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 year, we receive numerous questions about body shaping treatments, such as liposuction. People often ask about the best time to have the surgery so they can look great in swimsuits and be ready for beach trips.
Suppose you’re one of those people pondering over liposuction or any cosmetic surgery. In that case, you’re picturing the 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 normal! It’s natural to dream about how the future might turn out. We 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 snap their fingers and magically be in the final stages of their transformation. However, let’s be realistic – recovering and healing after liposuction (or any surgery, for that matter) takes a considerable amount 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 has some valuable insights on the recovery process of liposuction, when to undergo it, and how to prepare yourself for flaunting that swimwear after the surgery.
How Long Does Recovery Take After Liposuction?
Patients must understand that after undergoing liposuction, they will experience a significant 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.
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Here at Centre for Surgery, we can’t stress enough the importance of our patients taking an entire week off from work and their usual day-to-day activities following the liposuction procedure. This week should be all about taking things slow and giving your body the rest it needs. It’s 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 allow your body to recover after 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 usual 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 may heal more quickly than others. However, there are 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 whole 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 vital. Don’t be put off by the compression garment – it’s your friend! It helps to speed up the healing and, to top it off, it feels quite friendly and supportive.
Another thing that can be a huge help is having post-op massages. These massages can help reduce swelling and break down the scar tissue that may form after surgery. Now, scar tissue can feel quite lumpy and hard, and it can persist if you don’t receive regular 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 urge our patients to grit their teeth and get through the massages because the pain is temporary, while the final results are for keeps.
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When Can I Put on a Swimming Costume After Liposuction?
Suppose you’re planning your liposuction surgery around summertime or just before a holiday by the sea. In that case, 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. Additionally, you will likely no longer need to wear your compression garment.
However, it’s essential to remember that your final result, the moment when every last bit of swelling has vanished and all the fine-tuning from your liposuction is visible, typically takes about a year. However, don’t worry, a significant amount of the changes occur in the first couple of months after the procedure, which is why you can feel confident and fabulous in your swimwear on the beach after just 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 these two months, it’s generally safe to get a tan. But you still need to be extra cautious with your scars.
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Your scars should not receive any sun exposure for a full year after surgery. This means slathering on the sunscreen and wearing a swimming costume that covers them up is probably a good idea. Our surgeons are 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 online advice on recovering after surgery, 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, provide you with the medical lowdown, and be your personal cheerleader as you recover. You can find out more about the healing process after surgery here.