How Soon Can I Do Crossfit After Abdominal SmartLipo?

As an avid Crossfitter myself - I have to answer this question.

There is nothing about SmartLipo that will differentiate your recovery from traditional liposuction. My post op recommendations are the same - stay in a compressive garment for 4 weeks. Okay to do light exercise (walking, stairs, eliptical machine), but no Crossfit for 4-6 weeks. Crossfit is so vigorous and relies on trunk and abdominal movement so heavily - I would be concerned that these workouts would prolong the swelling in treated regions and possibly result in fluid collection formation.

Nice job on the exercise plan. I've heard Crossfit is one of the toughest training regimens to do! Because it is so intense, you'll probably have to wait at least 6 weeks after surgery. You should ask your surgeon for their advice, however, as they may have different guidelines specific to your situation.

Typically, I let my lipo patients return to the gym and ease into their exercise routine at 3 weeks post-op.  Then, they work up to their previous levels activity over several more weeks.  So, it will probably be about 5-6 weeks before you're really ready for an intense CrossFit regimen.

    I would not recommend strenuous exercise for 4 to 6 weeks after liposuction.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

In my practice I permit vigorous physical activity several days after liposuction if the patient feels up to it. This should be done wearing a support garment. Any activity that generates discomfort should be stopped temporarily.

It's a good thing that you are asking this question now before diving back into exercise.  While there is nothing wrong with getting Smartlipo vs any other type of liposuction, there is no significant difference in the amount of time that your body will need to heal the cavities from which the fat will be removed.

After liposuction of any type, there is empty space where the fat used to be, and the surrounding tissues need time to heal to each other.  This is the purpose of the postoperative compression garment, and the reason that you should avoid vigorous exercise for about a month after liposuction of any kind.

The fear for early exercise is that the motion of the tissues surrounding the empty spaces can prevent healing and cause fluid collections in these areas, which can prolong the healing for much more time requiring periodic drainage of the accumulated fluid and ongoing compression for weeks to months more than would be the case if the tissue heals properly.

So don't skimp on the recovery, and wait 4 weeks before GRADUALLY returning to your CrossFit routine.

Of all of the physical fitness regimens out there, you have one of the toughest.  After your procedure, you will have swelling of the abdominal wall.  This is your body's response to trauma.  Smartlipo proponents will argue that you will get less bruising and swelling than traditional lipoplasty.  However, you will still have bruising and swelling.  The amount that you have will be in direct proportion to the amount if fat that is going to be removed.  Your activity level will be dependent on your pain level following your surgery.  As you start to feel better you will have an increase in activity.

Keep in mind that the areas that have been suctioned will act differently than other parts of your body in that after physical activity they will swell more than other areas of your body, especially in the first few months after surgery.

 

Think about your abdomen when you first wake up in the morning after you go to the bathroom how nice and flat it is and then at the end of the day it is more swollen.  That five o'clock feeling of your abdomen will be present at 10 am following surgery for several months.  This will go away but it takes time. 

Usually with liposuction the recovery is quicker.  It is best to ask your doctor what he prefers for post-op recovery and activity.

Exercise after liposuction should be tailored to the intensity of the activity and your comfort level. I try to let patients judge what they can and cannot comfortably do. Don't push your body in the first weeks after lipo. Start with walking. You can get a good cardio workout by walking on a treadmill at an incline, and without the bouncing of other aerobic activities, that's not too stressful. Add other activities as you are able. A few weeks without cross fit won't set back your conditioning.

Great question. You should check with your surgeon for their specific recommendations. I usually let my patients return to a modified workout at 2 weeks post op and a full work out regiment at 4 weeks post op.