Liposuction is the surgical removal of stubborn fat in parts of the body that are difficult to melt with exercise. Liposuction of the abdomen involves a plastic surgeon extracting fat from your stomach, in order to reduce the appearance of fat in the stomach area. There are several major types of liposuction: traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, and ultrasonic liposuction. There are important differences between the procedures, which result in different recovery periods and varying results.
Recovery Following After the Surgery
The recovery period varies depending on the type of liposuction. With traditional liposuction, you go under anesthesia for the operation and the surgeon makes a large surgical incision. As a result, the recovery period will be more difficult. You will be in pain for several days immediately following the surgery and may have to stay in the hospital for several days or remain on bed rest. You may need IV fluids, or a blood transfusion if you lost significant blood during the surgery.
Like traditional liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction is also usually done in a hospital. Anesthesia may be general or local. The length of the required hospital stay varies depending on the need for IV fluids, which varies by patient and by the extent of the fat removed from the stomach. Usually, you are on bed rest for several days even if you don't remain in the hospital, and you may experience significant pain and discomfort for several days after the procedure.
On the other hand, if you have tumescent liposuction, you will have local anesthetic. You can walk out of the surgery, which is usually done on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office instead of a hospital. You may require some pain killers in the 24 to 48 hours following the surgery, but the pain is less intense than with traditional liposuction.
In the days following the surgery, you may also be susceptible to infection surrounding the incision. If an infection occurs, it can be treated with antibiotics and antipyretics. Be aware of fever or other signs of infection and consult a doctor if they occur.
Follow-Up Care
Typically, you should make the first post-surgical visit to the surgeon at least five to seven days after the procedure so your doctor can ensure you are healing properly. Bandages tend to give away because of their location around the stomach, so will need to be monitored and changed.
With traditional liposuction, you can usually resume normal activities within two to four weeks, depending on the amount of fat removed. With ultrasonic liposuction, you may be able to return to work within days or weeks, depending on the size of the cannulae (the ultrasonic tool that is inserted in the abdomen to break up the fat cells). With tumescent liposuction, you can return to work within days, since it has the shortest recover period.
Other Recovery Tips
Liposuction in the abdomen has a tendency to develop swelling and bleeding because the skin has to get adjusted to the new shape and texture. Make sure you cover the abdomen with tight clothing so that the skin hugs to the new contour easily. Stockings, girdles or elastic dressing should be worn for 14 to 21 days after the surgery.
Start exercise in moderate stages immediately after you have undergone liposuction for the stomach. You could start with a small walk, and gradually increase the duration and pace over one or two weeks. Avoid intense exercise for about a month after the surgery.
Have realistic expectations for your surgery. While liposuction for the stomach can considerably reduce your flab, a single procedure does not guarantee that fat will never return to your stomach. In order to keep fat off, you will need to create a diet and exercise program that works for you. It is best to consult a physician on do this.
Tags: traditional liposuction, several days, days after, following surgery, tumescent liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction