Do you feel pretty happy with your weight but unhappy with your appearance? Do you feel confident that you can maintain your weight in the future? Do you wish that there was something you could do to improve the appearance of certain contours? If so, you may be a good fit for liposuction at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO. Today, we’re answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure, including how long recovery takes.

How Long Is Recovery After Liposuction?

For the most part, you should be able to resume your usual routine within 10 to 14 days of your fat removal procedure. However, individual recovery times vary based on several factors, including the scope of the procedure, age, health, and adherence to recovery guidelines. Additionally, you should be aware that you will need to wait at least a month before you resume any vigorous physical activity. In some cases, you may have to wait six to eight weeks.

Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What Can I Do to Recover Faster?

If you are anxious to recover from surgery as quickly as possible, there are several things you can do to help your body heal. One of the most effective steps you can take to ensure a rapid recovery is to stay hydrated. Water makes up the majority of your skin, and the collagen that is crucial for your skin healing itself requires plenty of water to work efficiently. Make sure that you consume enough hydrating fluids daily that your urine is pale or clear consistently.

Another effective step you can take to increase your recovery rate is to avoid the consumption of nicotine and alcohol for at least two weeks following your procedure. Additionally, you can help to facilitate a faster recovery by wearing compression garments as recommended by Dr. Terrence Murphy. Generally, you should wear them at all times during the first three to six weeks post-op unless you are bathing.

What Should I Eat After My Procedure?

There is no special diet you need to follow after your procedure. However, if you want to help your body heal as quickly as possible, you should eat nutritious meals that feature a significant amount of protein. You also need to make sure you are getting your recommended daily allowance of micronutrients, like zinc and vitamin C.

Also, you may want to increase your soluble fiber intake after surgery. If you do this, though, be mindful that you may need to increase your intake of hydrating fluids, too. The reason some people take fiber supplements or eat significantly more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables after surgery is that certain pain medications may slow down the digestive system noticeably.

How Much Weight Can I Lose With This Procedure?

We can safely remove up to five liters (11 pounds) of fat with liposuction depending on your body mass. The lower your body mass is, the less fat we can remove safely.

During your initial consultation, we will evaluate your areas of concern and discuss your aesthetic goals. Once we have that information, we can give you a better idea of how much weight you can expect to lose after surgery. Just remember that this is a fat removal procedure and not a weight loss procedure.

What Areas Can This Procedure Target?

Liposuction can be used to remove excess subcutaneous fat from virtually anywhere. Typically, men seek this procedure to remove excess fat from their chest, buttocks, lower back, and thighs. Women usually target their calves, upper arms, hips, abdomen, and middle back for fat removal with this procedure. However, it is also possible to use this procedure to remove excess fat from the submental region or underarms.

Note that your body fat distribution affects where this procedure will be effective. Ideally, there should be at least an inch of pinchable fat in an area of concern. However, this procedure can only remove roughly one quarter of localized fat cells from most regions of the body. If you have too much subcutaneous fat in an area of concern, you may not be able to get satisfactory results.

How Do I Need to Prepare for Surgery?

There are several preparation steps you will need to take prior to surgery. The most important preparation step to take is to attend an initial evaluation with Dr. Murphy so you can verify that you are a good candidate for this procedure. During this evaluation, Dr. Murphy will advise you on what steps you need to take to prepare for your procedure. Some preparation steps may vary based on an individual’s situation.

For instance, it may be advisable for you to receive general anesthesia to remain comfortable during surgery. If you get general anesthesia, you will need to fast for several hours prior to surgery and dry fast for two hours before your procedure. Regardless of the anesthetic recommended for your unique case, it is crucial that you arrange for transportation to and from your procedure. You also need to be prepared to not drive for several days post-op.

Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to be considered a good liposuction candidate if you are relatively healthy, feel self-conscious about certain regions of your body due to excess subcutaneous fat deposits, are within 30 pounds of your ideal weight, and have elastic skin. It is also important that you have realistic expectations about the results of surgery.

Furthermore, it is very important that you feel confident that you can maintain your weight after surgery. The reason for this is that you may need a follow-up procedure if you gain too much weight after surgery.

How Long Can I Expect My Results to Last?

The results of this procedure are considered permanent because the fully-developed human body cannot produce new fat cells. This procedure works by suctioning out some of the fat cells in the targeted area, so permanent fat loss is achieved. However, after surgery, you are still left with roughly 75% of the fat cells that were originally in the treated area. It is possible to store fat in the remaining fat cells if you gain weight once your procedure is complete.

If you want to maintain your desired contours for the rest of your life, you need to keep your weight relatively stable. There is no way to predict accurately how much weight you can gain without affecting your results. However, as a general rule, you should aim to gain no more than 10 pounds of fat after your procedure. If you are worried about maintaining your weight, you may benefit from weighing yourself weekly or monthly and tracking trends.

What Happens During Liposuction?

Before your procedure begins, Dr. Murphy will inspect the areas of concern to verify the absence of irritation. If your skin is not irritated and your vitals are good, he will administer anesthesia to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the operation. If you are only targeting one area, you will probably receive local anesthesia and a sedative. If you are targeting several large areas, it is more likely that you will receive general anesthesia.

Once the safety and comfort of the procedure is ensured, one or more small incisions will be made in your targeted area. Then, he will insert a narrow tube called a cannula into the incision. Excess fat in the area is suctioned out through this cannula. Once the excess fat has been removed, the incision will be closed with sutures. After that, you will be observed as the anesthesia wears off, advised on your recovery instructions again, and sent home.

What Other Procedures Can Help Me Improve My Confidence?

During your consultation, we will discuss all of your cosmetic concerns. One of the most popular complementary procedures we offer is abdominoplasty. This procedure is designed to improve the appearance, and sometimes the functionality, of the abdomen by manipulating skin and muscle tissue.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Now

You should not need to take more than two weeks off from work after liposuction. However, it may be up to eight weeks before you can resume vigorous physical activity. If you think you could benefit from removing up to 11 pounds of subcutaneous fat and you are in the Denver, CO area, schedule an initial evaluation with us today at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO.