Lipo of the arms is becoming a very popular procedure among women with bat wings. This procedure restores a taut, toned appearance to the arms by removing the excess fat cells permanently. However, you should follow some dos and don’ts to make sure the result is as you expect.
The Dos of Liposuction of the Arms
Here are some important things to keep in mind and do when having arm lipo:
- Have Realistic Expectations
Having realistic expectations is the most important thing when having arm liposuction. You need to know what a surgeon can and cannot achieve with this procedure. Your surgeon will be able to give you a clear idea of the outcome to expect. This will help prepare you for the final result.
- Quit Smoking Before Your Procedure
Before your surgery, you should quit smoking or vaping. Smoking puts you at greater risk of post-operative complications. The recovery process requires your body to have a good oxygen supply for healing. Smoking narrows blood vessels, preventing nutrients and oxygen from reaching the wound and healing it.
- Eat Healthily
After your lipo procedure, you’ll need to maintain a healthy diet in the long term. This will not only enhance your recovery but will ensure you don’t regain the fat. Choose foods that contain a high amount of protein immediately after your surgery — this aids speedy recovery. You should also eat lots of vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruit and foods rich in iron and vitamin B12.
- Exercise Gently
Immediately after your surgery, your body will need some recovery time. Follow your surgeon’s advice about rest and recuperation. However, after a few days, you should resume some gentle exercise. This will promote a good and speedy recovery. Going for gentle walks will help to boost your blood circulation and help you heal. Once your surgeon gives you the go-ahead, you can return to a more active lifestyle. You will need to maintain a healthy exercise regime in the long term to preserve your good results.
- Wear Your Compression Garment
Your surgeon will have given you a compression garment to wear after your surgery. You must wear this as instructed. This will help you to recover more quickly and will ensure the best possible outcome. You will need to wear this garment for several weeks.
- Stay Well-Hydrated
It’s always important to stay well-hydrated at all times, but it’s especially important after lipo. Drink at least 10 glasses of water each day to maintain your fluid levels. This will help to promote a good and swift recovery.
- Attend Your Follow-Up Appointments
Don’t overlook your follow-up appointments with your surgeon. Attendance is essential to ensure that all is well and you are recovering as expected. If you fail to attend, any problems you need to address early will go undetected. This could cause issues in the long run.
The Don’ts of Liposuction of the Arms
There are several things to avoid following your arm lipo. These include:
- Eating Unhealthy Foods
After your surgery, you may have the temptation to eat unhealthy snacks because it bothers you to cook. It’s, therefore, a good idea to get someone to help prepare meals or make and freeze some meals in advance. You should avoid sugary, salty, and fatty foods post-surgery.
- Lifting Weights
Even if you regularly attended the gym before your surgery, you should give the weights a rest for a while. Your surgeon will advise you to avoid lifting anything heavy for some time post-surgery. Follow his or her advice and only resume lifting weights when you’ve received the green light.
- Taking Anti-Inflammatories
You’ll need to follow your surgeon’s advice about which medications to take post-surgery. He or she may prescribe you painkillers after your procedure. Only take what your surgeon has prescribed and take no additional medications without his or her agreement.
Follow our dos and don’ts of lipo of the arms, and you should see an excellent outcome.
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.
