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Please read carefully. If you have questions call the office at 303-327-7300.
- WHAT TO EXPECT: You will be bruised and EXTREMELY SWOLLEN. Not only have you received IV fluid, and a lot of fluid into your tissue directly to facilitate the Liposelection® but you will also retain fluid for several days. You will tend to swell, particularly, in your lower extremities, groin, and any areas outside of your compression garment. However, you will notice swelling everywhere. Much of the extreme swelling will decrease noticeably in the first couple of weeks. As far as the treated areas, you will notice significant changes in the first 1 - 2 months; changes often continue over the next several months. You may become quite firm in the areas treated, this is to be expected. You will begin massaging these areas when this occurs. You may have some numbness in the operated areas. This usually resolves over time.
- ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING for at least 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after your procedure.
- DRESSINGS: Unless instructed differently, you do not need to change your dressings. The clear waterproof dressings over your incisions and any sutures will be removed at your first visit.
- SHOWERING: You may shower the morning following your surgery. Remove your support garment to daily to shower. DO NOT soak your clear plastic dressings in the bath tub, hot tub, or jacuzzi. Use water of a comfortable temperature - nothing too hot. Minimize high pressure shower flow directly to your surgical site(s).
- MEDICATION(S): Take your medications as directed on the bottle. Please finish any antibiotics that have been prescribed. Continue all blood pressure, heart, and thyroid medications. Take any of your required medications at the usual time(s). Check with our staff regarding any medications in question, including those for Diabetes. NO ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, HERBS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, OR OTHER MEDICATIONS ON THE NO-NO LIST FOR 2 WEEKS FOLLOWING YOUR SURGERY.
- PAIN MEDICATIONS: Take your pain medications regularly for the first few days. It is easier to stay ahead of the discomfort than to play catch-up. We do not want you in a lot of unnecessary discomfort as it is important for you to be doing your deep breathing exercises, be up walking, and avoiding excessive elevation of your blood pressure. Pain medications may be stopped, if not needed, or substituted with Tylenol should you need something to take the edge off. Avoid taking your pain medications on an empty stomach. You may resume Ibuprofen after 2 weeks.
- CAREGIVER: You MUST have a caregiver for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- COMPRESSION STOCKINGS: Your surgical stockings may be removed once you are up and walking around regularly.
- GARMENT: Wear your garment and any associated foam dressings day and night for 3 weeks. You may be out of your garment to hand wash and hang dry if it becomes soiled. We will instruct you during post-operative appointments should you need to wear it longer. After the initial 3 weeks, you will wear your post-surgical garment or other compressive garment such as a Nancy Ganz Body Slimmer, Flexees garment, or biking shorts from your local department store for an additional 2 - 3 weeks.
- DRAINAGE: The first 24 - 48 hours you may seep blood tinged fluid from one or more incisions - this is normal. You may wish to protect your car seat, furniture, and linens with plastic and towels.
- ACTIVITY: It is important for you to be up and walking the morning following your surgery, in particular, to prevent Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in your legs. Flex and extend your ankles to pump your calf muscles when you are in bed. Minimize activities that will raise your blood pressure or heart rate for 2 weeks following your surgery, this includes sexual activity. This is to minimize bleeding problems. After 2 weeks, gradually begin to resume your usual exercise/activities without restriction.
- DEEP BREATHING: Ten big deep breaths every hour while you are awake! This exercise will open up the air sacs in your lungs to prevent post-operative fevers and pneumonias. This may seem trivial but we all tend to take shallow breaths when we are having discomfort. In addition, you have just had surgery on your chest and you are wearing a restrictive garment!
- SLEEPING/POSITIONING: Sleep or position yourself such that the surgical site is elevated. Ideally, you will keep the involved area(s) i.e. foot, arm, face, etc. propped up above the level of your heart to minimize pain and swelling.
- DRIVING: You may resume driving once you are off narcotic pain medications and when you feel comfortable behind the wheel. Keep in mind that you must be able to maintain control of your vehicle should you need to swerve suddenly to miss an accident, have a blow-out, etc.
- CONSTIPATION: Take an over-the-counter stool softener (Colace or Peri-Colace) per the package instructions while you are taking the narcotic pain medication. Between a change in diet, decreased activity, and the narcotic pain medications, constipation is not uncommon. Have a low threshold for using a laxative (Dulcolax or Milk of Magnesia), suppository, or enema (also per package instructions) to get your system moving.
- ICE: We DO NOT recommend the use of ice packs. The normal blood supply to your skin has been disrupted with your surgery and your skin is very sensitive to decreased blood flow following surgery. Cooling the skin will further decrease the blood flow to your skin and the incision that is trying to heal.
- MINIMIZING SCARS: There are few magic potions to eat, drink, or rub into your scar. Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter, Mederma, etc. are often thought to improve scars. These products may help but it is more likely that the massaging action helps to reduce swelling and scar firmness. Prevent hyperpigmentation or scar darkening by avoiding sun exposureto the affected area(s) while it is pink and healing—this may be as long as several months to over a year! Areas that are significantly bruised can also hyperpigment. Use a sunblock or sunscreen with SPF 45; clothing or a hat for protection is helpful. Over-exuberant scar formation, such as scar hypertrophy or keloids, scar widening, or discoloration can be minimized or improved using various techniques. Some examples include the use of scar massage, silicone gel or sheeting, and/or steroid injection for firm, hypertrophic or keloid scars; tape support to the incision for scar widening; laser treatment of persistently pink scars; bleaching agents for hyperpigmented scars. We will instruct you on these techniques when appropriate.
- SYMPTOMS: CALL THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY AT 303-327-7300 if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- Temperature ≥ 101°
- Increasing wound pain
- Increasing wound redness
- Persistent or increased bleeding
- Blisters in the areas liposuctioned
- Wound drainage or pus
- Onset of numbness after the anesthetic has worn off
- Significant asymmetry
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