For that Summer Event, The Time for Liposuction is Now
- Posted on: Apr 30 2022
As soon as the Springtime air begins to warm up a bit, many of us begin considering even warmer places to go. The summer months have historically included vacations to beaches, lakes, and faraway islands. In the past couple of years, we’ve had to stay closer to home for the most part. Now, as we start to emerge with newfound hope for a safer environment, we are letting ourselves get excited about getting out more this summer. If your summer plans include a vacation or special event for which you want to look fabulous, you might be thinking about liposuction and how it can help you get there. Liposuction is still one of the leading plastic surgery procedures performed each year. We see patients who are interested in plastic surgery many times every month, so we are very familiar with the excitement that surrounds this body-shaping procedure. Still, is there time for liposuction when summer is just a couple of months away (and warmer weather may arrive well before that)? Let’s discuss it.
What to Expect After Liposuction
The liposuction procedure, performed independently of other surgeries, is considered pretty conservative. In some instances, the procedure can be performed in the office surgical suite using a local anesthetic and mild sedation. Still, liposuction is surgery and the body will engage in a healing response. Where there is a need for tissue repair and healing, there will be inflammation. Healing and inflammation go hand-in-hand, which is why patients are prepared to experience some side effects. It is normal to have bruising and swelling after liposuction. It is normal to have soreness and tenderness. Finally, it is normal and expected to be more tired than usual during recovery from liposuction. Knowing that these side effects will occur is one thing. Understanding the process of recovery is another.
In general, the side effects that occur after liposuction subside enough within a week for most people to feel ready to go back to work. Going back to a desk job, dressed in slacks or a dress, is far different than hitting the beach or the pool in a bathing suit. It’s very different than walking down the aisle, all eyes on you. With this in mind, you should prepare for a total of 3 to 4 weeks of swelling. After the two-week point, swelling may look more like puffiness than obvious distention. It can still be noticeable enough to you, though, that you don’t feel quite ready to be the center of attention. Armed with this information, you are well on your way to nailing down the perfect timing for your liposuction date.
How to Heal Optimally after Liposuction
In addition to scheduling far enough in advance of a target date, you can take matters into your own hands after surgery to help your body heal as quickly as possible. The steps are pretty simple.
- Wear compression. Your doctor may advise you to wear compression 24 hours a day for at least a week after liposuction. The intent is to gently hold the area that is settling into its new shape. Compression helps fluid escape the surgical area and for wastes to get picked up and circulated out of the body through the lymphatic system. Compression also helps to reduce swelling.
- Rest. We don’t think we can overstate the importance of rest after any plastic surgery. Procedures like liposuction can be challenging because patients often feel well enough to return to work and light activities in 5 to 7 days. This can give the impression that healing is complete. It is not. It takes several weeks for deep healing to occur and, until then, there can be remnants of puffiness and bruising.
- Optimize lifestyle choices. Liposuction patients are advised to avoid certain products, such as tobacco, before surgery. In the week before liposuction, alcohol consumption should also be avoided to reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising. Additionally, it is extremely helpful to eat nutrient-dense foods beginning before surgery and maintain this throughout recovery. Fresh, whole foods provide the antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins that the body uses to repair tissue well.
Summertime is on the horizon. Is your best body there, too? Contact us today at 713.271.9000 to schedule your liposuction consultation in Sugar Land or Houston.
Posted in: Liposuction
