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Liposuction Recovery

I'm thinking about liposuction but I need more info. about the recovery.  How much time is usually enough for liposuction recovery? Do most people see days, weeks or months of downtime after lipo?

Sort 23 expert answers by:
+2

2-3 days recovery is average for most liposuction patients

The recovery time for liposuctions can vary alittle depending on whether you were under local anesthesia by the tumescent technique or whether you were under general anesthesia. If under local, then you are up and about moving around the next day but you are leaking fluids for 2 days so most patients wait 2 days to go back to work. You will be sore for 1-2 weeks and require some type of pain meds a least that first week but you should be up and functioning in a couple of days. If you had... more
David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Downtime depends on what you plan on doing afterwards

1.  I have done liposuction on many women who are professional dancers and I tell them that in order to get back in your best wage earning shape you need about 6 weeks to allow for most of the swelling etc. to go down and resume normal flexibility and exercise. 2.  If you are not doing any work that is labor intensive like dancing etc. you can get back to work in a couple of days.  You will need to wear a compression garment.  The more you wear it the better the... more
Dev  Wali, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+3

Liposuction Downtime

For most individuals I recommend they take about a week off of work. For patients having small amounts of liposuction they may only need 2-3 days. Swelling usually starts to go away in earnest at about 7-10 days after surgery and patients look good in clothes by this time. As far as strenuous activity is concerned, I usually recommend that patients start to ramp up into their prior workout routine at about two weeks - being careful not to cause discomfort. For most patients I find that... more
Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

Liposuction and Recovery

The amount of time you need to recover would depend on how many of areas of liposuction you are having done. I would suggest taking at least a week off from work to recover and if you are feeling up to it you can always return to work earlier. Keep in mind that the more active you are will increase the amount of swelling and time before you will see your final cosmetic result.
Bernard Shuster, MD
Hollywood Plastic Surgeon
+2

Recovery from liposuction

When done with tumescent anesthesia using long acting anesthetics, liposuction is a very well tolerated procedure and pain is just not a concern. What is required is using a compressive garment with compression pads to keep the skin splinted in place so it heals nice and smooth. I tell my patients to stay off work a week when multiple areas of lipo are done. Check out the video below for some info on lipo techniques, and the web link for the importance of compression after surgery.... more
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+2

Recovery from liposuction

Some patients are back to work in a couple of days and at the gym in a week while others may wish to take off for several days and feel sore, especially with movement and exercise, for several weeks. Tenderness is typical for a few weeks but it is tolerable. External compression garments usually make this more comfortable, external ultrasound massages can also help.
Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist
+2

Liposuction recovery. limitations and restrictions

It really depends on how much you have done. The more you do, the longer the recovery. Liposuction of the chin can result in almost immediate recovery with perhaps a few days of compression wear depending on the bruising. Liposuction of the abdomen, hips, flanks and thighs can result in extensive bruising with nearly 2 weeks of downtime and 3 weeks of compression wear and tenderness for 3 months in the treatment areas.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Lipo recovery

Recovery after liposuction varies depending on how extensive the procedure (multiple sites, thickness of fat layer, volume removed), patient response to pain and disability, and surgical technique. In general, you'll feel 50% recovered at one week and 80 to 90% recovered at two weeks in a modreate volume (2 to 3 liter) liposuction. Thighs tend to hurt more than abdomen and flanks.
D. Scott Rotatori, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

1 week is usually sufficient

Most of my patients are usually back to work 1 week after Liposuction. It does depend on how much Liposuction is done and how many areas are being treated but the typical time frame is one week. Keep in mind you will still be sore after one week and it is not uncommon to have additional swelling after a long day at work. If you are planning a large Liposuction with multiple areas treated and you have a strenuous job you may consider taking a little more time off. more
Renato Saltz, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery from liposuction

Recovery from liposuction generally takes 3 to 5 days before the patient is back to work without heavy lifting. Recovery also depends on which areas and how many areas were treated. The best advice is to find a certified plastic surgeon and to discuss your concerns with him or her during your consultation visit. Your chosen surgeon should be able to give you are more precise idea of how long your potential recovery will be.
Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery ranges from 3-7 days for most, but it can vary

I generaly recommend that my patients take between 3-7 days off after liposuction, depending on how many areas were worked on, and your pain tolerance. It can certainly vary, I've had people take off only 1 day, and others have needed almost 2 weeks to recover enough to return to work. Anticipate that you're going to be sore, and require some pain medications for a period of time after surgery.
Samuel Sohn, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery Time for Liposuction

Depending on the volume of fat removed and the number of areas treated, patients will experience variable recovery periods. Most will recover promptly and feel quite well in days.
Leo Keegan, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after Liposuction...

After having liposuction you will be swollen and bruised, and normally a week after surgery you will notice the swelling start to minimize and the bruising will begin to disappear. In less then a week after have liposuction, most patients are able to move more normally and even return to work with minimal discomfort.  Usually by the second or third day after the procedure you should be able to resume most of your daily activites.  I would resist heavy exercise for about... more
Shain A. Cuber, MD
Marlboro Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovering from Liposuction

As far as recovering from the liposuction procedure, this will depend on the number of areas being operated on.  Most of the intial recovery is within 7-10 days.  This is the time you probably need to take for yourself to take care of YOU.  You can go back to work after this duration, provided that you return to work on light duty supervision.  You can see your final results at about 5 months or later.  This is when all post-surgical swelling has resolved. ... more
Jon Paul Trevisani, MD
Maitland Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery

Typically, after a liposuction procedure patients will require pain medicine for 2-3 days, and will take 3-4 days off of work.  The number of areas treated will also be a factor.  Most plastic surgeons recommend the use of compression garments for a number of weeks.  The garments are easily concealed under clothing.  Bruising and swelling can be present for 4-6 weeks, and it takes anywhere from 6-9 months for the skin to contract completely in most... more
Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after Liposuction

Recovery time after liposuction can vary depending on the amount of fat aspirated, the surgical time spent, and the amount of areas treated. However, most liposuction patients have about 1 week of down time. You are not home sick in bed, rather fully ambulatory but typically excused of work-related activities, house-cleaning etx. Soreness and discomfort is the worst for the first 2 days, then lets up considerably. Swelling and bruising is to be expected, requiring wear of a compression... more
Hayley Brown MD
Henderson Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery quite quick!

Liposuction recovery, speaking from personal experience and years of professional observation of my patients, is not bad at all!  Now, the more liposuction you have done at one time, the more bruised and swollen and stiff you will be, but you should still expect to be back to nearly normal after a couple of weeks (meaning, back in the gym--you can be back at work well before that).  If you have only small areas treated, you can expect to be able to go back to work after a... more
Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery can be quick

Liposuction recovery depends on many factors, including treatment area(s), technique your plastic surgeon utilizes, and the extent of the post operative swelling and bruising.  Liposuction techniques that can reduce swelling and bruising will result in less discomfort for the patient and a quicker recovery.  I have extensive experience in conventional liposuction, tumescent technique, ultrasonic liposuction and laser liposuction with SmartLipo Triplex.  In my opinion, the... more
Steven L. Ringler, MD
Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery varies with the procedure

Recovery from liposuction will vary somewhat depending upon the extent of the procedure performed. Limited liposuction procedures may only require a few days while more extensive procedures may require 1-2 weeks. While the visible incisions from liposuction are quite small, most of the recovery derives from the extent of the areas treated. This "minor" surgery can cause dramatic shifts in your body chemistry requiring extended recovery periods. Once you have returned to normal... more
Mitchel Krieger, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+1

Down Time After Liposuction

The truth be known that liposuction HURTS!! Okay it's not crippling but for the first 3 days you'll hate your surgeon. Most patients complain that it's a soreness when going from a resting position to one of motion. This will last for several weeks. So how long do you need to be out of work? My educated experience is 2 weeks is enough depending on the job that you do. Overall, the soreness may take up to 6 weeks to resolve.
Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery

For the most part, recovery from liposuction is easily manageable. Since clothing can conceal areas that have been sculpted, most patients are back at work after just a couple of days. You will just need to wear a tight-fitting elastic compression garment during your first week to help the skin adhere. At a week to 10 days, you can remove the garment to shower, though you'll likely have to wear it for an additional week. Lipo is great for instant-gratification seekers, but don't fret if you... more
Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery very much depends on how your liposuction is performed

There are essentially two standards of care for liposuction. Under general anesthesia: This is typically how liposuction is performed by general plastic surgeons. Liposuction can be performed very effeciently. The surgeon can blast away because the patient is completely out. However, pain management can be an issue due to the procedural trauma. This can also cause a slow recovery. Some surgeon still keep their patients in compression garment for 6 weeks. In constrast, liposuction is also... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction recovery is only days

Everyone is different in their recovery. In 30 years of liposuction, the average time is a week. Some patients wear their binder to work after 4 days. 
Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
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