If you experience excessive pain or bleeding, fullness or redness in treatment areas, heavy tongue and
metallic taste, ringing in the ears, or fever – please call us immediately!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Driving: A family member or friend 18 years or older must drive you home from your surgery (it is best
to have them stay and assist you the first 24 to 48 hours). Please do not drive yourself for at least 2 days
after general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, or while taking prescription pain medication.
Compression Garments: Your physician may have put a special elastic-type garment on you at the end of
your surgery to provide comfort and support while helping your skin conform to your new body contour.
If your surgical garments were placed on you inside out, please continue to wear them that way to assure
no irritation from the seams. The day following your surgery, you may remove the garment once a day
for laundering, sponge bathing and bandage changing. It is normal to experience lightheadedness when
rising or removing and changing your compression garments. Please have someone help you with this for
the first few days after surgery. Continue wearing the surgical garment 24 hours a day (with exception
above) for the first 3 to 7 days and as directed by your doctor for the second week, followed by 12 hours
daily for 2 weeks or as instructed by your doctor. Neck patients must wear chin garments for 3 to 4 full
days with no removal, followed by 4 to 7 days as often as possible.
Bathing or Showering: You may take a shower 24 hours after your surgery, but baths should be avoided
for 72 hours. Whirl Pools and hot tubs are permitted only after your incision sites have closed, usually
at least one week after surgery. Soaking in warm baths of tap water and doing self-massage is also very
helpful.
Treatment Sites: Please keep your dressings as clean and dry as possible, changingdaily to help prevent
infection but not removing them unless we instruct you to do so. Do not apply heat or ice to the surgical
areas. You should expect some drainage (oozing) of blood-tinged anesthetic solution at the incision site(s)
due to fluids injected during your procedure. Although the fluid may appear red, it is mostly anesthetic
solution and saline and only about 1% blood. In general, the more drainage there is, the less bruising and
swelling there will be. Many patients have found it helpful to use a shower curtain or other protective
covering on their mattress for the first few days after their VASER Lipo procedure. Cover your incision(s)
only if your garments are rubbing on them. Itching, pulling, pinching, hardness, tightness and/or numbness
sensations are also normal. All of these usually subside within 24 hours to 1 week after your surgery, but
sometimes can last for months. This is a part of the healing process and your patience is appreciated.
Activity: Rest for the first 12 hours. Take it easy the first week, resuming normal activity as tolerated.
Experiencing more than mild swelling or discomfort may indicate that you are over-doing it. Avoid strenuous
activities, lifting over 10 lbs., or aerobic exercise for 2 to 3 weeks. Protect incisions and any bruised areas
from the sun until completely healed, and use SPF 30 or greater for 6 months. Avoid tanning until bruising
has faded, which normally takes 10 to 14 days. Therapeutic massage is very helpful to speed the healing
process and may be done beginning 2 weeks after surgery, as often as every other day and as hard as you
can tolerate. The chin is the only area you should not massage.
Diet: If you experience any post-operative nausea, try carbonated sodas and dry crackers to help settle
your stomach. Nausea may likely be caused by your post-operative medications, and we advise that you
take them with food whenever possible. If your stomach feels normal, start slowly with liquids and bland
foods, progressing to soups or gelatin, finally resuming a regular diet. Low sodium, bland foods may
reduce any swelling, while high sodium foods may cause increased swelling post-operatively. Please drink
plenty of clear fluids.
Alcohol: Prior to your surgery, we discussed how alcohol dilates your blood vessels, which could increase
post-operative bleeding. As alcohol combined with medication can be dangerous, it is especially important
that you do not consume alcohol as long as you are taking over-the-counter or prescription pain medication
following your surgery.
Smoking: We continue to stress the importance of not smoking. Smoking reduces capillary flow in your
skin and can slow down healing time. Do not smoke at all during the first 14 days after surgery.
Expectations: Remember, the goal of fat removal is not weight loss, but improved contour.
Since the body retains fluids in response to surgery, you may notice some swelling and a temporary weight gain for the
first week or so following your surgery. In addition, please remember that for the majority of patients the
goal is significant improvement, not perfection. Lower abdominal patients may experience significant
swelling in the pubic area. Bruising is minimal with VASER Lipo, but the more extensive the surgery, the more bruising one can
normally expect. Post-operative discomfort usually takes the form of deep muscle soreness and normally
improves over the following 2 to 7 days. Slight temperature elevation and flushing of the face, neck and
upper chest could last 48 hours. You may initially experience a mild depression that should begin lifting
after the first week, once you see the bruising and swelling fade. Menstrual irregularities (premature or
delayed monthly onset) are a common side effect to surgery. Ifareas on the thighs were treated, you may
have swelling in your calves and ankles for up to 3 weeks.
Post-Operative Medications: Pain killers and antibiotics have been prescribed. Please take as directed by your physician. If you are unable to take any of the medications for any reason, please contact our office so we can arrange for alternative medications.
Post-Operative Appointments: For your maximum healing and optimal long-term results, it is very
important that you follow the schedule of appointments we establish after surgery.
Your first post-op appointment will be 1 week post surgery.
