I slim down as much as possible before the procedure will this reduce pain, bruising, and increase healing post-op? (Photos)

If you can lose more weight then I usually suggest that you do lose what you can and I will work on the remaining stubborn fat. It usually does not change the recovery, but the results will look better with weight loss. If you are at your comfortable or goal weigh then it is times to proceed. As far as returning to work, most people return by 3 to 5 days, usually on the 3rd day they are still sore but can do it if they want. By then end of the first week usually everyone is ready to return. I would not get in the pool for at least 2 to 3 weeks. I like patients to wear a compression garment for 4 to 6 weeks to help reshape your skin and prevent swelling. Most people can return to light exercise in a week and more aggressive exercise in 2 to 3 weeks depending on how you fell. I would suggest still wearing a compression garment of some kind while exercising for the first 6 weeks as it will make you swell a little. Overall it is not a bad recovery, just it takes a while to see the final results as the tissue keeps changing for several months after the procedure. Good luck, and make sure you see a board certified plastic surgeon to review the options with you.

If you slim down you may not even need as extensive of a liposuction as now. The areas and the amount of fat will be less however there is no impact on recovery.

Make sure you understand the terminology thoroughly and be realistic with your goals in contouring.  While we would love to perform liposuction only on everyone,  many patients require much more extensive contouring.  The optimal procedure for you completely depends on your anatomy, not your "ideal" procedure or recovery goal.  The issues to consider are 1) amount of redundant skin above the belly button 2) degree of muscle separation (rectus muscle separation) and 3) degree of fatty tissue. In order to achieve the optimal result after Vaser liposuction, you must have skin that will recoil after the volume is reduced and you must have minimal muscle laxity beneath the skin and fat.  Sure you can have a reduction in fat with liposuction, but with muscle laxity you may have a persistent bulge that will deter from your outcome.  If you have extensive muscle separation, then a full plication will be necessary.  Your pictures reveal lipodystrophy in the flanks and abdomen, but there also appears to be an abdominal bulge.  Physical examination is the only way to determine the degree of skin excess and muscle laxity that will require treatment.  To simplify: limited muscle separation in lower abdomen with minimal skin excess mini-tummy tuck with liposuction.  Extensive muscle separation with redundant skin full tummy tuck.  There are hybrids depending on examination.  You can perform an extensive muscle repair with limited skin removal by floating the belly button.  The most important thing for you to understand is that if you are a candidate for a full tummy tuck but have a mini performed, your results will be sub optimal.good luckJohn Renucci MD

Hello and thank you for your question. Weight loss before liposuction procedures will not affect your healing after the procedure. However, the better shape you are in before your treatment, the better your results will likely be. Keep in mind that weight fluctuations after liposuction can affect your outcome so make sure you are at a stable weight before you undergo your procedure. Don’t be at your very skinniest because it’s hard to maintain that weight. Liposuction gives very long-term results if you keep your weight down over the years. Be at a comfortable weight when you do liposuction.
If you are in good health and you work with a doctor who is both board certified and experienced in the liposuction process, you should be back to most of your regular activities within a week. Swimming usually needs to wait about six weeks. Exercise is generally restricted for one week or even just a few days with the tumescent liposuction technique I use. Other types of liposuction require a longer post-op time, depending on the extent of your procedure. Our lipo procedures can be done using local anesthesia and involve less trauma to surrounding tissue. Many patients also find their recovery process is quicker and more comfortable than what they might experience after traditional liposuction techniques. 
Keep in mind the VASER liposuction destroys fat cells, so you cannot use them for a fat transfer procedure. However, tumescent liposuction fat can be transferred successfully to many parts of the face and body.

Thank you for your question and photos. Vaser liposuction is minimally invasive, with no damage to surrounding body tissue, meaning post op pain is minimised. It is not necessary for you to lose weight prior to this procedure, but eating healthily will help with the healing process. The downtime for this procedure is around 3-4 weeks, gentle exercising 4-5 weeks.  You will wear a compression garment  which limits the amount of fluid " swelling" that is produced. Also having lymphatic massage treatment soon after your procedure is advisable . Do consult with a board certified surgeon  All the best 

Hi princesslife.  Slimming down will reduce the fat that you have in deeper parts of your body that are not accessible with liposuction (only gets to fat under the skin, above muscles & organs).  When slimming down involves toning muscles, then yes, you get better results overall. Average down time varies, but if you are otherwise healthy, you can resume desk work within a few days.  Exercise will increase swelling so I would wait at least 2 weeks.  Heat from being outdoors and pool time (saunas, hot tubs, etc) will also increase swelling, so again wait several weeks. Increased healing and decreased pain are factors of inflammation, so eating clean, healthy & being well hydrated helps.  Bruising can be reduced with avoiding blood thinners before surgery (alcohol, meds, aspirin, ibuprofen products), taking Arnica Montana supplements, topical gels, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.  I like to use compression garments and postoperative lymphatic massage with ultrasound therapy to speed up recovery.  Hope you have a good surgery & recovery! Dr.Doolabh

Thank you for your question. Your current weight will not be a factor in your recovery. Liposuction is great for those stubborn areas. Downtime varies on the individual and how aggressive the surgeon is. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over your goals and questions.Dhaval Patel MDDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman EstatesOakbrookChicagoOrland Park

Hello, thank you for your questions regarding losing weight  before your VASER liposuction to  decrease postoperative pain, bruising, and decrease the length of your recovery. I always encourage weight loss before VASER HI DEF Lipo. By losing weight before surgery, VASER liposuction can target specific areas. If you go into VASER HiDef Lipo being obese or weight  gaining trajectory, your final cosmetic results will not be ideal. Your weight should be stable weight for three months.  In your case, I would suggest you lose as much weight as possible and then undergo VASER liposuction. In regards to your specific questions, losing weight before your VASER 3-D liposuction procedure  probably will not decrease your postoperative pain. Also, losing weight before your VASER HI DEF liposuction will  probably not decrease bruising.  However, losing weight before your VASER liposuction may decrease your healing time, only because there is less fat that needs to be removed.  Usually, one or two weeks after VASER liposuction, patients are able to return to work.  Usually, three to four weeks after the VASER liposuction, patients are able to return to their normal exercise routine.   Usually, two to three weeks after VASER liposuction, patients are able to go swimming.   In regards to your question regarding pain after VASER liposuction, everyone’s response to pain is subjective. Some patients are able to manage the pain with over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol; whereas, others require stronger prescription medication. Fat that is harvested with VASER liposuction can be transferred safely and successfully. If done correctly, the fat has about an 80% chance of survival. There are many  professional medical articles supporting this data.   Please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience with VASER liposuction. Travel out of state if you must. Thank you for your questions regarding postop recovery after VASER liposuction. Sincerely, Dr.Katzen.  (certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Member of the American Society Plastic Surgery and International Society of Plastic Surgery).

Hello, great question  Your post op recovery does not depend on how big or small you are. People do heal and various rates but to help recover better consider appropriate compression garment and lymphatic massage.  Pain is always relative and some people do very well post liposuction where some people do take longer to recover from pain.

It is important to be within a reasonable weight range for your body before a procedure. And it is important to eat a balanced diet. Weight loss however will not reduce post op pain or bruising after surgery.