If you’ve just scheduled an appointment for surgery, you’ll want to know what to expect from your lipedema liposuction recovery. While everybody is different, there are a few common experiences every lipedema patient goes through. Here, we take a closer look at what the first few hours, days, and weeks will be like post-surgery. This will help you to prepare in advance for returning home after your procedure.
Immediately after Your Procedure
You’ll have had a local anesthetic, so you won’t experience any pain or discomfort during your liposuction surgery. This will also ensure your recovery time is shorter and eliminate the chances of complications because of general anesthesia. You will probably feel fairly well in the hours after your procedure. You will also probably be able to walk to your vehicle with little to no assistance. That doesn’t mean you should drive home, however. You should ask a friend, partner, or family member to take you home after surgery.
The First Day
The early stage of your recovery will involve a lot of sleeping. You need to rest so your body can recuperate. It’s important to stay properly hydrated at this time. You’ll need to replace the fluids you lost during the procedure. You also need to flush out the local anesthetic from your body. That means drinking lots of water.
You may feel hungry, or you may have a reduced appetite. Both are normal. However, you need to eat healthily. Give yourself all the nutrition you need to heal and get your hemoglobin levels back to normal.
You will probably experience some leakage from your incisions. Some women have a lot of leakage, and others will have less. You should be ready and have old towels and plastic sheets nearby just in case. Don’t worry about the drainage of fluids unless you have blood loss.
The First Week
The grogginess you may experience at first will soon diminish. You should begin walking for short distances. Try to take a short walk every hour as it’s important to get your body and circulation moving. Don’t overexert yourself, though.
Make sure you follow all the recommendations your surgeon gives you. Take the medications your surgeon prescribed as instructed, and make sure you continue to wear your compression garments. You will notice some bruising and swelling. This is entirely normal and nothing to worry about. Your surgeon may have prescribed supplements or medications to help with these symptoms. Make sure to take them as advised.
The Emotional Side Effects
The physical side of your surgery is one thing. The emotional side is another. As a lipedema sufferer, you may be relieved but anxious after your procedure. Many women with lipedema are delighted to have had surgery to eliminate the problematic fat. Others are still anxious and suffer from poor self-esteem. Try to talk about your feelings with your family and friends and take time for yourself. Whatever you’re feeling is normal and something you need to go through to be yourself again. Soon, you’ll see the final results of your procedure and experience the mental and physical benefits.
If you have any further questions about your lipedema liposuction recovery, contact the Artlipo team today.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
