Liposuction Pain and Recovery
If you are considering liposuction for the first time, you likely have a lot of questions. You may feel anxious or unsure. Hesitation is a natural part of preparing for plastic surgery. One of the questions you may have is whether liposuction is painful.
Having realistic expectations (and learning about pain management and the best ways to expedite your liposuction recovery) can make you as comfortable and confident as possible before and after the procedure.
Does Liposuction Require General Anesthesia?
Yes, it is. You will be under general or local anesthesia throughout the procedure. Your doctor will help you decide if you want to be asleep throughout the process; or awake and aware of the proceedings (and if it is safe to do so).
Whether you are awake or not, your board-certified plastic surgeon will have administered enough anesthesia to numb the pain. This will allow you to be comfortable and relaxed the entire time.
What Type of Anesthesia Does Liposuction Use?
As mentioned earlier, you will be under local or general anesthesia. General anesthesia means the doctor numbs the whole body, which induces a temporary state of unconsciousness.
When local anesthesia is administered, you will only feel numbness in the particular places the doctor is working on. You may also be sedated; meaning that you will be in a very relaxed state and will likely not remember what happened during the time you were under.
Generally, liposuction under local anesthesia results in less post-operative pain when administered by a surgeon that is specially trained to do so. Your doctor should advise on the best type of anesthesia to be used for your particular procedure.
Does Liposuction Hurt?
Liposuction is not particularly painful. Because you are under anesthesia, you will not feel any pain during the procedure. However, mild discomfort after liposuction is normal and likely inevitable.
How Long Does Liposuction Pain Last?
After liposuction, you will likely experience bruising, swelling, soreness, and numbness, which will be uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
As the effects of anesthesia continue to wear off, you will experience more discomfort, but your board-certified surgeon will prescribe suitable painkillers. You will also be advised to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and bruising and quicken the healing process. Dr. Mendieta strongly suggests that his patients consider adding Exparel to their surgical procedure. This will be an added cost. However, it will reduce the pain during and after surgery up to 80%. An exparel injection must be administered during the surgical procedure.
How to Relieve Pain after Liposuction?
One way to manage your liposuction recovery pain is to take the pain medication prescribed by your doctor and wear the compression garment for as long as you are advised to. Secondly, minimize physical activity and relax as much as possible for the first week or longer, depending on your needs.
More importantly, following all the post-operative instructions provided by your plastic surgeon will significantly help manage any pain or discomfort you feel.
Request a Consultation for Liposuction in Miami
If you want to learn more about liposuction and what to expect during your recovery, do not hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Mendieta. Call us at 305-570-7634 or simply contact us online form to schedule a consultation.