Dr. George Sanders at the 2018 Daytime Beauty Awards
Spring is a great time to start getting in shape for the summer. Exercising and dieting is a good start but, depending on your age, you may need extra help to lose those stubborn love-handles or a few inches around the waist. That's when you should consider liposuction.
I have done it myself and it truly makes a huge difference. The results are usually amazing! We asked Dr. George Sanders, a renowned plastic surgeon in Los Angeles to give us a few pointers about the procedure.
If it's the first time you're considering liposuction, the first thing to do is to read and learn more about what to expect and how to make the process as quick and comfortable as possible.
The procedure is painless due to the fact that you are under sedation. For most people, their concern is the recovery process. Dr. Sanders' Los Angeles-area plastic surgery practice says that the recovery varies by patient. Everyone recovers at his or her own pace, depending on the extent of their treatment, their health status and how well they follow the doctor's instructions.
Immediate Post-Operative Side Effects
Bruising and swelling are normal post-operative side effects and subside with time. The bruising can change color and the bruised area may be sore or tender to the touch as well.
General Length of Recovery
The length of liposuction recovery depends on the specific patient and the procedure performed. Post-operative symptoms and discomfort vary by patient. However, most patients can return to work within two weeks, at which point most of the noticeable side effects have improved.
Support Garments
One of the best ways to expedite healing is to wear a supportive compression garment that puts gentle pressure on the area treated by liposuction. This garment helps reduce swelling, accelerates healing and improves the contours of the treated area. Typically, compression garments should be worn for six to eight weeks, but Dr. Sanders gives every patient specific instructions.
Resuming Exercise
Exercise is important for the prevention of blood clots and other post-surgical complications; but it should be resumed slowly and at Dr. Sanders' discretion. He discusses specific individual timelines for resuming exercise with each patient.
In general, patients should start taking short, slow walks as soon as they feel ready (usually about three days after surgery). The length of the walks can gradually be increased. If there is any pain or discomfort, the level of activity should immediately be reduced. More strenuous exercise should be avoided until Dr. Sanders approves it.
Results
At first, liposuction results may seem negligible because of swelling and bruising. But wearing the compression garment and following Dr. Sanders' instructions will help expedite how quickly results appear. The earliest results can be seen around the 10- to 14-day mark, with outcomes continuing to improve for four to six months. At that point, the treated area should look slimmer and more youthful, and the muscles may look more defined.
To maintain results, Dr. Sanders recommends continuing to exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet full of lean protein, produce and whole grains. Eliminating processed foods and drinking more water is also helpful.
For more information about liposuction surgery or recovery, please call Dr. Sanders for an appointment.
Tel: 818.696.8092
