How To Get The Best Results From Liposuction
There are quite a few things you can do before and after a liposuction procedure to ensure you get the best results. Start with selecting a qualified surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, be sure to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly for optimum health, and do not smoke or take any anti-coagulant medications for about two weeks before the procedure. The best liposuction candidates are not markedly over-weight and do not have a significant amount of loose, sagging skin. After the procedure, lasting results can be achieved with liposuction if you follow these tips:
Wear Your Compression Garment
After liposuction, your body’s natural response is to fill the treated area with fluid. Wearing a compression garment will reduce the pain and swelling that results from surgery, and it will also help the body take on its new and improved shape. Most patients wear their garments constantly for at least two weeks or until the swelling has gone down ,and some prefer to wear them much longer for comfort. I prefer that my patients wear their garments for six weeks after the procedure.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Right after the procedure, it is important to drink plenty of liquids to stay well hydrated. The body swells for several days which is why more liquids are necessary to prevent dehydration. Restricting your fat and calorie consumption later after surgery can significantly improve the long-term outcome of liposuction. While you won’t gain fat in the treated areas as easily, it is still quite possible if you are not careful. A healthy diet can help maintain your results and possibly enhance them. Remember that liposuction is not a substitute for weight-loss and it is not a safeguard against weight gain.
Exercise
It is important to avoid being sedentary early on during recovery. Comfortable walking will help reduce the risk of blood clots, a complication that can occur after any surgery. It will also help you to feel better and more “normal” after the procedure. You should not become a “couch-potatoe” after the procedure, but strenuous exercise also must be avoided for 4 weeks. With less fat after liposuction, many patients tend to see results from exercise more quickly, and this motivates them to continue with a healthier lifestyle. Looking better helps to make it easier and more fun to exercise.
Long Term Results
Some people heal more quickly than others, so it is difficult to generalize when your best results from liposuction will appear. Initial swelling goes down over the first few weeks. A smaller amount of swelling can last for a few months. The skin may also gradually tighten somewhat over several months which is why the final result takes several months to become complete. No matter how long it takes to fully recover, the long-term results of a slimmer, more proportionate body from the procedure are generally the same for all patients. If you are considering undergoing liposuction in the Baltimore area, please call (410) 363-9000 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Woodyard.
