laser liposuction recovery

 everyone heals differently, and every surgery is unique.  below is what a typical awake laser liposuction patient experiences.  obviously, smaller surgeries have less quicker recoveries, and some sites of the body heal faster than others, so Dr. Khalifeh will talk to you about your likely recovery at the time of your individualized consultation.

day 1...the first few hours:  immediately after the procedure is finished, Dr. Khalifeh's team will place a compression garnment to compress the procedure site.  There will be a lot of fluid leaking, most of which is the original tumescent fluid that was placed for the numbing.  You will need to protect your car seat going home and your couch/bed at home with towels to catch the fluid.  By allowing the fluid to leak, this will shorten the amount of time until the swelling resolves

for any discomfort, you will have typically a mild narcotic such as Lortab, although many patients do not need it.  you will also take antibiotics.

your diet will be your regular diet. you will be able to move about and take care of yourself at home, although Dr. Khalifeh recommends having someone to help for the first night.

Day 2...the day after:  by day 1, most of the fluid will have leaked out.  This is the day to take off the garnment, shower, wash the garnment in a quick wash/dry cycle, and feel fresh after surgery.  your movement about the home will be more fluid.  you may require a few pills of your pain medication.  You will want to take the day off of work to help with the recovery

Day 3:  most people return to work on day 3.  you will still be wearing your compression garnment, fitted under your work close.

Day 5-7:  by day 5-7, you will be able to do some minor non impact aerobic excercises such as walking, or elliptical.  you will start seing some of the results, but you will also have some swelling and bruising still at this point, but you will feel almost back to normal.  Dr. Khalifeh will see you for your follow up to make sure you are healing well.

Day 14:  at this point, the garnment becomes optional, and many people stop wearing it.  most people return to their usual excercise regimen.  Sexual activity can also be resumed at this point.  you will start appreciating and seing your results, although there will still be swelling.  The small incisons will have healed by then.

Day 30:  your one month follow up with Dr. Khalifeh, to make sure you are continuing to heal well.  The incions have healed, but may still be a little red.

Day 90:  your three month follow up with Dr. Khalifeh.  at 90 days, you see 90% of the results.  Typically we take pictures at 90 days.   There is still some minor swelling that will continue to improve over the next several months.

Day 360:  The incions are fading and become harder to see.

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