Abdominal liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure to reduce excess abdominal fat and restore a flatter, smoother tummy appearance. It is a major procedure, which will involve at least a week to 10 days of downtime. However, it is possible to speed up the recovery process if the patient takes extra care and follows the surgeon’s instructions diligently.
Dr. Brian J. Parker is a leading plastic surgeon providing abdominal liposuction and various other procedures of the breast, body, and face. Dr. Parker will discuss the recovery aspects in detail with the patient during initial consultation. He provides liposuction to patients in Las Vegas and surrounding locations.
Lymphatic Massage
It is not unusual for a patient of abdominal liposuction plastic surgery to experience minor bumps, lumps and swelling in the immediate post-operative phase. While dislodging the stubborn fat cells during liposuction, some amount of disruption may be caused in the lymphatic channels and minor cellular injury may occur, which will cause mild contour irregularity and swelling.
While this condition will improve over several weeks on its own, the patient may expedite improvement with the help of therapeutic or lymphatic massage. But it is important to seek the advice of the cosmetic surgeon before going ahead with this massage to reduce swelling. Some surgeons are of the opinion that deep tissue massage can resolve edema faster.
The massage should be received from a professional provider. The massage will typically be performed toward the areas of maximum lymphatic drainage. Dr. Parker receives patients for abdominal liposuction from Las Vegas and nearby communities.
Compression Garment
Following abdominal liposuction procedure, the surgeon will normally provide a compression garment that should be worn once the bandages in the incision areas have been removed. The compression garment will provide continued protection to the incisions and aid the healing process. The blood flow in the treated areas will be maintained when the blood vessels remain active due to the compression.
Swelling and pain will resolve faster if the patient wears the compression garment at all times during the initial recovery phase. It will also help to sustain the new abdominal contours until the muscle and tissue have regained their full strength, and minimize the pressure on the incisions.
Protein-rich Diet
In the post-operative period, the patient should increase the intake of lean proteins in the diet. Seafood, skinless chicken breast, dry beans, peas, nuts, eggs, and seeds have a rich content of high quality proteins.
When the body receives extra nourishment of proteins, it will promote faster tissue healing and quicker recovery. It is also helpful to choose a low sodium diet during the initial recovery period. High salt intake can interfere with the blood flow, so it is advisable to consume less salt initially.
Movement and Exercise
Mild walking at home and light activity is encouraged after the first one or two days of abdominal liposuction. This will enable the patient to recover faster. However, lifting of heavy weights and vigorous physical exercises should be avoided for at least three to four weeks following the surgery to ensure smooth recovery.
If you would like to learn more about the plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Brian J. Parker by contacting us at (702) 240-9500.