subject: Things Everyone Should Know About Liposuction Recovery [print this page] Liposuction (also called lipoplasty and suction lipectomy) is a big business. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans undergo the procedure, which surgically removes fat from specific target areas on a patient's body. Even more people have thought about getting the procedure, but haven't made up their mind whether or not to go through with it yet.
With lipoplasty, lots of people like the thought of the results that they could get through the surgery, but they hesitate because they don't know how much the procedure will hurt or how long or difficult the recovery process will be. This article will walk readers through some of the things that they can expect when recovering from a suction lipectomy. The exact particulars of your recovery will, of course, depend on the details of your surgery, including which liposuction technique was used, who your doctor is, where your surgery was performed and the specfics of your own personal health.
Most lipoplasty patients get their surgeries under local anesthesia. In some cases, some doctors still use general anesthetic, but that is becoming increasingly rare. You may also be given some sort of anti-anxiety medication as well. After your surgery you will not be as groggy as you would be if you received general anesthetic, but you will still feel somewhat out of it. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home from your surgery, because you should not do it yourself.
Most lipoplasties also involve a fair amount of post-surgical drainage. During surgery, you will probably be injected with large amounts of fluids in order to make it easier for your doctor to safely and effectively remove the fat. Of course, all of these fluids have to come backout of the body again. Because of this, it's a good idea to be prepared to have some old towels with you for the first while after your surgery so you don't stain things. Make sure your ride has some so that you don't leak on the seats and stain them.
When you arrive at home, you should similarly keep some towels with you so you don't leak on your bed. For the first day or so, you might want to have another adult on hand, just in case you need assistance with anything. You'll probably want to take it easy for the first day or so and just rest. In the evening, if you feel up to it, you may be able to take a short walk, but don't overexert yourself.
The anesthesia will probably wear off sometime during your first day after your surgery. This may well be the most painful time of your recovery. But don't be discouraged, after a day or two, pain typically gets steadily better. You might see some amount of swelling and bruising. Similarly, don't be alarmed. The swelling, bruising and drainage will go down in the days and weeks following your surgery.
