Liposuction is highly effective at getting rid of stubborn fat deposits on the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, upper arms, and other places such as the chin and neck. In fact, the procedure is one of the most commonly performed in the country.
There are several reasons for this. First, as noted, liposuction is extremely effective. If you have a modest amount of excess fat on your body that you can’t seem to get rid of despite exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, liposuction could be your answer.
Liposuction is also popular because the recovery experience is generally fairly easy. It’s relatively quick, and most patients don’t experience severe Liposuction side effects.
With that said, there are certainly side effects associated with liposuction recovery. In this article, we will outline the top three most common liposuction side effects so that you can know exactly what to expect if you’re planning liposuction soon.
The Top 3 Most Common Liposuction Side Effects
1. Swelling
Swelling is certainly the most notable side effect to expect after liposuction. Not only will your incision sites have swelling, but all over the treated area, you’ll notice swelling as well.
This is perfectly normal, and most of the swelling should go down within one to two weeks after your procedure. Throughout this time, you’ll notice your figure becoming progressively slimmer, and slowly, you’ll begin to see a more contoured silhouette reveal itself as the swelling goes down.
For the most part, swelling after liposuction is caused by inflammation — your body’s natural immune response — and fluid retention. As inflammation goes down and your fluid retention reduces, swelling will go down in tandem.
Still, you may have some residual swelling for several more months. At about the six-month mark, all of your swelling should be gone.
2. Skin Pigmentation Changes
Your skin is going to go through a lot of color changes after liposuction. Most notably, you’ll notice redness and bruising.
The redness will largely be due to inflammation. During any invasive production (and especially during liposuction), the skin, fat, muscles, and all other bodily tissues will be agitated to a great degree. This will naturally cause inflammation, which is your body’s normal response to any “invader” or disruption. We want your body to respond in this way because it’s a sign of a healthy immune system.
With that said, only a certain amount of redness after liposuction is good. We don’t want to see severe redness radiating around your incision sites and not going away. The redness should not be persistently painful to a great degree, nor should it be particularly warm to the touch. These symptoms together could signify an infection. In some cases, redness that won’t go away and is accompanied by lumps may also be a sign of fibrosis.
In either of these situations — or whenever you are unsure of something — be sure to contact your plastic surgeon right away to follow-up.
In addition to some healthy redness after surgery, you’re going to have some significant bruising after liposuction as will. Bruises will be the normal blue, purple, and even greenish/gray colors. They will slowly disappear with time. Again, this is perfectly normal.
3. Discomfort
The most severe pain and discomfort after liposuction is going to occur in the first two to three days post-surgery. With that said, discomfort shouldn’t be too bad after liposuction. Pain is more commonly associated with tummy tuck recovery or recovery from breast lift surgery, for example.
Of course, you will also have pain management tools and techniques at your disposal. Unless contraindicated, Dr. Sieber will provide you with a prescription for pain medication. He will also advise you on several things you can do at home to help reduce your discomfort and speed up your liposuction recovery.
For example, it can help to wear larger, looser clothing in the weeks after surgery. Just be sure that you are also still wearing your compression garments as directed.
Also, some patients may benefit from lymphatic massages. And finally, it is recommended that patients keep moving after surgery. When you can, go for a walk, even if it’s just a short jaunt around your bedroom or walking back and forth in front of your house for a few minutes.
What to Expect From Liposuction Recovery
Right after surgery, you will be outfitted with a foam vest and compression suit. These garments will help to maintain your body’s new contours. They will also help reduce fluid retention (which will help reduce swelling). In addition, you’ll have two drainage tubes in your dressing — one in front and one in back. These will be removed approximately one week to 10 days into your recovery.
Because liposuction is almost always an outpatient procedure, you’ll be allowed to go home on the same day in most cases. Just be sure to have a friend or family member come to take you home.
At home, in addition to the three side effects of liposuction outlined above, you may be slightly tired, especially at first. You’ll need to refrain from any overexertion, including exercise. Eat a healthy diet. Drink plenty of water. And get lots of quality sleep.
Dr. Sieber will tell you when you’re able to start moving and exercising again. He will also inform you when you can go back to work and start integrating more of your regular activities into your routine. With time, you’ll be able to stop wearing your compression garments altogether and completely go back to your normal lifestyle — now with a beautiful new figure you can be proud of.
Is Liposuction Right for You? Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Sieber
Are you ready for a slimmer, leaner you? Take the next step and get in touch with us at Sieber Plastic Surgery.
You can learn more about common liposuction side effects, liposuction recovery, and what to expect during the days, weeks, and months after surgery by booking a consultation appointment with San Francisco plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
Liposuction side effects: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-to-expect-after-liposuction
