Recovery time may vary depending on the type of liposuction you are having.

For years, one of the main drawbacks of all types of liposuction procedures was the long recovery time. Fortunately, cosmetic surgeons now use new, different types of liposuction that are less invasive and require much shorter recovery times.  And as always, the use of a proper post surgical recovery garments, such as a compression girdle, abdominal binder or other liposuction recovery garments, will help speed the process.

More and more cosmetic surgery patients are opting for different types of liposuction that use lasers to melt away the fat. Laser liposuction requires much smaller incisions than traditional liposuction methods that use a large metal rod to vacuum out the fat cells. The heat of the lasers also shrinks the skin around the incision so that the healing process is usually much quicker.

Since these types of liposuction are much less invasive, a general anesthetic is not required. With general anesthesia, the risks of post-operative complications are much higher, which can increase recovery time. In addition, the local anesthesia used for laser liposuction allows patients to communicate with surgeons during the procedure, reporting any unusual sensations or discomfort that may indicate a problem.

Recovery from traditional liposuction can take weeks or even months depending on the procedure. These newer types of liposuction, however, are performed on an outpatient basis and patients can often be back to their normal routines within a couple of days while wearing a compression garment.