PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER OF NC

LIPOSUCTION
AFTER CARE

RECOVERY PHASE

Now that you’re through your liposuction surgery, it’s time to focus on your wellness during the recovery phase. To download a copy of these recovery notes, click here.

Activity

  • Do not lift more than 10lbs (or more than a gallon of milk) or perform any strenuous activities for 3-4 weeks after surgery.
  • Do not swim or use a hot tub until your wounds have healed. This will be about 4-6 weeks after surgery. 

Reasons to Call

  • Fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
  • Skin redness and warmth(hot) around your cannula sites.
  • A change in drainage color (green/yellow/thick), foul-smelling odor.
  • Pain not relieved by pain medication.

Bathing

  • You may shower 48-72 hours after surgery. Remove garment to shower and then put garment back on.  No baths.  Some areas may bleed, but this is normal and should subside quickly when dry. 

Wound Care/Dressings

  • Leave the compression garment on for 2 days before removing it to launder or shower. You may need assistance putting it back on.  Remove the garment only to shower or wash. To watch our binder video, click here.
  • Wear the compression garment day and night for the first 3 weeks and then only at night for 3 more weeks.
  • You may experience “leaking” of blood-tinged fluid during the first 24 hours after surgery and it may soak through your garment. You may wish to change the gauze packing under the garment if it becomes saturated. 
  • You may experience significant bruising. This is normal. 

 

Medications

  • Some postoperative pain is to be expected, your pain medication may take the edge off, but you may not achieve pain free. Call the office if you have severe pain that is not relieved by pain medication.
  • You may take non-aspirin pain relievers such as acetaminophen or Tylenol for lesser pain, but do not take this in addition to your prescribed pain medication (the prescription medication likely has Tylenol in it already).
  • Do not use aspirin or aspirin-containing drugs (Anacin, Bufferin, Bayer, Excedrin, etc), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen) as these medications interfere with blood clotting and may increase bleeding risks.

If you have any concerns or questions, call us at 336-765-8620. We have a doctor on call 24 hours a day.