Your mind and your body need plenty of rest to recover after surgery. You will feel tired more easily and you will not have your full level of energy for the first 4 weeks after surgery. You will be bruised and swollen after surgery. This is all normal. Bruising gets better in about 2 to 3 weeks. Much of the swelling improves in 6 weeks, but you will continue to have some swelling for 6 months after surgery.
- You may start showering 48 hours after surgery. Be very gentle. Do not scrub the incisions.
- Leave all tapes on the incisions. These typically stay on for 4-6 weeks.
- It is normal to have more discomfort in the area where liposuction was performed rather than where the fat was injected.
- You do not need to massage the liposuction or the fat-grafted areas unless directed to do so.
- NO baths, Jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, swimming, or submerging the incisions until after the incisions have completely healed. This is typically at least 4 weeks after surgery.
- Do not lift anything more than 2 pounds for 2 weeks.
- Wear a support garment day and night for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, you may wear the garment during the daytime only and remove it for sleep.
- If your support garment includes an abdominal binder, it is often more comfortable to wear a thin shirt or camisole under the binder to prevent itching or skin irritation. If you are also asked to wear a post-op bra, you can put the bra on first, then camisole, then abdominal binder.
- Activity Timeline
- Week 1: walking around the house
- Week 2: light short walks around the neighborhood
- Week 4: light weights and light cardio
- Week 6: resume all normal activities
