Summer is here and that means it’s the time when we start wearing less clothing because of the heat. This might also mean showing off bits of our bodies that we’re not too keen on showing. This is why around this time of the year, we receive heaps of questions about body shaping treatments like liposuction, especially people asking the best time to have the surgery so they can look great in swimming costumes and be ready for beach trips.
If you’re one of those people pondering over liposuction or any cosmetic surgery, you’re definitely picturing the final outcome: how you’ll look, how you’ll feel, what outfits you’ll be able to rock, and possibly how people will respond to your new appearance. This is absolutely normal! It’s natural to dream about how the future might turn out. We totally understand that imagining how fantastic you’ll look is one of the reasons that made you consider this in the first place.
Now, we often repeat ourselves about certain parts of the surgery process, and oh, how we wish our patients could simply snap their fingers and magically be in the final stages of their transformation. But let’s be realistic – recovering and healing after liposuction (or any surgery for that matter) takes a good chunk of time and a lot of patience.
And there’s no one better to preach about this than our darling post-op nurse, Sowmya, who knows the ins and outs of how long it takes to recover from surgery. She’s got some valuable insights on the recovery process of liposuction, when to get it done, and how to get yourself ready for flaunting that swimwear after the surgery.
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How Long is the Recovery After Liposuction?
It’s crucial for patients to understand that after having liposuction, they’re going to experience a fair amount of swelling and bruising. This isn’t going to go away overnight; in fact, it usually takes around 6 to 8 weeks for it to calm down.
RELATED: How long does it take to recover after liposuction?
Here at the Centre for Surgery, we can’t stress enough how important it is for our patients to take an entire week off from work and their usual day-to-day activities after the liposuction procedure. This week should be all about taking things slow and giving your body the rest it needs. It’s really crucial to have someone like a friend or family member to help you out during this time, so you don’t have to worry about looking after children or doing housework. The key here is to let your body recover after the liposuction.
Once you hit the one-month mark after the operation, you can gradually start to get moving. But remember, we’re talking about gentle exercise like taking leisurely walks – absolutely no running! Then, when you’re about six weeks into recovery, you can begin to take on more demanding exercises. By this time, you’ll probably feel pretty much back to your normal self.
Can I Do Anything to Speed Up the Healing Process After Lipo?
Healing is a natural process and it takes as long as it needs to. Everyone’s body is different, and some people might heal quicker than others. However, there are definitely things you can do to give your body a helping hand in healing faster.
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The golden rule for a hassle-free recovery and the best results after liposuction is to pay close attention to and follow your surgeon’s instructions after the surgery. So, taking a full week off from work and everyday activities, really putting your feet up during that week, and wearing a compression garment for six weeks after the surgery are all absolutely vital. Don’t be put off by the compression garment – it’s your friend! It really helps to speed up the healing and, to top it off, it feels quite nice and supportive.
Another thing that can be a huge help is having post-op massages. These massages can lessen the swelling and help to break down the scar tissue that the surgery might cause. Now, scar tissue can feel pretty lumpy and hard, and it can hang around if you don’t get on top of the massages as you should. Just a heads-up: the massages can be a tad painful. We know it’s not a fun time, but we really urge our patients to grit their teeth and get through the massages because the pain is temporary, while the final results are for keeps.
RELATED: Lymphatic Drainage Massage After Liposuction
When Can I Pop on a Swimming Costume After Liposuction?
If you’re planning your liposuction surgery around summertime or just before a holiday by the sea, you can expect to be ready to rock your bathing suit roughly two months after the surgery. By the two-month mark, it’s generally safe to go swimming and catch some sun, and the good news is that by this time, most of the swelling has probably gone down. Plus, you likely won’t need to wear your compression garment anymore.
However, it’s important to remember that your absolute final result, the moment when every little bit of swelling has vanished and all the fine-tuning from your liposuction is visible, usually takes about a year. But don’t worry, a significant amount of the changes happen in the first couple of months after the procedure, which is why you can feel bold and fabulous in your swimwear on the beach after two months.
Is It Safe to Sunbathe After Liposuction?
This is a mega-important point to consider. You must be super careful not to let the sun’s rays hit the area where you had surgery for at least two months after the procedure. After this two-month period, it’s generally safe to get a tan. But, you still need to be extra cautious with your scars.
RELATED: Effects of Tanning on Cosmetic Surgery Scars
It’s crucial that your scars don’t get any sun exposure for a full year after surgery. This means slathering on the sunscreen, and it’s probably a good idea to wear a swimming costume that covers them up. Our surgeons are really clever at making sure scars are tucked away out of sight, but you’ll still need to make sure you protect them from the sun so that they heal nicely and end up being barely noticeable. If scars get exposed to the sun while they’re still healing, they can end up getting permanently darker or changing colour, which makes them stand out more than you’d like.
Whether you’re thinking about liposuction or any other kind of surgery, we’re here to answer all your queries and look after you.
And speaking of looking after you, if you think Nurse Sowmya is helpful with her advice on recovering after surgery online, just imagine how brilliant she is in person! There’s a reason why she’s a hit with patients! She’s always there to answer your questions, give you the medical low-down, and be your personal cheerleader as you recover. You can find out more about the healing process after surgery here.
