Operations of any kind, whether undertaken voluntarily or required for health reasons, take time to heal. The length of time depends on the operation itself, but it also heavily dependent on the circumstances of the individual.
Liposuction should not be underestimated in terms of the stress that it places upon the body – it will take time to heal fully and it is important to have realistic expectations about how long this will take. Doctors suggest that you should expect to take around two months to fully heal from a liposuction operation. Even after that time, minor swelling may reside for another month or so after that, although it should gradually become less visible over time.
Everyone’s reaction to surgery differs and the healing process is generally quite unpredictable. It is affected by a variety of different things, ranging from your genetic make up to environmental factors and the decisions you make regarding your own diet, health and wellbeing.
What can I expect during the healing process?
It is not uncommon to feel numbness around the treatment area, and this can last for several weeks or several months. The reason for this is because nerve endings become traumatised during surgery, and naturally take time to heal. This usually resolves itself in time, however some patients never regain the full sensation that they had prior to surgery.
If you have any concerns about the level of numbness you’re experiencing then speak to your consultant, Mr Ghosh, who will be able to assess your case and offer reassurance or potential solutions.
It is also likely that you may feel lumps or bumps under the skin, which are caused by the way that the body approaches the healing process. When the body recognises that it needs to go into ‘recovery mode’, it produces protein to help with this process. Initially it will produce more than is required which is what causes the lumps to appear. These will gradually reside once the body realised it has produced too much and begins removing the excess.
How to encourage a speedy recovery
The best advice is to be calm and patient, and let nature work its magic, although there are some things you can do to give your body the best chance possible of healing quickly and effectively.
Exercising gently on a regular basis is great for your overall health and will keep your body in good shape. Exercising will ensure that blood is pumping effectively around the body, and helps make sure it reaches the healing areas in sufficient quantities.
Another thing that will help is gently massaging the treatment area. This will also help encourage blood flow and will keep the skin massaged and supple.