While liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed today, in order to recover quickly and optimally post-procedure, it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s instructions and commit to a healthy lifestyle. Touted as the perfect method for removing stubborn, unwanted fat from target areas like the legs, arms, stomach, and thighs, liposuction can be all that and more, but the best outcomes are always those in which the patient is active in their own healing process. 

As tempting as it may be to return to your lifestyle and routine just as it was before, it’s important to be patient and recognize that making sure you’re fully recovered first will go a long way toward leaving you with the best results possible. During your Recovery period, certain behaviours will be temporarily restricted, and others will be encouraged to facilitate healing. 

Following these guidelines will help not only ensure you get the results you want but will also reduce your risk of developing complications post-op.

What Not To Do After Liposuction

1.  Intense Exercise

You can and should do low-impact activities like taking short, easy walks as soon as you feel ready, as this will help to reduce post-procedure risks like blood clots, edema (swelling), and other problems. However, it’s best to avoid more strenuous exercise like running for at least two weeks after your liposuction procedure and it’s recommended that you avoid even more intensive exercise like weight lifting for a minimum of 5-6 weeks–no matter how tempting it may be to get a workout in.

2.  Eat High Sodium and Junk Foods

It’s very important to eat a healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced diet while recovering from liposuction (and afterwards as well). One of the most integral pieces of dieting advice to keep in mind during your recovery is this: avoid salty or processed foods as much as you can. Why? Because the sodium found in salt is known to cause inflammation, in part by encouraging your body to retain water, which can worsen swelling and adversely affect the healing process. 

Instead, choose foods that are low in sodium for at least 2-4 months post-liposuction. Try using herbs and spices as sodium substitutes. Similarly, sugar and saturated fat (found in most fried and processed food), can cause weight gain, which is extremely counterproductive post-liposuction, as well as being low in the vitamins and nutrients you’ll need to heal. 

3. Drinking Alcohol

As is the case for any other surgical procedure, alcohol is right at the top of any “what not to do after liposuction” list. Drinking is off-limits for a minimum of one-week post-procedure (this includes beer and wine), as alcoholic beverages can interact negatively with any post-surgery medication you’re taking to treat pain or swelling, and it can also be very dehydrating. It’s normal to be dehydrated post-surgery, but it’s best not to worsen it, as you’ll be stealing fluid from organs that need it for recovery. Drinking alcohol also thins the blood, which can increase bruising and compromise or slow down your healing process. 

4. Expect Results Instantly (final results take time)

For the first few weeks post-op, it’s common for the areas that have been treated to swell. Typically, this subsides over 2-6 weeks, at which point you should be 2-4 pounds lighter than you were before surgery (this is how much fat you left in our office). Before jumping to any conclusions about your final results, however, keep in mind that although you’ll begin to see results in these early weeks following your procedure, your final results take significantly longer to become noticeable–usually 6-12 months. 

During this time you’ll also see any scarring begin to fade and soften. Prior to your liposuction procedure, your surgeon will thoroughly discuss realistic healing expectations with you so there are no surprises. 

What You Can Do After Liposuction

1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle and Weight

Any qualified surgeon will make it clear that liposuction is not a weight loss solution, and that an ideal candidate has already achieved their target weight (or close to it) before undergoing liposuction surgery. Similarly, post-procedure, keeping your weight stable is one of the best things you can do to maintain your results and avoid enlarging fat cells in your treated area(s). 

Regular exercise and a healthy diet, of course, are the best way to keep your weight stable. Consume a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains while excluding (or strictly limiting) carb-heavy, processed, salty and sugary foods. Incorporate vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients as well to help your body regain its strength as quickly as possible. 

After the initial period where strenuous exercise is restricted, keep in shape by pairing simple steps–like taking the stairs rather than an elevator – with more intense workout routines. The key to success here is landing on an exercise routine that you enjoy, and which suits your lifestyle.

2. Stay Hydrated for Recovery

While staying well hydrated is always a smart idea, it’s especially important post-surgery, as ingesting fluids helps flush out any toxins associated with medications or the procedure itself. In addition to preventing dehydration during recovery, drinking lots of water helps you get rid of excess fluid trapped in the tissues (edema), a condition known to cause swelling. 

On a normal day, it’s recommended that you drink 8 glasses of water. But after liposuction, do your best to increase this to roughly 10-12 glasses. You might also switch this up and drink tea, diluted fruit juice, or skim milk on occasion for a little variety. Avoid Gatorade as it contains high amounts of sodium.

3. Wear Compression Garments

Post-procedure, your surgeon will provide you with a compression garment to wear in order to promote a smoother recovery process. Although it may seem cumbersome or uncomfortable at first, a compression garment actually increases your comfort during the healing process. It applies pressure evenly across your treatment area, preventing the buildup of excess fluid and helps your body absorb any fluid that does manage to accumulate. 

The consistent pressure of your compression garment also helps to reduce the appearance of bruises by stopping bleeding and preventing blood from travelling to the skin’s surface. You will need to wear your compression garment for several weeks to help reduce swelling and encourage your skin to contract and heal. Be sure that you wear this garment for as long as instructed, as it ultimately helps enhance your results by improving the contours of the treatment area. During this time, avoid wearing tight clothes as this will irritate your skin and can slow recovery.

4. Listen to your physician and Schedule Follow-Ups

Typically, liposuction recovery is relatively short and uneventful, which is what you want. Most people will be able to go back to work within just a few days. Nevertheless, post-surgery, it’s always important to take your surgeon’s instructions on ‘what not to do after liposuction’ seriously. You will be provided with highly detailed aftercare instructions which you should follow very carefully to ensure a speedy recovery and avoid any complications. Be sure to take all prescribed medications, including pain pills, and don’t miss your scheduled follow-up appointments, as they provide the perfect opportunity for your surgeon to monitor your healing and recovery process and make further recommendations that may help you get back to normal faster. 

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