Recovery time after liposuction depends on your procedure, but usually you’ll have time off from work for a few days to several weeks. Recovery is faster if you do it the right way and follow the doctor’s instructions. It can take up to eight weeks for the swelling, bruising and swelling to go away completely.
In this guide, we find out How To Recover From Liposuction Faster, what to do after liposuction to get best results, what to eat before coolsculpting, and is it worth getting coolsculpting.
How To Recover From Liposuction Faster
Liposuction is a popular procedure that removes unwanted fat from various areas of the body. It’s usually used to remove fat from areas like the abdomen, thighs, back, buttocks and arms. Liposuction isn’t considered major surgery since it generally requires only local anesthesia with sedation. But there’s still some recovery time involved in getting back to your daily life after liposuction. Read on for tips on how to recover faster from liposuction surgery!
How to Recover From Liposuction Faster
You’ve already made the decision to go under the knife, so now it’s time to make sure you’re recovering from liposuction in the healthiest way possible. Here are some tips for how to recover from liposuction faster:
- Follow your doctor’s orders. The longer and more strenuously you push yourself, the longer it will take for your body to heal. Take advantage of all the resources at your disposal: ask questions about what activities are appropriate and what aren’t; don’t be afraid to use ice if necessary (just don’t overdo it); stick with easy food choices until your appetite returns; drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout recovery; get plenty of rest!
- Wear a compression garment after surgery while you’re healing—this is especially important during exercise as well as when sleeping at night (to prevent blood clots). It might feel awkward at first, but trust us: wearing one will help speed up healing times while allowing you more freedom than full bed rest would allow! If possible, ask a friend or family member who isn’t squeamish about seeing bloodstains on clothing before hand-washing them so that they can help out post-surgery too 🙂
1. Go Over Pre-Operative Instructions
One of the best things you can do to improve your recovery is read and re-read your pre-operative instructions. This will help you prepare for what to expect when it comes time for surgery, so there are no surprises.
If anything doesn’t make sense or if there’s something that isn’t clear, ask your doctor or nurse about it before going under the knife. It’s important that everyone involved is on the same page when it comes down to the last minute details because this may affect how things go during surgery, which in turn could affect how long it takes before you’re able to return home after liposuction recovery.
Make sure that everything is covered in terms of supplies needed for recovery and medications required after liposuction (such as pain killers). If someone is helping out with this process at home then they’ll also want all necessary information ahead of time so they can get started right away once they arrive at their destination—or even sooner if possible!
2. Get a Compression Garment
If you have just had liposuction, it is recommended that you wear compression garments for the first three weeks. These garments help reduce swelling and bruising. The compression also helps to restore elasticity to the skin and muscle tissue after surgery. Compression garments are widely available at medical supply stores or hospital gift shops, but if you don’t have access to these places or are unable to find one that fits properly, there are other options such as Spanx or even a snug pair of leggings pulled up over your waistline will do the trick! If you can’t find anything that works for you and feel like putting on regular clothes isn’t comfortable enough then keep this in mind: The first day may be slightly uncomfortable because your body has just gone through surgery but once those stitches heal up there shouldn’t be any pain anymore! There is no reason why someone should not go about their daily routine wearing these types of garments; however if they create discomfort then take them off immediately (just remember when taking off those stitches).
3. Sleep With Your Head Elevated
- Sleep With Your Head Elevated
After you have liposuction, it’s important to sleep with your head elevated for the first few days. This will help reduce swelling and keep your face from drooping. You can use pillows or even a rolled-up towel under your neck to support it while you sleep. Sleeping with your head elevated is an easy way to reduce swelling and make sure that you get the best results possible from liposuction.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking enough water is essential for good health. Our bodies are made up of about 60% water and we need to replace what we lose every day by drinking it. Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, constipation and other problems so aim to drink at least 2-3 litres a day.
If you are active then increase your intake to 4 litres (8 cups) or more depending on how much you sweat during exercise or if you live in hot climates such as Australia where the weather is warm most of the year so there’s plenty of sweating going on! If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding then extra fluid is needed too but how much extra depends on each individual woman’s needs so talk to your doctor about this before increasing your intake above normal levels just because someone told you it was good advice for them!
5. Eat a Healthy Diet and Take Supplements
- Eat a healthy diet. Your doctor will tell you which foods are best to eat, but as a general rule, it’s important to avoid fatty and fried foods while recovering from liposuction.
- Take supplements. If your doctor prescribes supplements for you, be sure to take them as directed—they can help speed up the healing process and reduce inflammation after surgery. Do not take any vitamins or supplements without first consulting with your doctor; they may interact with certain medications prescribed by your surgeon or could cause additional side effects if taken in high doses (for example: vitamin E).
6. Stay Active
It’s important to stay active after surgery. Exercise helps the body heal, and it can even help you lose weight. It can also help with sleep, mood and self-confidence.
- Get moving: Try light exercise like walking, swimming or biking for a few days after liposuction surgery. Slowly increase your level of activity as you feel better — but be careful not to push too hard too fast!
7. Rethink Massages, Vigorous Exercise, and Hot Tubs
Massages, vigorous exercise, and hot tubs are all good for you, but they’re not recommended right after surgery. Massage can cause bruising, which may not be noticeable to the human eye but can still hinder your recovery. Vigorous exercise should also be avoided because it can lead to blood clots or irritation in the incisions. Hot tubs help with circulation and relaxation post-surgery; however, heat isn’t recommended immediately after liposuction due to its tendency to increase swelling in the surrounding tissues.
Recovering from liposuction is not difficult if you follow doctor’s orders.
Recovering from liposuction is not difficult if you follow doctor’s orders.
Rest: Resting is the most important part of recovering from liposuction. Your body will replace the fat cells that were removed, but it needs time to do so. The more you rest, the sooner your body can reach its maximum recovery potential.
Activity Level: It’s normal to feel stiff and sore after liposuction surgery, so take it easy as you recover! Follow your doctor’s instructions on how often you should get up and move around each day (elevating your feet may help reduce swelling). For example, if they recommend walking every hour or two at first, don’t worry about doing more than that unless otherwise directed by your physician. If possible try not to lift anything heavy while recovering from liposuction—this includes grocery bags! It may be tempting to push yourself too hard when trying not only recover from surgery but also make sure everything goes as planned but remember that recovery doesn’t happen overnight so don’t feel frustrated if things aren’t moving along as quickly as expected; instead just focus on being patient during this time period (and really anywhere else in life).
what to do after liposuction to get best results
Liposuction is the procedure of choice for patients who want to get rid of pockets of fat in stubborn areas. Recent statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that liposuction surgery is the second most popular of the cosmetics after breast augmentation. During liposuction Baton Rouge plastic surgeons remove excess deposits of fat from the target area to give the patient their desired figure and body contour.
First things first, it’s important to grasp the recovery process after liposuction.
Recovery Timeline After Liposuction
Liposuction Recovery Tips
Below our top recovery tips for a speedy and non-interrupted liposuction healing process.
1) Eat Well for Lipo Recovery
There’s no understating the role of a good diet to help ensure quick and uninterrupted recovery after liposuction. Patients who maintain a good diet will experience less swelling. Eating well means incorporating vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients that will help your body regain its strengths. Prior to the procedure and asides from food, one should always properly prepare for liposuction. With regards to a proper diet for recovery, keep the following rules in mind:
2) Keep Moving After Liposuction
It’s important to rest over the first 24 hours following lipo surgery. After that, some light exercises such as taking a short walk can speed up the body’s healing process. Keep in mind though that intensive exercise should be avoided over the first few weeks after liposuction. Your surgeon should issue very detailed instructions about what’s allowed and what’s not allowed in terms of physical activities.
3) Hydrate on Low-Calorie Beverages
Proper hydration is important to prevent dehydration during recovery from liposuction. Typically, one should take about 8 glasses of water on a daily basis. However, after liposuction, try to increase this to about 10-12 glasses. Other beverages that you can take in place of water include tea, diluted fruit juice, and skim milk. Stay away from Gatorade because it contains high amounts of sodium.
4) Keep the Area Clean
Changing bandages regularly helps keep the liposuction area clean to prevent infections from developing. Although you might feel tempted to clean the area with water or other products, avoid doing so over the first few weeks.
5) Know What to Wear
Knowing what to wear is equally important to ensure a speedy recovery process. Clothes that fit too tightly can irritate your skin and slow down the recovery process. It’s important that you are comfortable during the recovery process, and many surgeons recommend that you wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
6) Ditch the Bathtub
You might feel like you miss a nice warm bubble bath, but this is not the time to soak in any bathtub. Soaking in water can reduce the rate of healing and increase your risk of getting an infection. In the place of soaking in the bathtub, consider getting a gentle massage.
7) Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic drainage massage (which focuses on releasing accumulated toxins from the lymph nodes) has been shown to decrease recovery time while minimizing discomfort and pain experienced by the patient. This type of massage – which should be done weekly – has also shown to boost the patient’s immunity, lowering the risk of infection.
8) Follow Your Liposuction Surgeon’s Instructions
Your surgeon will provide post-care instructions that you should adhere to for uninterrupted healing and recovery. A compression garment will be provided. While this is not the most comfortable piece of clothing, it helps enhance post-surgical results. Make sure to put this garment on for as long as needed. Any medicine that is provided should be taken strictly according to the surgeon’s instructions. If you have any specific questions that are custom to your recovery process, always reach out to your surgeon for clarification.
9) Schedule Regular Follow Ups
Follow up appointments provide an opportunity for your surgeon to gauge your progress and monitor the healing and recovery process after liposuction. Make sure you attend all the post-op appointments as scheduled by your surgeon.
what to eat before coolsculpting
Phew! The celebrations are over, 2021 is finally here, say so long to one of the worst years of our lives. Unfortunately for some of us, along with 2021 came some extra calories that we didn’t spend in time, and now we’re stuck with the fat. Or maybe you’ve been making resolutions of losing weight, but the right moment never seemed to come? Whatever your case is, we understand. It’s been a challenging year, after all. Well, CoolSculpting is a great and proven way to shed excess fat. The treatment literally freezes your fat cells and makes them vanish forever. But to get the best results, you need to know how to prepare for the treatment and what to avoid. Without further ado, here is our list of things you should be aware of before your CoolSculpting treatment.
1. Know the Ins and Outs of CoolSculpting
You may want to know how CoolSculpting works – after all, it will be attached to your body for an hour! The CoolSculpting machine works through a process called cryolipolysis, a procedure where cold temperatures freeze and destroy fat cells. This is mainly to address areas of stubborn fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. CoolSculpting is not the wave of a magic wand that will miraculously set you free of 50 pounds because it only destroys about 20% of the subcutaneous fat in the treatment area, the fat right underneath the skin and above the muscle. The fat that is deeper in the body you can remove by eating healthy and exercising.
The procedure itself is non-invasive, and it doesn’t involve anesthesia or needles. It targets fat cells and causes their death without affecting other tissues surrounding the fat, such as nerves and muscles. In the months that follow, the lymphatic system filters out those dead fat cells as waste, and once they are gone, they are not coming back.
Since CoolSculpting is not your typical weight loss procedure, you are a good candidate if you’re generally fit and healthy but struggling with some fat bulges you cannot remove. CoolSculpting removes the fat in the following areas: abdomen (upper and lower), thighs (inner and outer), flanks, also called love handles, bra and back fat, under the buttocks, arms, and chin area.
The more you know about the treatment itself, the more relaxed you will approach it. When you know how it works, you’ll know what results to expect!
2. Make a Plan Before CoolSculpting Treatment That You Will Also Use Afterwards
Forming healthy habits is vital for achieving the best results with CoolSculpting. If you are already in your ideal weight range, your results will be quicker and more effective. If you’re not, talk to your medical provider to find the best healthy diet and an exercise regimen. You should be looking at being within five pounds of your ideal weight because then you’ll be able to really see the results. Likewise, maintaining your results will only work if you do. Don’t risk creating new deposits of fat by overeating right after the treatments. Healthy habits are everything!
3. Protect Your Skin
It’s a no brainer: your skin needs to be healthy and intact during the CoolSculpting procedure. Because the treatment involves suction and massage of the area, you want to protect the skin. Please do so by preparing it for CoolSculpting. Avoid tanning, as the area that will be treated with CoolSculpting can get more sensitive. Should you burn in the sun, the treatment may cause an unpleasant feeling that you may want to avoid – think suction of the sunburnt skin! – so you would like to either avoid the sun altogether in the days prior to the treatment or postpone the treatment. The same goes for cuts, bruising, and any other wounds you might have. If you do have them, postpone your treatment. If you don’t, try avoiding activities that might cause them in the days leading to the treatment!
4. Rethink Your Medication
Any medication or supplements that can thin the blood are a no-go for several days before your CoolSculpting treatment. This is because blood thinners before the treatment can increase bruising. Medications and supplements to avoid: aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, fish oil, St. Johns Wort. If you’re taking any medication regularly, talk to your doctor so he or she can consider alternatives for you. Lastly, be aware of some herbs that can thin the blood, such as ginger and turmeric. If you can avoid bruising caused by the CoolSculpting applicator, why wouldn’t you, right?
5. Stop Smoking (If Only for a While)
While we’re on the topic of things to avoid before the treatment, we need to mention smoking, too. Smoking can slow the recovery process and delay the results. If you can, refrain from smoking for a week before CoolSculpting.
6. Come in Armed
…with things to do! A session of CoolSculpting usually takes about an hour. If you’ve booked multiple sessions, that means you will spend hours at the clinic or medspa, and it can get boring. Patients usually bring along things that can make the time fly by: books, magazines, iPads. You can read, watch a TV show, listen to a podcast, or just browse the Web. Workaholics can answer their work emails or catch up on a presentation. Whatever you need the additional hour or two for!
7. Make the Treatment as Pleasant as Possible
You should wear loose clothes for your CoolSculpting treatment. Most offices offer disposable clothing for the treatment, but you’ll feel more comfortable if you arrive in loose and comfy clothes that you can wear after the treatment. Alternatively, you can bring a change of clothing. Don’t wear your fancier underwear because they may come in contact with the gel used for skin protection, and stain.
8. Eat a Snack and Stay Hydrated
As the CoolSculpting treatment can last for hours, we advise you to eat a light meal or a snack, so you don’t get hungry (and angry!). Food before the treatment will maintain your blood sugar, energy, and mood during the session. Cut back on caffeine and sodas, and keep a bottle of water near you. You should stay hydrated throughout the treatment to help the body remove the toxins!
9. Ask Questions
If there’s anything you want to know, speak out. Your CoolSculpting provider is there to help you minimize worries and get all the info about the procedure. This applies to both your initial consultation and the treatment itself. Remember, there are no stupid questions! It’s your body and your health, and you deserve to know anything you want.
Even though CoolSculpting is a non-invasive method of losing fat, and there are no thorough preparations like for surgery, it’s still great to know how you can best prepare. This will ensure a smooth procedure and a relaxed patient, leading to better results. Learning helps you get there in the best way possible!
is it worth getting coolsculpting
A few years ago, I decided that I’d get back in shape. I worked at it and by the end of 2020, I was down 40 pounds, eating better, working out consistently (for the first time in my life), and overall felt like a brand-new person. And while I was loving what I was seeing in the mirror, I couldn’t help but to be annoyed by certain pockets of fat that simply wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard I worked. It made me wonder, is CoolSculpting worth it? I figured I’d try the minimally invasive route in an effort to tone up my stomach and area under my chin. I’m overjoyed I did, and here’s why.
What Is CoolSculpting?
To be frank, I didn’t know a whole lot about the procedure ahead of doing it. However, between the slew of before-and-afters I’d saved, paired with extensive research of RealSelf reviews, I knew enough to want to do it. “CoolSculpting is a treatment that is based on very solid science,” Dr. David P. Rapaport, founder of Coolspa tells TZR. “It was developed by a brilliant Harvard professor named Rox Anderson who observed old publications of children that would eat popsicles all day. Some of those kids would end up in the emergency room, crying because their cheeks hurt.” Dr. Rapaport says that when they looked at these kids with tender cheeks, they found that the fat in the cheeks was actually dying. “It’s called cold panniculitis,” Dr. Rapaport says. “The cheek was being exposed to that cold for hours on end killing fat cells. That’s how CoolSculpting was born.”
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
Now no, CoolSculpting doesn’t include laying on a bed of popsicles, but it does involve lots of freezing. The process looks a little like this: Suction applicators are placed on the desired areas of the body. For me, that included my chin, lower abdomen, flanks, and bra area. Two applicators are required per treated area to target both sides evenly. Once adhered, a period of freezing occurs, lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Soon as the applicators are released, an intense two-minute massage immediately follows. That massage, which I can best describe as a “defrosting” feeling, is surely not the most comfortable thing I’ve ever endured. “The treatment itself is quite tolerable,” Dr. Rapaport says. “At least to most people. However, those two minutes where they massage your frozen tissues can hurt quite a bit for many.” It’s suggested that you eat before your CoolSculpting treatment as to avoid possible fainting during the massage. Yes, it’s that intense.
Trying CoolSculpting On My Face
During my research, there weren’t many accounts of experiencing CoolSculpting along the jawline, but that didn’t stop me from treating that area, too. I came to find that the process is vastly similar to what happens with the body. “When it comes to CoolSculpting under the chin (the sub-mental area), we use a specific applicator that was designed for treatment in this area,” Josie Holmes, esthetician at Skinney Medspa says. “The CoolSculpting Mini applicator was created to effectively treat and capture small bulges of subcutaneous tissue.” To be a candidate for CoolSculpting, clients should have soft, pinch-able tissue. “If you can squeeze it, we can freeze it,” Holmes says.
Just like with my body, applicators were placed on each side of my face. I kicked back, watched some Netflix, and an hour and a half later (one applicator was done at a time) I was left with a bright-red chin and jawline. I’d hoped that maybe the massage could be skipped with the CoolSculpting Mini, but I was sadly mistaken. After defrosting, I was sent on my way, eager to see my results.
CoolSculpting Before & After
What Does CoolSculpting Feel Like?
My levels of discomfort post-treatment varied greatly with the CoolSculpting Mini versus the traditional CoolSculpting. “After treatment, clients can expect some tenderness in the area,” Holmes says. “In addition, there will be a topical numbness that can last one to two weeks.” With my chin, I experienced slight discomfort lasting about 24 hours, and was relieved to find that there was little to no swelling. My stomach area, particularly after my first treatment, was another story. For about two days following, I had excruciating pain and swelling and found it hard to do even the most basic activities. For another 10 days, I wore tight compression garments as my stomach was tender to touch and the numbness was tremendously uncomfortable. I slept on my back for two weeks so as to not further exacerbate the pain. By the time my second treatment came around — due to the amass of fat cells in my abdomen, we determined another treatment would be beneficial — I was prepared for more pain. However, it was mild.
So what was different? Well, aside from maybe my fat cells being better prepared due to the first treatment, CoolSculpting recently unveiled a new model called the CoolSculpting Elite, with more sophisticated technology. Unlike the previous applicators, the newest applicators are more hollow, allowing for better gripping of the fat. And while one would assume that it would result in more pain, it was the opposite in my case.
CoolSculpting Elite is basically the newest generation of CoolSculpting, with the latest applicators having the ability to target twice the amount of fat in the same amount of time as compared to using one traditional CoolSculpting applicator. In addition, the Elite applicators have a whopping seven different shapes and sizes, which means that you can treat any area imaginable. I was able to experience both a traditional and Elite experience and can honestly say, I saw the greatest results after trying the newest applicators at Coolspa, which, is currently the only facility in New York City to carry the CoolSculpting Elite.
When Can You See Results From CoolSculpting?
Unlike liposuction, the results of CoolSculpting aren’t immediate. So be prepared to practice patience. “With one treatment, clients can expect to see a 20% to 25% reduction in tissue in the area treated,” Holmes says. “After treatment, clients can expect to begin to see results after 30 days.” However, optimal treatment results will show in about 90 days, and can continue for up to four months. “As this treatment is non-invasive and utilizes cryolipolysis to freeze, crystalize, and kill fat cells through apoptosis, the body takes some time to naturally flush out those fat cells,” Holmes says.
However, there are things that one can do to speed up the process, at least a little. Following my first abdomen appointment at Coolspa, the estheticians suggested a specialized body cream to aid in the firming of the treated areas. I applied twice a day, and by week four I began to see results. With my chin however, I began to see results even sooner. “I always recommend my clients to assist their body in getting results by drinking lots of water and increasing sweating,” Holmes says. “This helps the body to flush out the killed fat cells through the lymphatic and endocrine systems.”
What Are CoolSculpting Risks?
You’ve likely seen the well-publicized story about supermodel Linda Evangelista and her CoolSculpting treatment, which resulted in a condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, or PAH. While this is a very serious and often under-reported side effect, studies show that 0.0051%, or about 1 in 20,000 treated patients will experience it. This is why it is so crucial to visit a provider that you trust, and understand that it is often an esthetician providing the treatment (who are required to complete about 600 hours of training to operate the machinery).
Is CoolSculpting Worth It?
Now, 10 weeks after my second abdomen treatment, and almost four months after my chin treatment, I’m more than satisfied with my results. Yes, there was a little pain involved, and yes, that massage is a killer, but my body — and face — have made such a transformation, and I know I couldn’t have achieved it through just physical fitness and an adjusted diet alone. I’m so crazy about CoolSculpting, in fact, that I joke with my friends that if I could treat my entire body, I would. And I mean that.
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