As you probably already know, liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that aims to remove smaller deposits of fatty tissue. It provides excellent results and is becoming more and more popular.

If you’re considering going for liposuction, you’re surely wondering what type of pain will you be experiencing after surgery and how to manage that pain. At Body, by Kotoske we always emphasize that it’s best to be well-informed prior to your liposuction surgery so you can know exactly what to expect and have realistic expectations about the outcome. And even though we will provide enough medication and useful tips to manage the pain, it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra tricks for one’s own help.

Pain after liposuction surgery

After liposuction surgery, you will be given a series of instructions. The amount of pain you will experience, greatly depends on what type of anesthesia is used during your surgery. For example, patients that have liposuction under intravenous sedations tend to experience lest post-surgery pain hence they require lest medication copes with the pain after their liposuction. On the other hand, patients that have done liposuction under general anesthesia, experience a bit more paid and require prescribed pain-killers.

How to manage the pain after liposuction?

Through easy and very simple techniques, you can accelerate your healing after your liposuction surgery. The most important is to keep track of the surgical site and follow your doctor’s instructions, as with any other surgery. And here are some useful points about post-liposuction main management:

  • In the first 2-4 days after surgery, the pain is most intense after which it gradually disappears. If you’re experiencing pain, take pain medication your doctor has prescribed, but only in the amount prescribed. Don’t overdo it!
  • If the surgical site feels tender and sore, don’t worry. That usually disappears on its own after a short while. Don’t attempt to use home remedies for this. You could eventually cause more harm than good.
  • Switching over to a different kind of pain-killer MUST be previously discussed with your surgeon!
  • For the first 2 weeks, avoid using pain-killers such as Advil, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. These medications tend to slow down blood clotting, increase the drainage and bruising. All which slow down your healing process.
  • Aside from medication, you should also avoid taking any over-the-counter supplements as some of them have the same effect as the medication mentioned above. Best to refrain from anything new or from trying anything on your own, without prior consultation with your surgeon.
  • As additional help in order to reduce swelling and provide support for the area that undergone liposuction, you will receive a compression garment. They also help in minimizing swelling and pain after your liposuction surgery.
  • After liposuction, the surgical area might temporarily lose sensation even though the swelling still persists. In these cases, avoid using any cold or warm compressors. You don’t want frostbite or burns in that area.

Supplementary to the above routine, you should also keep in mind that you:

  • Keep moving – Walking and simple activities help the tissue recover faster from liposuction surgery. Light activities and walking actually mobilize the lymphatic system which is extremely important.
  • Massage – You can gently and regularly massage the surgical area. This will further reduce the pain and swelling. Try starting slowly in the beginning. But once you get used to it, you can massage the area more frequently.
  • Drink lots of fluids –Similar to other surgical procedures, liposuction also causes shifts in the body’s internal fluids. Making sure you drink plenty of fluids will ensure that your body is well-hydrated which should increase the healing process.
  • Anti-inflammatory creams – Make sure that you do your massages with anti-inflammatory creams, such as arnica based creams. These creams are successful in reducing the swelling and pain, but can also cause excessive bleeding. So before you start using these creams, make sure that you check with your liposuction surgeon which one would he/she recommend.

It’s really important to stay away for strenuous physical activities for at least a month. We can’t emphasize this enough.  And if any time, your pain becomes too much to take, make sure to reach out to your surgeon!