How Should I Exercise After My Liposuction?

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Liposuction is a fat-removal procedure in which fat is suctioned out of a patient’s body. Liposuction results in a more contoured aesthetic and, with over 210,000 procedures performed in 2020, liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available. 

It is also used in conjunction with many other plastic surgery procedures, including arm lift surgery, thigh lift surgery, tummy tuck surgery, and Brazilian Buttock Lift (BBL).

While liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, it is still important to know what you can and should not do after your liposuction surgery. 

Keeping yourself moving and active after your procedure can help you recover quickly and feel better faster. However, moving too much too soon can be detrimental. 

Here is a general timeline that can help answer the question of what you should do after your liposuction.

Weeks One and Two

In the first two weeks after your liposuction surgery, you will wear a compression garment. While you will probably feel some general pain and discomfort in the treatment area, you can take medication to alleviate any pain and discomfort. 

You want to keep yourself active (as inactivity can potentially result in blood clots), but make sure that you minimize that activity. This means that you should stick to short walks and very mild stretching, making sure to avoid bending in the area of any incisions. 

Remember that moving allows your body to heal quicker than if you were to simply stay on the couch. 

Depending on what your job entails, you should be able to return to work in the first two weeks after your procedure, but you will need to make sure that you avoid any strenuous activity during this time. 

Weeks Three, Four, and Five

For the next three weeks of your recovery, you can start upping your physical activity while still making sure that you are not doing anything too strenuous. 

During weeks three, four, and five, you should try to begin some light cardio, such as bike riding, stretching a bit further than you did in the previous weeks, and doing some light yoga. It’s important that you still make sure not to lift anything heavy during these weeks. 

Even though you are able to start moving your body more during weeks three, four, and five, and you will probably be feeling much better than you have, it is still vital that you do not push yourself or your body too much. 

Remember that you are still recovering from a surgical procedure.

Week Six

By the sixth week of your liposuction recovery, you will be feeling back to normal. However, you should wait until after week six to return to any kind of weightlifting or vigorous exercise. 

Once you make it past the sixth week, your results will be mostly evident and you’ll be excited to get out in the world and show your new and improved physique. Feel free to enjoy it!

Interested in Learning More About Liposuction

If you are interested in learning about how liposuction can help you, contact Dr. Patrick Wilson at (256) 551-2002 to set up a consultation.

You can also see how Dr. Wilson has helped his previous patients by visiting our liposuction before and after photo gallery.