during a liposculpture procedure. This is usually a result of internal bleeding or an excessive loss of fluids.

Blood Clots

A blood clot can form in the lungs, pelvis, legs, or other areas after a surgery. These are usually caused by prolonged immobility. Moving around as soon as possible after a liposculpture procedure is important. This stimulates circulation and lowers the risk of a blood clot forming.

*Always make sure that you talk to your liposculpture surgeon if you have any problems with your surgery or questions about recovery.

Liposculpture is a body contouring procedure that involves removing localized fat deposits from the body. This procedure can be performed in a few different ways but in the end the results will be similar. While liposuction is a procedure that mostly involves the removal of bulges, the term “liposculpture” involves circumferential sculpting. It is called liposculpture because the body is artistically sculpted by the surgeon to form a new shape for the body by using delicate instruments. Two of the most common liposculpture procedures nowadays are UAL, or ultra-sonic assisted, liposculpture and tumescent liposculpture.

UAL Liposculpture Procedure

During this type of liposculpture an ultrasound probe is used to transform the fat into a liquid before it is sucked out of the body by something called a “cannula”. A “cannula” is used in all methods of liposculpture and is a special tube that has been designed as a suction device for the fatty tissue. This method is preferred for more fibrous parts of the body, such as the male breast area or the upper back. There is a very small added risk of seromas, which are pockets of fluid, forming from this type of liposculpture procedure, but they can be easily drained with a needle if they do become present. While UAL (ultrasonic assisted) devices were formerly known to cause tissue damage due to prolonged exposure to the energy supplied by the ultrasound, recent technology, such as the Vaser Lipo system, allows the fat to be removed without these complications.

Tumescent Liposculpture Procedure

This type of liposculpture is one of the most common procedures used for cosmetic surgery. It can safely and permanently remove excess fat deposits that are unresponsive to exercise and diet. Tumescent means “to swell” and is basically a description of what takes place during the procedure. Before the procedure the surgeon will fill the fatty areas that are going to be removed with a special solution that will cause the fatty area to swell. The local anesthetic in the solution will numb the area, which cuts out the need for intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

Bleeding is reduced to a minimum by the constricting of blood vessels caused by the substance adrenalin. The fatty deposits are then removed by the cannula. In addition to the benefits of the local anesthetic, tumescent liposculpture allows the patient to cooperate with their doctor by moving into a position that will allow the procedure to be performed most easily. This includes things like standing up so the surgeon can observe and optimize the results as well as contracting muscles during the sculpting of the buttocks or abdomen to make fatty deposits more visible.

General Liposculpture Procedures and Information

Liposculpture procedures can be performed in a major hospital or at an out-patient operating location. Depending on the amount of work that the individual needs done the procedure can take anywhere from one to four hours. It is rare that any hair will have to be shaved for the procedure, but in the event this is required the amount of hair removed will be minimal. Incisions required during the surgery are generally done in the folds of the skin where they are least likely to be noticed and are very small incisions that are typically smaller than one quarter of an inch. It is possible for other procedures to be performed in addition to the liposculpture, with the most common being breast reduction and abdominoplasty.This will increase the longevity of the procedure as well as increasing the probability of blood loss.

Prior to having the procedure the patient will consult the surgeon to make sure they agree on the areas that are to be treated and what the expected outcome is. On the day of the surgery the patient will have to sign a consent form before being permitted to undergo the procedure. Normally, an antibiotic will be given to the patient about an hour prior to the surgery, although this can be administered after the surgery as well. While in a standing position the areas that will be targeted during the procedure will be marked off by the surgeon or an assistant.

In certain instances photos are taken of the area that has been treated so that the patient can see the results through viewing before and after photos. Prior to the surgery a sterilizing solution will be applied to the treatment areas while in the operating room. During the surgery the patient will only feel a rasping or scraping sensation due to the movement of the cannula. While they may need someone else do drive them home, patients are generally allowed to go home the same day and can even get up and walk around.

Physician Approval Before the Liposculpture Procedure

Only people who have been cleared by a physician are allowed to undergo liposculpture surgery. Prior to the procedure it is important to disclose to the surgeon any medical conditions or medications that the patient is taking to be sure that the surgery will remain safe. Smoking within two weeks prior to and two weeks after the surgery is not recommended as it will hinder the healing process. This same time frame also applies to taking aspirin or products containing aspirin. Since it is important to be in the best nutritional state possible prior to the procedure, it is recommended that the patient takes vitamin supplements, especially Vitamin C, in the days or weeks prior to having the surgery. Before having any liposculpture procedure it is recommended that the patient also be well hydrated.

Excess fat will normally be present in different areas in men and women. The most common locations that undergo liposculpture surgery are the:

*Abdominal area
*Buttocks
*Back
*Calves
*Inner and outer thighs

Facial liposculpture is also a very popular procedure with the most commonly worked on areas being the jowls, neck, and chin. Breast liposculpture can be performed as a breast reduction method for both men and women. Liposculpture procedures are generally painless, with many patients even being able to talk during the procedure. The anesthetic normally lasts for around 24 hours and the patient may experience a minimum amount of soreness once the anesthetic wears off, which normally will last from one to two weeks.