Each plastic surgeon has his or her own thoughts and recommendations regarding the appropriate timeframe to engage in physical activity after surgery. As such, I will only share my thoughts and what I tell my own patients. Most patients can engage in mild to moderate activity within a few days after liposuction. High-impact exercise, such as running, requires two to three weeks of recovery.Regarding fat transfer, things are little different. In order for fat to have long-term survival after being transferred or grafted, it needs to reestablish a blood supply. This begins on about the third to fifth day after the procedure. The process is called neovascularization. Capillaries, or small blood vessels, slowly start growing into the grafted fat particles. Once this has been achieved, the fat has a new source of nutrients and oxygen and will survive. Any particle of fat that does not obtain a new blood supply within the first week or two will not survive and will shrink and disappear over time. Physical disruption during this important time can interfere with neovascularization. I personally believe the first two weeks are critical in terms of obtaining long-term results after fat grafting. I encourage my patients to have minimal physical activity and avoid direct pressure on fat grafted areas for the first two to three weeks after the procedure. I don't believe exercise or pressure will have any significant impact on long-term outcomes after three weeks following fat transfer.Please check with your plastic surgeon to see what he or she recommends.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.
