- Going Home: You should not plan to drive yourself home.
It is recommended but not essential that you have a responsible
adult be with you on the day of surgery.
- Diet: Resume your usual diet immediately. Drink
adequate amounts of water, fruit juices or soft drinks to prevent
dehydration. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for 2 days before
and 2 days after surgery.
- Activities: Quiet rest is recommended immediately after
surgery. After surgery do not drive or operate hazardous machinery
the rest of the day. Do not make any important personal decisions
for 24 hours after surgery. Later in the day or evening you are
welcome to take a short walk if desired. The day after liposuction
surgery you should feel well enough to drive your car and engage
in light to moderate physical activities. You may carefully resume
exercise and vigorous physical activity 21 to 28 days after
surgery. It is suggested that you begin with 25%of your normal
work-out and then increase your activity daily as tolerated. Most
people can return to a desk job within one to two days after
surgery, although one must expect to be sore and easily fatigued
for several days.
- Post-Op Compression Garments: After tumescent
liposuction two post-op garments are often worn in order to hold
the absorbent pads in place and to provide mild compression that
encourages the drainage of the blood-tinged anesthetic solution.
The morning after surgery, when the garments are first removed in
order to take a shower, the patient may experience a brief
sensation of dizziness. Feeling lighthearted is similar to what
you might experience when standing-up too quickly. It is the
result of rapid decompression of the legs as the post-op garments
are initially removed. Should dizziness occur, simply sit or lie
down until it passes. Dizziness may be prevented be removing the
first or top garment 15 minutes before removing the second
garment. Beginning the day after surgery, the post-op Garments are
to be removed daily to permit you to shower and to wash the
garments.
One or two post-op Garments (if applicable)
should be worn day and night for the first 48 hours. Subsequently
the smaller of the two garments and binders (if applicable) are
worn until all the drainage has stopped plus an additional 2 weeks
during the daytime only. Do not be concerned if you drain for
several days. Discontinuing the use of the garments and binders
early may result in more prolonged drainage. Wearing the post-op
garment for more than the minimal number of days is of no
significant advantage in terms of the ultimate cosmetic results,
however some patients wear the garment for additional days or
weeks because of the comfort the support provides.
- Managing Post-Op Drainage: One should expect a large
volume of blood-tinged anesthetic solution to drain from the small
incisions during the first 24 to 48 hours following tumescent
liposuction. In general, the more drainage there is, the less
bruising and swelling there will be. During the first 36 hours,
you should cover your chairs and bed with towels. When there is a
large amount of drainage, it is advisable to place a plastic sheet
beneath the towel. For the first 24 to 36 hours, super-absorbent
dressings are worn under the garment. After most of the drainage
has stopped, patients need only place thin absorbent gauze
dressings over the incision sites that continue to drain.
Dressings are used for 24 hours after the drainage has stopped
then may be discontinued.
- Wound Care & Bathing: Keep incisions clean. Shower
once or twice daily. First wash your hands, then wash incisions
gently with soap and water; afterwards gently pat incisions dry
with a clean towel. Apply new absorbent dressings. Incisions that
have stopped draining no longer need padding.
Take
antibiotics as directed until the prescription is finished. Take
antibiotics with food.
Call our office if you notice signs
of infection such as fever, foul smelling drainage, or focal
redness, swelling, and pain in a treated area.
DO
NOT apply ice-packs or a heating pad to skin overlying the
areas treated by liposuction.
DO NOT apply hydrogen
peroxide or plastic Band-Aids to incision sites.
DO
NOT soak the treated area in a bath, Jacuzzi, swimming pool,
or the ocean for 7 days after surgery (showers are fine).
- Common side-effects of tumescent liposuction: Menstrual
irregularities with premature or delayed onset of monthly
menstruation is common side effect of any significant surgery.
Flushing of the face, neck and upper chest may occur after
liposuction surgery and usually lasts for a day or two. Slight
temperature elevation during the first 48 hours after surgery is a
natural consequence of the body's reaction to surgical trauma.
Discomfort and soreness is worse the second day after surgery,
then improves daily. Two extra-strength Tylenol every 4 hours,
while awake, for the just 48 hours, will reduce the inflammation,
swelling, and soreness associated with surgery. Do not take
aspirin or ibuprofen or medications that contain these drugs, such
as Bufferin and Anacin, or Advil or Nuprin for 3 days after
surgery; these can promote bleeding. Bruising is minimal with
tumescent liposuction. Nevertheless, the more extensive the
liposuction surgery, the more bruising one can expect. Pain and
swelling due to an inflammatory reaction to surgical trauma may
occasionally occur 5 to 10 days after surgery; this is treated
with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Itching of the
treated areas several days after surgery may occur as part of the
normal healing process. To help relieve the itching, you may try
taking Fenistil as directed on the packaging. Be aware that
Fenistil causes drowsiness. Fenistil is available at
drugstores.
- Schedule Follow-up Appointment at our office for approximately
one week after surgery. You are welcome to return to our office
for follow-up visits at no charge as often as you like. Please
contact us by telephone if you have any urgent questions or
problems. We are always happy to re-check you for any
concerns.
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