We are now living in a time where body image is very important, with a number of people doing whatever it takes to have that supposed ideal look and figure. It is no surprise that many swarm to the nearest fitness gyms and aesthetic clinics.
To prove this, there is a reported $1 billion worth of cosmetic procedures performed in Australia alone.
Among the different types of cosmetic surgeries available to the public globally, liposuction came in at number two with 1,372,901 procedures performed in 2014. It preceded double eyelid surgeries with 1,427,451 procedures, and is then followed by breast augmentation, fat grafting and rhinoplasty respectively. Compared with the other countries, Australia was number 23 on the list of the top 25 countries with the most number of cosmetic procedures (ISAPS Global Statistics, 2015).
Locally, the popular surgeries were breast augmentation, double eyelid surgery, lipoplasty, rhinoplasty, and liposuction as the most requested.
Such amazing numbers indicate the need for patients who have undergone surgeries, like liposuction, to know exactly how to take care of themselves after the procedure. Post-surgery care largely dictates the success or failure of the procedure.
Below are some really vital tips that patients have to remember to prevent unwanted complications from their personal transformations.
Liposuction Post-op Care
How to get home?
After any procedure, the body tends to be weak and will not be able to perform as normally as it did before the operation. With this in mind, it would be great to arrange for a family member or close friend to pick you up from the hospital. This prevents unwanted accidents to happen on the road with you on the driving seat. The trauma on your body on your body, as well as the declining effect of the anesthetics, will hamper you from driving properly on your own.
Video Source: HK Surgical
Post-op garments
After getting a liposuction, there are special garments that are to be worn to protect the body after the procedure. These are called the HK Post-op Garments, which are specifically designed to meet the needs of a post liposuction patient. For tumescent liposuction of the abdomen, hips, waist, flanks, back, or breasts, there are 2 HK Over-All garments that should be worn.
Another post-op garment you need to wear is the adjustable binder. To be worn properly, they have to be used with super-absorbent pads, This combination provides firm compression that encourages the maximum drainage of the residual blood-tinged anesthetic solution.
When to wear them
These two garments should be worn daily. It is advised to wear the said garments up to the 24 hours after the drainage has been a hundred percent completed. Drainage might take up to a couple of days, sometimes up to a week, and the patient has to wear the garments during that period. The early removal of the garments would encourage the prolonging of the drainage process. And besides, some patients actually prolong their use because of the comfort it provides, even if it has no significant benefit in terms of the desired cosmetic results.
It is also important to remember that these need to also be removed, cleaned and washed everyday to avoid the spread of infection.
Getting physical again
After a physically draining procedure, the first few hours should be definitely be spent with complete rest. That means, no driving, or operating of hazardous machines for 18 hours after the surgery. Personal decisions are also discouraged for the next 24 hours after surgery. Though rest is strongly advised, short walks can be done if the patient wants to. Being the most critical hours, everything returns to its state of normalcy after the said time frame and the patient can start driving again and performing activities that require minimal movement.
Exercise and strenuous activities are advised against until after the first five days. A gradual increase in physical activity begins with 25% of your normal daily routine and should be increased as gradual as the body can tolerate. People who are in good shape may go back to work after 2 days, but are expected to feel the sore and fatigue in the next couple of days.
What to eat?
One good thing about the procedures completely by local anesthesia, there is no stopping you from returning to your diet immediately. To prevent dehydration, it would be advisable to drink adequate amounts of water, and fruit juices. But, it is advised to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages during the recovery period.
Post-op drainage
The first 24-48 hours are the most critical for liposuction, as far as the drainage of a large volume of blood-tinged anesthetic solution is concerned. The good part of this is that the more drainage there is, the less bruising and swelling will be expected. For such cases, super-absorbent pads should be worn on the treated areas, beneath the compression garments. Once the drainage has been completed, the only things to retain are the absorbent pads over the incision sites.
Bathing with the wound
It is absolutely important to keep the incisions clean to avoid infections. To clean the incisions, wash them gently with the use of soap and water and then pat them gently with a dry towel. Absorbent pads are then applied after. If there is no draining for more than 24 hours, you can discard using the pads already.
Inflammation and swelling
As part of the expected consequences of liposuction, inflammation and swelling can be taken cared of with painkillers prescribed by the doctor, which is usually taken once every four hours. This should be done during the first 48 hours to effectively reduce the said side effects. Expect the pain and discomfort to become worse on the second day. Everything is uphill from there.
The Body’s Healing Reaction
Pain and Swelling
After the operation, pain and swelling are expected to occur. This is due to the inflammatory reaction to surgical trauma. Some cases see an increase in the pain and swelling after five to 10 days. For such cases, your surgeon should be contacted immediately to get the right kinds of medicines for this condition.
Bruising
Minimal bruising is actually expected with liposuction so do not be alarmed by it. Another important note to this is that the more extensive the surgery is, the more the bruising will form. But, each person’s body will react differently, with some more prone to bruising than the others. Comparing yourself to the other patients might just cause unwarranted stress on your part.
Itching
Another annoying reaction to surgery is itching, which is a normal part of the healing process. There are several ways you could take to minimize it. Medications will be recommended by your doctor, which you need to strictly follow as directed Oatmeal soap is also recommended, as long as the incisions have already completely heard. Some prefer oatmeal baths, which is also a good option. Both solutions are available at drugstores.
The tips mentioned above are excellent general post-op care you need to follow. The awareness of these concerns will bring peace of mind to those who are recovering from their procedure.
If you are looking for the best liposuction doctors in Australia, you can trust our cosmetic surgeons at Esteem Cosmetic Studio will give you the best treatment plan from the consultation to post-op care. Simply call us or fill-out our inquiry form to schedule your consultation with us today!
