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LIPOSUCTION & BBL AFTER CARE

Guidelines

GENERAL DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The medication or sedation given to you will be acting in your body for the next 24 hours; because of this, you may be sleepy, dizzy, and/or lightheaded. These feelings will wear off slowly. Therefore you should not: stay alone, drive a car, operate machinery, power tools, drink alcohol, including beer, make important decisions, or sign legal documents. 

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 2. Eat a light diet following surgery. Avoid spicy, greasy, fried, or gaseous foods. If you experience any nausea, fluids that are clear and high in sugar are recommended (Gatorade, soda, Kool-aid, nonacid juices).   

MEDICATIONS:

  •  Be sure to eat something substantial before taking your pain medication and antibiotic, as both can be sickening and hard on your stomach.

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  • Initially, take your pain medication and antibiotic 2 hours apart. If you were to become nauseated or have a reaction, you would know which prescription you may not be tolerating.

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  • Take pain medication and muscle relaxer 2-4 hours apart.

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  • ALL narcotic medication can cause constipation following surgery. You may buy Metamucil, Milk of Magnesia, Correctol, or Dulcolax suppositories. All are available without a prescription at the pharmacy. DO NOT allow yourself to have any problems with constipation.

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  • Resume all your regular medications after surgery – Avoid aspirin products for seven days (The restart of all aspirin and Ibuprofen products will be decided upon by your doctor).   

ACTIVITY

  • Be sure to get plenty of rest to allow your body to recuperate faster. However, you must get up and walk around your house at least every 2 hours during the day to prevent developing a blood clot. 

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  • It is best to rest in an upright position for comfort and to decrease swelling. You can either rest in a recliner or bed with 2-3 pillows behind your back.

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  • You may carefully increase your daily activity as tolerated. 

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  • You may drive after 1 week if you are not taking narcotic pain medicine. 

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  • You may return to work in between 2-6 weeks. Everybody's healing journey is different.

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  • You can resume sexual activity for at least 2 weeks after surgery or when it is no longer painful. 

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  • Aerobic exercise in 6 weeks. 

COMPRESSION GARMENT

  •  The type of garment provided will be at the surgeon's discretion based on your particular surgical area. 

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  • Wear compression garment 24 hours a day for the first month at least. This will help minimize swelling and fluid retention.

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  • The Garment may be removed during the shower and wash time.

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  • Garments available in the office for pick up.

WOUND CARE

  •  The day after your surgery, shower, remove your garment and dressings 

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  • Wash over your incisions gently with soap and water, gently pat incisions dry with a clean towel and then put the garment back on.

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  • Kotex Pads/mini pads work great to use as dressings at home.

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  • Expect a large volume of blood-tinged drainage from the small incisions during the first 24-48 hours following surgery. Some patients may have more drainage than others. 

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  • Change dressings as needed. Do not be concerned if you have drainage for several days. 

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  • DO NOT use a bathtub, hot tub, swimming pool, pond, or lake for 4 weeks in order to minimize the risk of infection. 

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  • No smoking or second hand smoke-could cause tissue/skin loss

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  • Absolutely NO ICE OR HEATING PADS to the skin overlying the areas treated by liposuction-you may freeze or burn your skin. 

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  • Expect bruising- the more extensive the liposuction surgery, the more bruising one can expect. Some patients have more of a tendency to bruise than others. 

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  • If abdominal Liposuction: wear loose-fitting underwear to avoid creases in the abdominal area.  

TUMMY TUCK AFTER CARE

DRAIN CARE:
During surgery, the doctor may place one or two drains in your abdomen to help remove fluid that collects after surgery, allowing you to heal faster. These drains have bulbs at the ends which collect the fluid. When the drain is first placed, the bulbs will be compressed to create gentle suction. As the fluid collects in the bulb, it will expand. Whenever the bulb fills 50% or more, you must empty the bulb by opening the plug at the top and pour out the contents. Please measure the amount of fluid before discarding it and keep a log of how much fluid you empty for each drain. Squeeze the bulb to recompress it and put the plug back into the hole at the top of the bulb to maintain the vacuum.


Milking your drains must also be done to ensure that the tubes leading off from the bulbs do not become obstructed. First, secure the tube to the body using your thumb and pointer finger of one hand. Using the other hand, squeeze the tube while sliding your fingers away from your body towards the bulb; you will not be able to slide your fingers down the entire tube in one stroke. Work your way slowly down the tube, always remembering to keep the tube secured with your other hand. After, the tube may appear collapsed; this is normal and means that you have gotten all the fluid from the tube into the bulb. The drainage color will be a bright red immediately after surgery; in the days following, it will become a lighter, pink color.


Please bring with you the log you are keeping of your drainage as we use this guide in deciding if the drains are ready to be removed. YOU MAY NOT SHOWER UNTIL THE DRAINS ARE REMOVED. Once the drains are removed, you may shower, but please do not remove the Steri-Strips on the incision. 

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