After Vaser lipo when can I start working out again? Should I workout with the foam on?

When to start exercise after Vaser Liposuction is a common question. Most patients  are understandably keen to get back to exercise especially if they routinely exercise regularly.  Inevitably there will be swelling and discomfort after Vaser and engaging in too strenuous activities too soon is only going to exacerbate swelling and pain and impede recovery. However,  leaving it too long may cause some weight gain especially with the elevated levels of stress hormones released following surgery. Returning to exercise really depends on what areas were treated, how many areas were treated, how much fat was moved and how swollen you are following surgery. I normally recommend easing into exercise starting with 25% of of pre surgery regime at around 3 weeks. However I always like to assess my patients before this time so I can be specific about starting exercise depending on their situation.

Although your garment and foam pads are an important part of your finished product, they should be regarded for what they are. You certainly can work out, swim, bike and just go out without them. The trick is to keep them on as realistically as possible. You should try to sleep with them on, and course wash them regularly. Hope this helps. JB

Thank you for your question.  Exercising with the foam garment is almost impossible.  I would suggest waiting 6 weeks until you can stop wearing the garment and allowing your body time to heal.  I advise for my patients to not work out for 6 weeks after surgery.  All surgeons will have their own protocol so please follow this.  All The Best 

Thanks for the question. I don't recommend Vaser Lipo patients to force their bodies for 2-4 weeks after surgery. Therefore, they can return to the gym after about 4 weeks. It would be good for their health to perform soft exercises to avoid risk. They should decide with their Board Certified Surgeon, weights and exercises they will perform. Then they should stick to their program with a coach in the gym. I wish you all the best.

Hello Tiemana1
Thank you for your question. I'd like to congratulate you for taking every opportunity to stay healthy! Having said that, I think you should take it easy at this time and give your body time to heal. Once cleared by your plastic surgeon to resume physical activity, I recommend you start gradually - perhaps 2-3 days a week or as tolerated then work up to your usual 5 days a week within the next 3-4 weeks. As for the foams and your garment, it's best to keep it on and follow the protocol given by your plastic surgeon as mild swelling is still expected at this time.
Good luck!
Best,Dr. Babak Moein

I recommend following up with your Doctor about their protocol regarding exercise after liposuction. After Hi-Definition VASER Liposuction, I recommend waiting 3 to 4 weeks before beginning to exercise and to stop if there is any discomfort.
Swelling post-lipo can persist for months, so it's important to be on the right after care protocols. I recommend following up with your physician about their suggested after care protocol. I have my patients wear compression for 3 to 6 weeks straight then overnight for 3-6 months after their procedure. I suggest adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding Vanquish for further fat removal; truSculpt iD, Exilis, Forma, and Venus Legacy for additional skin tightening; and Cellutone / ZWave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance.
It will take 6 to 12 months to see the final outcome. Ultimately, if you are unhappy with your results, please speak to your physician and ensure that he/she was a full body VASER Hi-Definition liposuction physician with extensive experience in contouring and body shaping -- and not just traditional fat reduction. You can always get a revision procedure by an expert if needed. Best, Dr. Emer

Do not work out until your plastic surgeon has cleared you to do so. If you are wearing foam in conjunction with your garment, your surgeon is likely trying to ensure you get maximum benefit from your surgery. Trust your plastic surgeon and give yourself time to heal properly before returning to work outs. Once I clear my patients to begin working out, I typically instruct them to start at 50% intensity and self-limit based on how their body responds. 

After liposuction, you should wait until your plastic surgeon clears you to resume exercise, which is typically four to six weeks after the procedure. You should listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too hard. Here are some tips for exercising after liposuction: Start with walkingA couple of days after the procedure, you can start with gentle walking to help with swelling and water retention. Low-impact workoutsAfter a couple of weeks, you can try low-impact workouts like indoor cycling or elliptical training. Resistance trainingAround week four, you can start moderate resistance training, but keep your effort level at 60%. CardioAfter six weeks, you can start higher impact cardio exercises like running and aerobics. Contact sportsYou should wait until you're 100% recovered before playing contact sports. YogaSome forms of yoga are gentle, but others can increase inflammation, so it's best to wait until week three or later. It's important to allow your body to heal first to get the best results from the surgery

Vaser Lipo patients should avoid strenuous activities, lifting over 10 pounds, or aerobic exercise for 2 to 3 weeks post procedure. Generally, at 2 weeks, patients will start resuming normal activity as tolerated. Experiencing more than mild swelling or discomfort may indicate that you are over-doing it. We suggest patients work slowly up to their normal workout routine. Abdominal patients are advised not to focus on just abs in the first week of getting back into the gym.
As for your compression garment, we recommend wearing it while working out and only taking it off to shower and launder the garment. 

Recovery can be as short as 1-2 weeks depending on the patients. It is encouraged patients return to normal physical activity as soon as 2-3 weeks following the VASER liposuction. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee