Enhanced Liposuction Recovery
Pre-Liposuction
Before every liposuction procedure, we request your vitamin D levels are checked via a blood test. For those who do not have optimal vitamin D levels, we prescribe vitamin D before the procedure to bring levels up into a desired range.
It has been shown that there is an increased risk of unfavourable outcomes associated with low levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D has many important functions including improving the body’s immune function which is extremely important after surgery.
There is a huge concern in the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. This program is aimed at optimising the body’s own resistance to bacterial infections. In over 15 years we have not experienced one case of surgical infection.
During Liposuction
During the liposuction procedure we administer intravenous vitamin C and magnesium.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and essential for collagen healing.
Magnesium has been shown to have about 600 functions in the body including decreasing anxiety. I have clinically found the use of intravenous magnesium to be very useful due to its calming effects during the surgical procedure.
Post Liposuction
The vitamin C is continued afterwards in a supplement form, as higher vitamin C is associated with better outcomes and improved surgical healing.
RECOVERY PROCESS
What to Expect
You may experience generalised fatigue for two days because of the medication and the healing process.
The local anaesthetic you received may leak through the small 4mm incisions for 1 to 2 days. This is actually desirable so the liver does not have to metabolise the medication. Most leaking resolves within one day.
The small surgical incisions typically close within two to three days without using stitches.
Post liposuction bruising varies from minimal to extensive and is impossible to predict as each individual’s sensitivity to bruising is different. However, on average it takes about 10 days for bruising to subside.
Liposuction areas can feel tender to touch for up to 6 weeks.
Post-liposuction swelling can also last about 6 weeks. The 6 week mark is when post-operative photos are taken which you can see on our before and after page.
There is often still a small amount of healing after 6 weeks especially in some calves and ankle liposuction patients.
Post-Liposuction Activities
- First 5 days only shower no bathing.
- Swimming allowed after 10 days.
- Gym exercise is possible after 10 days and we recommend easing into physical activity. There is no damage inflicted on the liposuction areas at this stage.
Getting Back to Work
For small liposuction procedures such as the chin one may return to work within 2 to 3 days. However, we recommend limiting physical work for about 10 days.
For a larger procedure such as the 3D abdomen liposuction, we recommend an average of 5 days off work.
