 Post Operative Care for Liposuction, includes;
• Garment compression for three weeks this helps the drainage of the tumescent fluid, reduces oedema due to tissue trauma and collapses the holes' created by the liposuction. The garment can be removed to have a shower.
• Wound care keep incisions clean. Use Betadine liquid to clean and re-apply steri-strips if required or cover with hypafix until completely healed
• Do not apply ice packs or a heat pad to the skin overlying the areas treated by liposuction.
• Do not soak in a bath, Jacuzzi, swimming pool or the ocean for seven days after surgery.
• Massage or laser therapy one or two sessions of low level laser therapy is recommended after liposuction. There is often a marked improvement in the level of discomfort experienced and a noticeable difference in the amount of post-operative swelling. There are three main physiological reasons for this an increase in cells is noted neutrophils, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, keratinocytes and macrophages. Macrophages engulf old and broken down cells. All this helps to speed up tissue repair. Other chemicals are released eg serotonin which aids the resolution of inflammation. (Any tissue trauma causes the process of inflammation) Thirdly, it diminishes the sensation of pain by increasing endorphins (released after any form of exercise) and decreasing bradykinin. It also affects nerve conduction by increasing the nerve conduction latency and decreasing the activity in the C-fibres (pain fibres). As an additional benefit it does not have the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs which can cause increased bleeding.
• Activities rest for the first 24 hours. Can resume exercise and physical activity 2-4 days after surgery. After liposuction a healthy eating plan and some form of exercise is highly recommended. Improvement will then continue.
• Anaesthesia can be either local or general. With tumescent liposuction totally by local anaesthesia, surgeons typically remove no more than 2-3L of supernatant fat at one session. When using general anaesthesia some surgeons remove 5-8L of supernatant fat. The limit of safety however should never be exceeded. Surgeons should strive to obtain the best cosmetic result for the patient, enhancing the contour of various parts of the body, where fatty deposits mostly influenced by hereditary factors, cannot be changed by diet and exercise.
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