Liposuction Recovery
How does tumescent anesthesia help Liposuction Recovery?
The advantage of smart liposuction is the decreased liposuction recovery time. Tumescent means ‘firm’ and consists of swelling the fat layer with a saline solution containing lidocaine. By expanding the fat layer with fluid, we give ourselves space to work. The fluid also helps to remove the fat which is a solid. The tumescent anesthesia also separates the nerves and blood vessels away from the fat so they do not become injured during the procedure. As a result, the tumescent anesthesia is much gentler on your body and leads to better recovery after liposuction.
The use of local anesthesia has many other advantages over general anesthesia including
- It is much safer as general anesthesia is riskier than the liposuction procedure itself.
- The tumescent anesthesia only numbs the skin and fat layer. Everything deeper like a muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and organs a still have sensation. As a result, we cannot accidentally touch these vital structures without you stopping the procedure!
- After the procedure, you will be right back on your feet immediately and go home numb. The anesthesia will gradually wear off that evening. There is no long liposuction recovery nor bedrest needed and this avoids common postoperative complications like blood clots, etc.
How much time is usually enough for liposuction recovery?
In general, most patients recover rather quickly after surgery. You will be back on your feet immediately after the procedure and able to resume most normal activities. The anesthesia will wear off gradually that evening and supplemental pain medication may be necessary. Many patients get by with Tylenol alone but you will be provided with stronger pain medications. The soreness subsides after several days and it is rare for a patient to ask for more pain medication. You will be wearing a compression garment for several weeks after the procedure to deal with swelling. For about 2 days postoperatively, you will be draining from the small incisions. This drainage actually speeds your liposuction recovery as absorbing the anesthesia and melted fat would prolong your recovery. So besides some soreness and swelling to limit you, it is safe to return to normal activities rather quickly. Since there are no big incisions or stitches, there is no fear of hurting anything with too much exertion. A long weekend of 3-4 days is the time most patients take. Of course, everybody is different and other factors like the number of areas, pain tolerance, your occupation, etc. should be taken into account when deciding on your liposuction recovery time.
Does liposuction recovery depend on the body area treated?
Recovery after Liposuction varies depending on how extensive the procedure (multiple sites, amount of fat, volume removed), patient pain tolerance and health, and surgical technique. In general, you will feel more than 50% recovered at one week and 80 to 90% recovered at two weeks in a moderate volume (1 to 3 liter) liposuction. Inner and outer thighs tend to hurt more than the abdomen and arms. Back, flank, and bra rolls tend to be sore a little longer. Liposuction recovery from the chin is much quicker.
When can I expect my Liposuction Recovery Time to be complete?
The time after liposuction is a time for your body to heal and for your results to become evident. In the areas we removed fat from, your body will fill the space with fluid which causes swelling. You will be required to wear a compression garment to keep this space closed and squeeze the fluid from the area. We will also teach you to do massage to help reduce the swelling. Physical activity will also aid your liposuction recovery. Your body will begin to reorganize the fat that is left in the treated area. The skin tightening from the laser liposuction will begin several weeks after the procedure and continue for months. So it is about at the 3-4 week time period where we will know where you will settle down. However, final liposuction recovery can take 3-6 months. Be patient! At Beleza Medspa, your Austin Liposuction experts, we have helped thousands of patients with their liposuction recovery after their procedures. We have a tremendous amount of experience with tumescent anesthesia that will make your procedure and recovery much easier. Contact us now for a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.
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