What is the recovery period after liposuction and when can I resume my normal activities?
Recovery time depends on the individual, but usually follows a general pattern. For the first few days, you will take some pain medication. During this time, you will be asked not to drive a car or operate machinery. After one week post-op, you can start light exercise, such as walking, treadmill, stationary bike, but not impact exercises like running or aerobics. The second week, weights or exercise machines can be added, and then after three weeks, running and aerobics can be done. The point at which work can be resumed depends upon how the work activities fit into the progression described above, and this depends on each individual’s situation. The surgeon will recommend that a compression bandage, or elastic binder, or girdle-type garment be worn nearly continuously for the first two or three weeks, and generally for much of the time during several weeks or months thereafter.
