Had lipo surgery a little over 3 weeks ago. At what point is it safe to start lifting weights and doing push ups and sit ups?

Hello @soupjam and thank you for your question. It’s always best to follow your own plastic surgeons protocol since post op recovery may vary depending on the areas addressed and the amount of liposuction performed. However, normally light exercise such as going for walks can safely be done at 2 weeks, and full exercise and activities can be resumed after 4-6 weeks. Hope this helps!
James Lee, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Montreal, Canada

If the liposuction was conservative, you may be able to go back to working out in a short period of time.  Whenever there is more liposuction performed and more fat is removed, the time period will be longer.  Your surgeon should address this with you.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

I have patients . wait 3-4 weeks before going to gym.  please ensure you are doing compression, lymphatic massage, and RF treatments (this for 3 months).  Speak to your physician.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Soupjam.   Best to check with your plastic surgeon, but I usually recommend resumption of cardio and weight training two or three weeks after surgery. Start off slowly with lighter weights and work your way up. Good luck.

I generally recommend starting exercise a week after Liposuction as long as it feels ok and you start slow.  My patients then work themselves back into full exercise without restrictions by the 3-4 week mark post-op.  As long as you feel ok, it should be ok to do.  Don’t be surprised if you swell a little after exercise, so ice if needed and wear your compression garments still.  I hope this helps.

I appreciate your eagerness to get back to exercise.  Most patients like you end up with ideal results because they understand the importance of healthy eating and excise to get the most out of surgery.Follow your plastic surgeon's protocol for when to begin exercise after liposuction.  Every patient is different, however, four weeks is the typical time to return to full activity. I like to see my patients get started with light exercise such as walking as soon as possible.  A full sit up is a different story because it puts so much stress on your upper body. 

Hi- thanks for your question. Every procedure and patient is unique, but in general I allow my patients back at the gym for light workouts after 4 or 5 days. More intense workouts in 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how their recovery is progressing. In general, since I do these procedures primarily without general anesthesia, recovery is accelerated. 

Follow your surgeons instructions of course, but generally I encourage patients to get active as soon as possible. In the first week or so the goal should be getting full range of motion and light cardio. After two weeks you may return to the gym and start light weights, resuming normal workouts at 3-4 weeks. Best of luck.