I had SmartLipo on the upper/lower abdomen 2 days ago. I removed bandaging and showered on day 2. Is this okay?

Question

Since my surgery was done in Canada, I am doing a 2 1/2 week post-op visit, so I'd prefer an answer now. I took bandages off, showered, and put Neosporin on the incisions. I used maxi-pads with tape on the center area near bellybutton, just because it is still sensitive. Also, how tight should the compression garment be?

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

You can shower the day after your lipo. If it was done under local anesthesia, you can expect to have a heavy flow of fluid drainage in the first 24 hours which looks like Kool Aid. When you take off your compression garment, your blood pressure will drop temporarily for about 1 minute so don't stand up too fast or you're likely to faint. The shower should be warm water, not hot water and should be brief. This is to prevent blood vessels in the treatment site from swelling. Wash with soap and water. Apply vaseline, not antibiotic ointment, to the incisions, and cover them with absorbent pads. The compression should be tight in the first few days.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

I typically advise my patients to shower the next day or two after surgery (no baths).  Everything else you mentioned seems reasonable, but I would shy away from the Neosporin as long-term use can cause skin changes that sometimes mimic infection.  As far as tightness of the compression garment, I usually say that to make them as tight as you can tolerate and use padding to ensure there are no creases in the compression that may lead to longer term indentations.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It sounds like all the things you mentioned seem reasonable, but you should really review your immediate post-op care with your surgeon.  Best of luck.

Gustavo A. Diaz, MD · Answer

Without photos is hard to know if the are looks normal. Sensitivity is normal the first few days. Compression garment should be tight without compromising circulation or creating too much discomfort after a few hours. Shower should not be a problem. Hope this helps.Dr. Gus Diaz

I had SmartLipo on the upper/lower abdomen 2 days ago. I removed bandaging and showered on day 2. Is this okay?

Answers (4)

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