How long does bruising from liposuction last for a fair skin redhead?

Bruising longevity varies by patient and procedure performed. Most bruising will resolve in 4-6 weeks. You may want to consider the supplements arnica and bromelain which can help with bruising and swelling. In addition, avoiding medications and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil can assist in minimizing bruising. See your surgeon for other suggestions.

While the degree of bruising and the duration that it stays differ from patient to patient and procedure to procedure, generally the bruise should go away in 7-10 days. There are certain medications and post-operative care that can accelerate the process.

Bruising is the manifestation of the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. as hemoglobin breaks down it turns into a variety of colored pigments on its process too eventually becoming bile.

The amount of bruising is dependent on how much blood loss or bleeding happens during the procedure.

Surgeons have some degree of control over bleeding during liposuction by using good surgical technique.
Liposuction done without the use of general anesthesia often produces less bruising because the adjuvant of numbing solution called tumescent solution becomes mandatory.

To get the least amount of bleeding surgeons should use proper amount of tumescent solution, make sure every area treated is properly infiltrated with the solution and wait an appropriate amount of time for the medication epinephrine which is in the solution to be in full effect.

The level of aggressiveness also directly correlates with bleeding and surgeons who are aggressive in an attempt to get dramatic results will also see more and longer lasting bruising.

A well done procedure may have patients see bruising that will last three weeks though the majority of bruising should be gone by 10 days.

With increased bleeding patients may see bruising that continues for as long as six weeks.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD