Liposuction: Q&A

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Should I Use Anti Inflammatory Drugs to Help Reduce the Swelling After Liposuction?

Pre op I was told to stop all medications. I was given basic analgesia post op but didn't need it (bonus). I have minimal discomfort at 2 weeks post op but the swelling is uncomfortable. Would anti inflammatory medication be helpful in reducing the swelling now or should I avoid taking it?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Chardonnay in NY

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Anti-inflammatory medications after liposuction

Anti-inflammatory medications do reduce swelling, but you really should check with your physician before taking them since you recently had surgery. Generally at two weeks after liposuction I don't have a problem with my own patients taking them.

Anti-inflammatory medication for liposuction

The biggest risk with anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and others including Alleve and aspirin, is bleeding complications. Two weeks after liposuction, these medications should not cause any significant risk with bleeding. However, you should check with your surgeon. Also, if liposuction is done on the legs, some of these medications can cause swelling of the legs! This can compound the swelling after liposuction. Please discuss your question... more

Liposuction - Will Anti-Inflammatories Speed Up the Resolution of the Swelling?

Hi Chardonnay, I normally advise my patients to avoid anti-inflammatories (such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, etc) for three weeks before and after surgery. But at two weeks post-op, if you're otherwise doing as well as you appear to be, it would be reasonable to take anti-inflammatories for symptomatic relief. But I don't think that there's much that you can do to speed the resolution of the swelling (aside from using whatever compression garments your surgeon... more

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