Setting realistic expectations before undergoing liposuction at Athenix Body Sculpting is essential to your recovery. While the screening process is crucial in the success of your operation, the post-surgery process is just as important. Here are a few of the important things that you should keep in mind about the latter.
Results Aren’t Immediately Visible
Liposuction isn’t a magic pill that will banish all your problem areas and create an hourglass figure, if you’re a woman. After a liposuction, the incision sites and their surrounding areas will be significantly swollen – and the swelling will last for a few months. The results will only be visible by then so you have to be patient.
The good news: Most of the swelling will improve in about four weeks. You have to wear a compression garment, as instructed by your doctor, for about 4-6 weeks for pain and swelling management purposes.
Scars May be Present
But these will not be as visible as you feared! You can still wear a revealing bikini without being concerned about the scars from the incisions being visible to others. Your doctor will hide the incisions in a skin fold or crease whenever possible.
But there will be scars because liposuction involves inserting special tubes into your skin via tiny incisions. The length of each incision is about the width of your pinky fingernail so it isn’t as long or as wide as you may have thought.
The number of incisions will also be determined by the location and volume of the fat for removal. In most cases, the limit is five liters (about 10 pounds) for an outpatient procedure; higher than five liters will most likely mean an overnight stay in the hospital.
Decrease in Clothing Sizes Vary
There’s no guarantee regarding the decrease in clothing size that you will enjoy after liposuction. This is because liposuction isn’t the only consideration in body sculpting – you must also consider the effects of your diet, exercise and lifestyle habits, as well as your body type, medical history, and genetics.
But there’s one thing that’s for certain after liposuction: When the fatty tissues have been removed from the target area, it will not grow back.
But – and it’s a big but – the fat cells that weren’t removed will become larger with weight gain. You must then take care that you don’t gain significant weight because liposuction will then be in vain. If you do gain weight, you will observe that the untreated areas appear considerably larger than the treated areas.