How To Decrease Swelling After Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure in which fat deposits are removed from beneath the skin to provide a more attractive shape. Generally, the hips, waist, thighs, buttocks, back, neck, arms, calves, and ankles are reshaped for a thinner appearance. Liposuction is sometimes done in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery techniques.
In this guide, we review How To Decrease Swelling After Liposuction, when is swelling the worst after lipo, foods to reduce swelling after liposuction, and fluid buildup after liposuction.
How Is Liposuction Done?
In the procedure, a thin tube called a cannula with a vacuum attached is inserted under the skin and gently worked to loosen and remove the excess fat. A number of techniques are used, including injecting fluid to help break down fatty tissue, ultrasound waves to break up the tissue or lasers that liquefy fat before removal. During the process, the patient is under general anesthesia. The surgery may take from one to five hours.
Recovery After Liposuction
After surgery, the patient is sent home to rest for several days. The liposuction site may be bruised or reddened. The patient may experience some discomfort. Generally, the plastic physician will prescribe medications to keep the patient comfortable. Usually, swelling occurs after the procedure, and the physician may wrap the area with elastic bandages to reduce this swelling.
What Causes Swelling After Liposuction?
The liposuction procedure causes trauma to the tissues and blood vessels under the skin. The lymphatic system reacts by sending out fluid to protect the areas where fatty tissue is removed. Some people produce a great deal of this protective fluid. Others produce less. Some of the liquid that leaks from the drainage tube is the saline the physician injects to loosen the tissue. Once the tissue begins to heal, the swelling gradually decreases. It continues to decrease until the area looks and feels normal.
How to Reduce Swelling After Liposuction
After the liposuction procedure is complete, it is important to stay hydrated to aid healing. Massage the area gently to encourage circulation that will carry away fluids from the area. Eat healthy foods that are low in sodium. Discuss with your physician the medications you take regularly. They might have an effect on your body fluid levels.
Follow the physician’s instruction on the care of drainage tubes and medications you should take. Many cosmetic surgeons provide a compression garment to be worn that helps to support the area and also helps to decrease swelling. Follow your doctor’s instructions on wearing this support garment.
How To Decrease Swelling After Liposuction
You’re probably wondering what I’m going to tell you. You might have some serious doubts, or maybe you’re just curious about how long your recovery period will be. Well, no matter what your question is, I’m here to help! After all, when it comes to liposuction, there are certain things that can speed up the healing process and make your recovery easier on you physically and emotionally.

Wear the Compression Garment
After your liposuction procedure, you will need to wear a compression garment. This is an elastic garment that helps reduce swelling and bruising by squeezing down on the skin, which reduces blood flow to the area. It also keeps the tissues tight so that they do not move around too much.
The compression garments are usually worn for at least two weeks after liposuction and sometimes longer depending on how much swelling you have. The garments must be worn during the day as well as at night if possible because they help prevent fluid from re-accumulating under your skin during sleep time when you’re lying still on your back (the most common sleeping position). If you don’t wear them all of the time, then it’s best not to wear them at all!
Stay Mobile
In order to help your body recover from the trauma of surgery, be sure to keep moving as much as possible. This will help reduce swelling and help your body get back into a normal routine. Try not to sit around for long periods of time — it’s best to go for walks or do some light exercise every day. Avoid long car trips and airplane flights if possible; these tend to increase swelling by putting pressure on the lymph nodes in your groin area.
Start a Healthy Diet and Exercise Plan
If you want to reduce swelling after liposuction, there are a few things you can do.
First and foremost, start an exercise program. Not only does exercise help to burn fat and increase blood flow, but it also stimulates lymphatic drainage. This means that your body will be better able to clear away waste products that have been released from the damaged tissues.
Additionally, taking vitamins is important in preventing swelling after liposuction because they boost immunity and help keep the body strong while it goes through the healing process. The most important vitamin is Vitamin C since it helps build collagen which promotes healing within all tissue layers of your skin (source). Also essential are B-Complex vitamins such as folic acid (B9) and Vitamin B12 which help build red blood cells as well as preventing anemia by keeping hemoglobin levels high enough to carry oxygen throughout your body (source). Finally Vitamin A helps prevent dryness in mucous membranes such as those found inside our nose or mouth when we have sinusitis or tonsillitis (source).
Limit Your Salt Intake
Salt is a natural preservative and can be found in many products we use every day, like cheese and cured meats. It’s also used to preserve fresh foods like fish, poultry and vegetables. Salt is added to many processed foods because it absorbs water and prevents bacterial growth in the food item.
Many people eat more than the recommended amount of salt each day—about 3 grams per day for most adults—and this might be contributing to your swelling after liposuction surgery by retaining fluid in your body!
Keep Your Incision Wound Clean and Protected From Scratching or Abrasion
You should keep your incision wound clean and protected from scratches or abrasions. You should also avoid getting it wet as much as possible to prevent infection and swelling.
To do this, keep the area around your liposuction incision dry, clean and protected from scratching or abrasion. This can include wearing loose-fitting clothing for several weeks after surgery (while you are sleeping) so that nothing comes in contact with it, applying antibiotic ointment three times a day to protect it from germs, keeping any bandages on until they fall off by themselves; using a soft washcloth instead of paper towels if you need to wash up; not letting yourself get sweaty by exercising too hard before healing is complete; not taking baths because they may involve standing in water while scrubbing yourself down which could potentially cause infection if water gets into the incision site where bacteria lives; and definitely don’t use a loofah or other abrasive material when bathing since those things can hurt more than help!
Take Care of Yourself!
Now that you know the basics of swelling after liposuction, what can you do to make sure your body is getting the best care possible? Here are some important tips:
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least 2 weeks. This includes heavy lifting, running, jumping and anything that puts a lot of strain on your muscles and joints.
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol during this time because it can increase bleeding and affect healing time.
- If you’re taking prescription medication prior to surgery (for example, blood thinners), continue taking these medications after surgery unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. They will help prevent any excessive bleeding while healing occurs.
- Do not take over-the-counter medications without discussing them with your surgeon first because they may cause adverse side effects during recovery or interfere with anesthesia used during surgery.*
For the best results, follow all the steps to ensure you heal well after liposuction.
In order to get the best results, follow these steps:
- Wear a compression garment after liposuction. This helps minimize swelling and bruising by supporting your skin while it heals.
- Stay mobile while you recover from liposuction. The more active you can be, the better it will be for your body’s ability to heal itself naturally.
- Start a healthy diet and exercise plan right away after liposuction surgery. Eating well and exercising regularly is important for overall health anyway, but it’s especially important when recovering from cosmetic procedures like liposuction because they can increase your risk of developing an infection if you don’t take care of yourself properly!
- Limit salt intake in the days following your procedure to reduce swelling after liposuction surgery on areas such as thighs or stomachs where there may be extra fluid build up over time due to extra pressure being exerted on them due to gravity pulling down heavier parts towards Earth’s center (aka “gravity pulls down”).
when is swelling the worst after lipo
Liposuction is a body-contouring cosmetic surgical procedure sought everywhere by both women and men. It’s a procedure that involves a Boston liposuction surgeon to remove stubborn and unwanted fat from various parts of the body, but liposuction isn’t right for everyone.
Liposuction eliminates fat deposits and enhances your body’s proportions and contours. In the liposuction procedure, a thin tube called a “cannula” is inserted under the skin and shifted to loosen fat. The fat is then withdrawn using a syringe or an aspirator.
Liposuction is effective on the hips, buttocks, thighs, abdomen, upper arms, waist, chest, back, chin, cheeks, calves, neck, and ankles.
What Can And Can’t Liposuction Do?
Liposuction can provide genuine hope to those who have tried – and failed – with other alternatives and options. It can help you look healthier and more attractive. However, liposuction does not treat obesity, cellulite, or sagging skin, and it doesn’t replace a proper diet and exercise.
In fact, a liposuction procedure is more effective if you are already maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Whether or not you choose liposuction, you should eat right, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and get an adequate amount of sleep.
Who Can Have Liposuction?
Who is a good candidate for a liposuction procedure? Anyone whose health is generally good can have a liposuction procedure and achieve satisfying results. Ideal candidates are patients who have:
1. exercise-resistant, localized fat that does not disappear with exercise and dieting2. elastic skin but not loose skin3. good general health4. a commitment to follow the doctor’s post-surgery directions
Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgeons are continuing to make the procedure smoother, gentler, and safer. However, liposuction patients may still anticipate some soreness and swelling in the days and weeks after a liposuction procedure.
What Should You Know About Recovering From Liposuction?
While a liposuction procedure is routine outpatient surgery, every cosmetic surgery patient will need time to recover. After liposuction, a patient will inevitably be dealing with some swelling, bruising, and soreness.
If you are considering liposuction, here is what you should know about recovering from the procedure:
1. Have someone stay with you for the first two or three days after surgery. You may feel fine, but it is a good idea to have someone’s help should you need it.
2. Depending on what kind of work you do, you should plan to be away from work for at least a week to ten days – and more if your work is physically strenuous.
3. It is going to be about a month before you can resume any regular strenuous activity.
4. Most of the swelling will fade after approximately six weeks, and you should have no serious swelling or soreness after about six weeks.
5. Still, for most patients, it will take about six months for all of the swelling and soreness to disappear entirely. Slowly over that six-month period, you will begin to look better and feel better.
What Should You Expect While You Recover From Liposuction?
However, you should not assume that your recovery will be straightforward after a liposuction procedure. Swelling and soreness doesn’t always slowly and incrementally fade away.
Instead, swelling and soreness tend to come and go during the recovery period, so you might feel more discomfort one week than you felt the week before. But unless you’re doing too much exercise or strenuous activity, you are not doing anything wrong.
“Unexpected” swelling and soreness should be expected, especially during the first six weeks after a liposuction procedure.
Over about six months, it’s the “coming and going” of your soreness and swelling that slowly and incrementally disappears. Remember, most of your discomfort will happen in the first six weeks after the liposuction surgery.
How Can You Help With Your Own Recovery?
You must follow your surgeon’s instructions while recovering from liposuction surgery. Whether it’s about your medications, post-surgical hygiene, or some other facet of your recovery, your surgeon will offer necessary and important advice.
urgery lowers the levels of the fluids in your body, so be sure that you are drinking plenty of water, especially during that first six weeks after a liposuction procedure.
Remember also that how quickly and easily you heal after any surgical procedure will vary from patient to patient. It is also important for liposuction patients to keep their expectations realistic. Liposuction is about making visible improvements – but not about achieving “perfection.”
Why Are Realistic Expectations Important?
If your expectations are realistic, you will almost certainly be pleased with your results, and you will feel younger, happier, and healthier as the result of a liposuction procedure.
In the New England area, you can learn more about liposuction by arranging a consultation with an experienced Boston cosmetic surgeon. A good cosmetic surgeon can answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns about liposuction.
What Else Should You Know About Liposuction?
Before you agree to a liposuction procedure, you must get a complete, written estimate for the full cost. If a cosmetic surgeon is not completely candid and forthright about all of the costs, fees, and expenses related to a liposuction surgery, find another surgeon.
Do not work with a surgeon that you don’t like, trust, or feel comfortable with. Selecting the right surgeon is essential.
Before Selecting A Surgeon, What Questions Should You Ask?
Do not be reticent or nervous at your first consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Every prospective liposuction patient needs to ask a cosmetic surgeon these questions – and needs to get the right answers – before scheduling any surgery:
1. Are you a board-certified cosmetic surgeon?2. How many liposuction procedures have you performed?3. What anesthesia is provided? Who provides it?4. What will liposuction cost – including all of the fees and other charges?
The cosmetic surgeon who performs your liposuction should be certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). ABCS-certified surgeons work only with licensed anesthesia professionals and only at accredited surgical facilities.
If you are considering liposuction, speak with a board-certified and experienced Boston cosmetic surgeon. What could be more important than your future? You can take the first step toward looking and feeling better by making the call and scheduling that first consultation right now.
foods to reduce swelling after liposuction
Patients looking to eliminate stubborn fat deposits can benefit from liposuction at our New Orleans, LA, cosmetic surgery practice. In order to maintain liposuction results, it is important to follow a healthy diet to prevent your weight from fluctuating and to allow your body to properly heal. Dr. Benjamin Boudreaux and Dr. Jeffrey Claiborne will provide you with information on what to avoid and what to include in your post-liposuction diet. Here, we will discuss diet after liposuction and offer tips and information for long-term success.
The Importance of a Healthy Diet after Liposuction
The primary benefit of a healthy post-liposuction diet is that patients can maintain their results and enjoy a slimmer, more contoured figure for years to come. Weight fluctuations can hinder the success of your treatment and in some cases, could negate the effects altogether. A healthy diet helps reduce swelling following your procedure.
A healthy diet also increases your metabolism, allowing you to burn fat more efficiently. Patients who undergo liposuction should increase their intake of high density lipids and decrease their intake of low density lipids. In addition, patients should drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and limit calories by eating smaller, more frequent meals.
What to Avoid
Following liposuction, patients should consume soda and sugary drinks in moderation, if consumed at all. Vegetable juices with high sodium content and fruit juices with added sugar should be avoided. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, use artificial sweeteners and nonfat dairy products. Choose whole grains over refined grains and avoid adding sweetener to fruits.
Fatty, fried meats should be avoided. This includes sausage, bacon, and marbled red meat. We also recommend limiting your salt intake. As a result, you will need to steer clear of certain salad dressings, soy sauce, and other high-sodium foods. In general, we recommend avoiding processed foods and choosing natural, whole grain products.
What to Eat after Liposuction
It is important to stay hydrated after liposuction surgery. Therefore, patients should increase their water intake to at least 64 ounces every day. This will help reduce swelling following surgery, regulate digestion, and flush out harmful toxins. If no additional salt or sugar is added, mineral water and fruit and vegetable juices can be consumed. You can enjoy black coffee and herbal tea in moderation.
By making permanent lifestyle changes, you can enjoy the results of your liposuction for many years.
Lean white meats are high in protein and help promote the natural healing process. This includes fish and skinless, white-meat chicken. Egg yolks should be avoided, but egg whites can be a good source of protein. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain products. When selecting dairy products, choose low- or non-fat options and consume them in moderation.
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is preferable over fad dieting. By making permanent lifestyle changes, you can enjoy the results of your liposuction for many years. Dr. Boudreaux and Dr. Claiborne will be happy to provide you with diet and wellness tips at any point after your cosmetic surgery procedure.
Contact Northshore Plastic Surgery
If you are interested in liposuction or would like to learn more about lifestyle changes following your procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Boudreaux and Dr. Claiborne. Contact us online or call Northshore Plastic Surgery at (985) 237-6050.
fluid buildup after liposuction
The damaged part of the body is firmly shut after the liposuction procedure to avoid edema, bruises, and discomfort. This can be covered using elastic bands and adhesive. For 1 to 2 weeks, you might have to use particular garments to tighten the area. For 1 to 2 days, the region will be discolored and puffy. For another few days, fluids may be leaked from the stitched-up site.
For a few days, fluid may leak from the holes. The fluid will initially be red, but it will clear up in few other days. For a minimum of 10 to 14 days, the site will be discolored and swelled. As shortly as you’re comfortable, you’ll be able to return to your normal routine.
Following liposuction, compression wraps will help to reduce edema, that is fluid, boost metabolism, and lessen the chance of skin folding. You can buy these online or at some pharmacies, but your surgeon will most probably give you one on the day of your operation to bring home with you.
You’ll have to use the compression garment or gear on the surgical region following the surgery and for the next 3 to 4 weeks. It will feel strange initially, but after a period, you will become accustomed to it.
Resting is essential for your body’s natural healing, so get some! Have at least 8 hours of sleep per night, and if you’re sleepy throughout the day, take short naps. Start to move around a bit per day, with your surgeon’s approval, to improve blood circulation and maintain your digestion functioning.
Last but not least, as a result of the inflammation caused by alcohol, your edema will worsen and your healing process will be lengthened. As a result, refrain from drinking for a while.
What causes fluid buildup after liposuction?
You might notice some weight on your body as if you’ve developed watery packages around your surgical site. You may start to panic, but you shouldn’t. Know that it is a natural and normal occurrence.
Infections and an accumulation of lymph liquids are the most common causes of swelling, that is, fluid buildup, following the liposuction operation.
There are several things you can do to get rid of fluid buildup after liposuction. First of all, compression garments function by applying tension to the surgical site, forcing the system to soak up lymph liquids, preventing them from accumulating beneath the skin and causing edema. So, be sure to use them as recommended. In addition, it’s always vital to keep salty snacks to a minimum. After liposuction, salt encourages the body to hold water, leading to increased edema and swelling.
In the next few weeks of your treatment, the majority of the swelling will have subsided, revealing a leaner, more sculpted image.
How long does it take to lose fluid after liposuction?
Liposuction causes the body or the treated area to be bruised and swollen with fluids. As you already know, we remove the fat by liposuction, which is often temporarily replaced with water. This fluid adds temporary extra weight and volume to your body, which may make you feel discomfort and wonder when will you lose these swelling and fluids. Doctors suggest that the fluid and selling will start to goes down after at least 10 to 14 days from surgery. You should wait for the swelling to disappear to see the final results of liposuction without looking a little bloated.