Although it is not common to experience serious side effects after liposuction, you ought to be aware of these possibilities:
- You may feel nauseated after the general anesthetic. Some people are affected by this more than others.
- Expect quite a lot of bruising around the area that was treated. This can be quite painful, and will take several weeks to disappear completely.
- There may be swelling or lumpiness for as much as six months after liposuction. If any swelling feels tender or hot to the touch, it may signify infection. In that case, see your doctor immediately.
- You will have scars from the incisions where the canula was inserted to remove the fat. These will probably not be longer than 2cm, and will be noticeably pink for several weeks.
- After liposuction, some people experience thrombophlebitis – inflammation of the veins caused by a blood clot. Typically, this occurs in the back of the knee and in the upper thigh. Your doctor may require you to wear support stockings for several weeks after liposuction, to guard against formation of blood clot. In addition, be sure not to become totally inactive; walking keeps the blood circulating properly.
- Your ankles may swell temporarily after liposuction. This edema should be reduced over time, if you don’t spend a lot of time sitting. Your doctor can give you exercises to do to reduce the swelling.
- If you have a tendency to anemia, or if large areas of your body underwent the procedure, you may need to take iron tablets for several weeks after liposuction. Also, be sure to eat foods that are rich in iron, such as clams, mussels, shrimp, turkey, sardines, beef, and enriched breakfast cereals.
Finally, you should know that although most people who have this procedure are happy with their appearance after liposuction, this is not always the case. Remember that advertising for liposuction, just like advertising for anything else, is designed to make you want to buy the product.
Before you undergo liposuction, be sure you understand that there is no guarantee about the way you’ll look after liposuction. Your doctor can give you more information about this, and about other questions you may have about Life after Liposuction.