Pain usually only lasts up to five days after the operation, wherein a patient can discontinue their use of painkillers. Patients will experience heightened amounts of swelling, lumpiness and bruising of the liposuction areas during the first week, which may persist through the first month of recovery.

At about 1-2 weeks post-op a patient will be cleared to return to work and resume most regular life activities. Light walking through the first few weeks is recommended to help with healing. That said, strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least the first six weeks after surgery.

Incisions are often closed with absorbable sutures that will not need to be taken out later by your surgeon. Occasionally, a surgeon will keep the incisions open to insert surgical drains. Drains are used to expel unwanted fluid and are removed around a week after surgery.

Patients will be sent home from the hospital with a compression garment over the liposuction area. They should follow their surgeons instructions around garment use.