We’re shifting back toward times where we can safely travel out of our local communities, which has many of us looking for a warm and sunny place to vacation. If you’re like many people planning a getaway, especially to warm weather, you may be taking a more discerning look at your body. Restrictive diets and excessive exercise rarely feel good to anyone. As you prepare for your best vacation or special occasion look, you might be considering liposuction as a pre-trip treatment. This isn’t an uncommon tactic. In fact, it’s so common that we want to make sure our patients know how to plan accordingly. Here, we’ll discuss the healing process after liposuction so you can identify the perfect timing for your goals.

What to Expect From Liposuction Recovery

In comparison with other plastic surgery procedures and clinically necessary surgeries, liposuction is pretty conservative. Still, tissue disruption is tissue trauma, there is no way around that. To allow healing to progress optimally, patients are encouraged to set aside seven to 10 days to just rest. After that time, patients may return to work and other light activities but should keep in mind that deep tissue healing is still happening. The body is also still engaged in an inflammatory response after the initial recovery period. This is an integral aspect of healing and, while it is not necessarily painful, can contribute to prolonged swelling. It is not uncommon for the area treated with liposuction to look “puffy” for up to four weeks after surgery. Knowing this, patients can schedule their liposuction around other planned events.

Helping Your Body Heal after Liposuction

Everyone is different in their surgical recovery time. That said, it doesn’t hurt to implement a few strategies that can maximize the process. Some ways that you can promote optimal healing after liposuction include:

• Devote at least one week to complete rest. After surgery, you need to walk short distances and move your legs a few times a day. Doing so helps prevent blood clots in the legs. Beyond this, your level of activity should be very minimal. While the idea of nothing but rest and relaxation can sound good, it often feels uncomfortable. Most of us live in “go mode” so much of the time that we don’t know what to do with ourselves when there is nothing on our plate. Keep in mind that, after surgery, the primary achievement you’re aiming for is to recover well, and that requires you to slow down to a near stop.
• Optimize your diet. Recovering from surgery requires an immense amount of physical energy, all happening behind the scenes. In addition to resting as much as possible, your next task is to simply feed your body well. This means avoiding high-sugar, high-salt, processed foods. It also means avoiding alcohol and smoking. While healing, your body will benefit greatly from an abundance of whole, fresh foods that contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It will also benefit from hydration, so drink at least 64 ounces of water a day.
• Wear compression. The purpose of the postsurgical compression garment is not only to help maintain comfort but also to reduce swelling and aid in the healing of deep tissues. It is imperative that you wear your compression garment as directed and also consider wearing it at night after the initial 10 days of recovery.

Liposuction can make your vacation more beautiful and can also continue offering rewarding confidence for many years to come. To learn more about this procedure, contact our Campbell, CA office at (408) 559-4700 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Rosenthal.