Post Operative Advice Sheet - Liposuction

1. You should arrange for someone to drive you home from hospital and to stay with you for the first night following your discharge from hospital.
2. You will experience mild to moderate discomfort after your surgery and it is recommended that you take one or two pain relieving tablets (such as Paracetamol) on a regular basis for the first week or so.  DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR ANY PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN as this may prolong or cause bleeding in the early post operative period.
3. There maybe considerable bruising following liposuction, though this should settle over the first two or three weeks.
4. It is important to rest as much as possible for the first 48 hours after surgery. You will be expected to move around the home as much as possible and not lie in bed for protracted periods.  You should take things easy at home for the first week and then  may recommence light household chores.
5. You will be provided with a pressure garment before your discharge from hospital.  You should wear this continuously for one month day and night, taking it off for one hour each day for comfort and hygiene purposes.
6. You should avoid getting the wounds or dressings wet for the first week.
7. For your surgery, buried dissolvable stitches have been used.  These normally dissolve spontaneously in the first four to eight weeks, so there are no sutures to be removed.
8. At one week post operatively you will be seen by the nurse in the Dressing Clinic who will remove the dressing and inspect your wound.  If the wound is healing nicely at this stage you may recommence bathing then.  If the wounds are still a little moist after one week they will be redressed by the nurse and an appointment given to revisit the nurse in weeks time and you will be advised not to get this wet for a further week. Once the wounds are clean and dry you will be advised when you can recommence bathing.
9. You should abstain from all exercise for three or four weeks to allow the operative sites to settle.  You may then commence gentle exercises within the limit of comfort, building up to a full contact sport if necessary by six weeks post operatively.
10. You may commence driving 48 hours after your operation.  After this you may recommence driving once you feel confident to undertake an emergency stop, until you feel confident to do this you should refrain from driving.
11. I would have advised that it is important to stop smoking prior to your operation in order to reduce the risks of complications.  Once your wound has healed it is safe to recommence smoking if you wish to do so.  You should however, avoid smoking for the first two weeks post operatively.
12. Following surgery, the type of job that you do determines when you can return to work.  If you mainly confined to deskwork, you may feel able to return to work after one week.  More physical occupations may require one month of recuperation before you feel able to return to work.
13. The scar will take time to mature.  Over the first six weeks your scar will become stronger and stronger and by week six it will be as strong as it will ever be.  During those first six weeks the scar will pretty much look after itself.  The tissues around your liposuction sites may become hard and a little lumpy following surgery, this is normal.  It may take up to six months this swelling and lumpiness to resolve. By week six you should commence moisturising and massaging this scar, with E45 cream and rubbing quite vigorously in circular motions, for five minutes morning and evening for the first three months the aim being to soften the scar and speed up final scar maturation.   The delicate scar tissue is at greater risk of sunburn if exposed to the sun, therefore, you are advised to avoid sun exposure to any scar tissue for the first six weeks of healing, after this if the area is to be exposed to sunlight you should apply sun protection factor 15 or greater sun block to exposed scar tissue.
14. Though most people experience uneventful post operative recovery, if you develop any of the following you should contact the ward on the telephone number printed below:
• Temperature greater than 38.5°
• Severe pain not alleviated by simple painkillers
• Fresh bleeding from the wound, other than a minor ooze
• Any wound discharge after 48 hours