Pain:

Many patients worry about feeling pain and discomfort after liposuction. Actually, the skin’s fat layers have very few nerves, so any pain usually comes from the muscles underneath. You can ease it with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory meds after the first 48 hours. For the first two days, you’ll be given stronger pain meds.

Sleep:

You can sleep in any position that’s comfortable, except if fat has been transferred, avoid pressure on that area.

Dr. Makhlouf suggests using towels on the bed the first night to catch any leaked fluid from the liposuction formula. It might look bloody but it’s normal, nothing to worry about. If you have trouble sleeping, there’s lorazepam to help.

Shower:

You can shower the day after the procedure. If you’re worried about pain, you can keep your garment on and just pat yourself dry with a towel or use a blow dryer. You can wash the garment with lukewarm water and let it air dry.

Garments:

You’ll need to wear these garments for three weeks straight, day and night, then for another three weeks only at night. They help with fluid and swelling initially, then they support your skin as it tightens up.

Diet:

After surgery, go back to a low-calorie diet.

Exercise:

You can start gentle exercise after 2 to 3 days, but be careful to avoid activities that might cause bleeding in the tissues. Most normal activities can be resumed after three weeks.

Sun Exposure:

Protect your skin from the sun, especially areas that are bruised, as they’re more sensitive to sunlight. Sometimes, you might need a bleaching cream to prevent hyperpigmentation.

Return to Work:

Once you don’t need strong pain meds anymore, you can go back to work. Just follow the same activity rules as with exercise.

Note:

If you had extensive abdominal liposuction, bruising might move down into the labia or scrotum due to gravity. It’s normal and will go away as swelling decreases.