Postsurgical Pain of Lipo

[Bailey]

I have never had liposuction, except for having fat removed from my abdomen for two fat grafts for lip augmentation. So, I would like to know real life scenerios if this article is true or not. Thanks guys!

article by Joan Kron

Postsurgical discomfort is a common concern, but in a study of people who had ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, most found it manageable and quick to subside. Pain was most severe the day of surgery, when 51 percent of the 303 patients requested medication. But only 29 percent did so the next day, dwindling to zero by day seven. Of those who did want relief, 40 percent took something mild like Tylenol, half needed a stronger drug like Vicodin, and 10 percent required a powerful painkiller, such as morphine.

Whether the operation involved general or local anesthesia made no statistical difference. Pain aside, liposuction generally results in swelling and bruising for four to six weeks.

[Diesdamona]

Ok, Lipo... I've had alot done. So, Lets first explain me and my pain tolerance or lack there of.


Ok, I had a BA on 5/22 of this year, and within a week I was running on the treadmill with little or no pain.

I was a typically "spoon" NO bust, but an butt and thighs with a little weight on my saddle bags..

In aug of 2004, I got nose job done, which included the doc breaking my nose, lipo of my jawline, lipo of my tummy, inner/outter thigh area, buttocks (which i didn't ask for ), back of thighs, and flanks...

The breaking of my nose.. didn't phase me, and I heard horror stories about that procedure.

My neck wasn't bruised and didn't hurt at all. All though I got the results, honestly, I couldn't tell it was even done.

Tummy - slight burning sensation.. nothing to write home about.

flanks - little bit more intense burning sensation.. subsided quickly.. no big deal.

My butt.. inner thighs.... back of my leggs... OMG.. I can't quite tell you the amount of pain I was in..
First.. the bruising... if you can even call it that. I was straight "black" from the middle of my butt down to my knee cap.

I remained bruised like that for over 2 months. Following the procedure, I couldn't sit down for nearly 2 weeks. (I couldn't even sit to use the restroom). I was in such pain, and remained in some shape of pain for nearly 6 weeks.

I couldn't move.. I remained iced and drugged 24/7 for nearly 2 weeks.

It was immense pain.. and knowing now what kind of pain it was, I don't know if I could go through with it again...

even though.. I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'M NO LONGER SHAPED LIKE A SPOON AND UTTERLY LOVE MY RESULTS.

so, from my experience.. the pain depends on where you're getting your lipo.

[Tammy C]

I had lipo on my thighs 1st BA. Was not too bad. This redo July 16th I had a little more lipo on same are of thigh and I had a amount done on my tummy and 1 week later my tummy was hurting a lot. I think because you use muscles to get up and down. I also noticed small bumbs the PS told me those were pockets from the lipo and massage them and it will get better I am almost on week 4 and it is getting better

[gemini]

I had outer-thigh lipo and I couldn't sit down for weeks, especially on the toilet....it hurt like ****! I had a redo on one side and that wasn't bad at all cause I could sit on the healed side during those first weeks. It was not a constant pain, although it hurt to the touch. BUT it was worth every ounce of pain to get rid of those genetically-inherited saddlebags!!

[hsh427]

I had lipo under my arms and on the sides of my breasts. I am a wimp, but I would def. say it was painful. Not so much PAIN, but horrible burning 24/7 for 2-3 weeks. I would describe it as the worst sunburn I've ever had for three weeks.

[cassie]

Well I had lipo with my TT to my bra area, and flanks....my lower back and hips were swollen for about 2 months, and still have swelling there sometimes! ( No real swelling issues of the tum though) and I still at 7 months PO have an occasional tenderness there too!! Lipo is horrid!

[Janet]

I had lipo of the upper and lower abdomen, hips, flanks and back at the same time as my TT. Aside from the pain of the muscle repair with the TT, the lipo hurt the most. Most of my pain from the lipo was in my flanks. They burned for several months afterwards. Not all the time constantly or anything, but I noticed it especially if I had been sitting down for awhile and then stood up, it was a burning pain that would last a minute or two. I was very bruised from the lipo. Two weeks ago I had lipo of my outer thighs and they were quite bruised and the bruising is still fading. I can't say it ever really hurt, just tender like a bruise normally is. My outer thighs are still hard feeling which I would like to think is muscle that is no longer swamped with fat, LOL. All my lipo areas were hard for a couple of months following the procedure and then they gradually softened up. My lower back swelled the worst with the first procedure.

[Texasgirl34F]

Originally Posted by Abby

I have never had liposuction, except for having fat removed from my abdomen for two fat grafts for lip augmentation. So, I would like to know real life scenerios if this article is true or not. Thanks guys!

article by Joan Kron

Postsurgical discomfort is a common concern, but in a study of people who had ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, most found it manageable and quick to subside. Pain was most severe the day of surgery, when 51 percent of the 303 patients requested medication. But only 29 percent did so the next day, dwindling to zero by day seven. Of those who did want relief, 40 percent took something mild like Tylenol, half needed a stronger drug like Vicodin, and 10 percent required a powerful painkiller, such as morphine.

Whether the operation involved general or local anesthesia made no statistical difference. Pain aside, liposuction generally results in swelling and bruising for four to six weeks.

I've only had lipo to the underside of my chin. I can't say it "hurt", but it was uncomfortable & I hated the contraption I had to wear. It felt like I was going to choke, and it was claustrophobic. But, I do think I have a very high pain tolerance.

[Jules]

I only had the lipo to my flanks when I had my FTT/MR and BA. I do know my sides and back hurt, was sore for a long time.

[PinkButterflyGlitter]

I had lipo to my waist, abs and back along with a full tummy tuck w/muscle repair....and I had no pain at all, just soreness but it was so manageable. I've had such easy recoveries with both BA's and the TT/Lipo, so yes, that article is very accurate for me personally.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by PinkButterflyGlitter

I had lipo to my waist, abs and back along with a full tummy tuck w/muscle repair....and I had no pain at all, just soreness but it was so manageable. I've had such easy recoveries with both BA's and the TT/Lipo, so yes, that article is very accurate for me personally.

Gosh, you were so lucky! My pain was a 10, for sure!:cry: I'm talking about my FTT w/ MR. I thought I was going to die, especially right after I woke up, trying to get out of the hospital and walking into my house. The first 3 days I really didn't want to be alive, that's how bad I hurt.
Did you have a pain pump? What kind of pain meds were on?

[Canadian Princess]

I had Lipo to my flanks when I had my Tummy Tuck. I was pretty sore and bruised.

[MissScarlette]

Originally Posted by Abby

I have never had liposuction, except for having fat removed from my abdomen for two fat grafts for lip augmentation. So, I would like to know real life scenerios if this article is true or not. Thanks guys!

article by Joan Kron

Postsurgical discomfort is a common concern, but in a study of people who had ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, most found it manageable and quick to subside. Pain was most severe the day of surgery, when 51 percent of the 303 patients requested medication. But only 29 percent did so the next day, dwindling to zero by day seven. Of those who did want relief, 40 percent took something mild like Tylenol, half needed a stronger drug like Vicodin, and 10 percent required a powerful painkiller, such as morphine.

Whether the operation involved general or local anesthesia made no statistical difference. Pain aside, liposuction generally results in swelling and bruising for four to six weeks.

I had lipo with my neck lift. Not a lot of pain.

The lipo with my FTT which was of the upper abs. Well I medicated myself Q 4h 'round the clock 'til I was ok with the discomfort

The lipo with my belt lipectomy of the upper back I also took my meds as ordered per my PS.

I am considering a revision of my FTT due to an additional 50# wt loss,which will include lip of the flanks. Of course I will medicate myself as necessary.
Let you know how that one goes.

VickieM

[PinkButterflyGlitter]

OMG you poor thing!!! You had a terrible recovery! Gosh I guess I was lucky after hearing about your recovery. I've actually never had a pain pump, and I really don't remember what pain med I had......I want to say Percocet or Darvocet but I'm not sure though....

Originally Posted by Jules

Gosh, you were so lucky! My pain was a 10, for sure!:cry: I'm talking about my FTT w/ MR. I thought I was going to die, especially right after I woke up, trying to get out of the hospital and walking into my house. The first 3 days I really didn't want to be alive, that's how bad I hurt.
Did you have a pain pump? What kind of pain meds were on?

[deb2233]

I had lipo to my abs and flanks last April, and recently had a revision. The pain was/is manageable with meds for sure. It feels like extreme muscle soreness more than anything. Laying around and not moving, I barely felt it. But getting up and down from the recliner/bed, etc... that was when i felt the soreness. I spent a lot of time on lipo boards last year, before my initial procedure, and the general consensus seemed to be (..and there are always exceptions to the rule) that the thigh area was the most painful place to have lipo. I did not have lipo there so i cannot say from personal experience, but i would imagine it would be hard because even when you are sitting/laying down, etc.. there is always some weight on the area.

[Phoenix]

I had lipo to my flanks with my TT nearly 3 months ago and I still think I am swollen now and still a little bruised looking at times, either that or he didn't lipo enough! Overall I am happy especially with the TT but I can't say the lipo has made much if any difference that I can tell.

[Flash]

I had "contouring"lipo of the abs - up and down with my first TT/MR/hystertectomy/hernia repairs. The pain I got from complications of the hysterectomy was so bad and I didn't feel anythinbg from the lipo at all. I wasn't bruised, either. For my redo I had upper and lower abs lipo-ed again - and my bra line. Again - no pain and no bruising at all. My back wa a LITTLE sore, but I attribute that to laying around recouperating and being hunched while I recovered.
I had a mole removed on my chin and had no pain but was black and blue for two weeks! Go figure!

[Sabine]

Oh great.
I should not have read this thread. My septo/rhino/lipo is coming up in a couple of weeks and I never even thought about possible pain :eek:
Ah well, the things we do for beauty. Or as we say in Germany:
"wer schön sein will muss leiden"

[Vikki~]

Originally Posted by Sabine

Oh great.
I should not have read this thread. My septo/rhino/lipo is coming up in a couple of weeks and I never even thought about possible pain :eek:
Ah well, the things we do for beauty. Or as we say in Germany:
"wer schön sein will muss leiden"

Wow Sabine that came fast!!Do you have a pre-op date or are you good to go ?

[Sabine]

My pre-op is on 02/24, but I had to move my surgery date to March 20th because some of my husband's family will be in town during the time I originally had my surgery planned.
We are invited to a wedding one week after my surgery. I already have an appointment for that morning to get my nose-splint off and sutures removed.
Do you think I will be able to attend the wedding in the evening without looking horrible? I should not have much bruising in the face because it's not a regular rhino and my nose will not get broken, but they already told me that I will have swelling.
Do you think I can wear a skirt one week post lipo to hips, inner thighs and knees? Maybe with black tights instead of sheer pantyhose?
Is that even appropriate for an evening wedding?
Originally I had thought of wearing a pretty flowy cocktail dress that ends just above the knee and sheer pantyhose, but seeing that I will most likely have bruised and swollen legs that doesn't seem to be a good idea now.
Can I wear black tights (the no-see-through microfiber kind) with a black pencil skirt, white lace ruffle blouse and either a short dark green velvet jacket or a short silver jacket. Any other kind of top that would make tights and black pencil skirt wedding appropriate?
Nice suede high-heel pumps and a silver evening clutch.
Any ideas?

Maybe wearing a skirt is not realistic and I need to wear wide-leg pants?
How much swelling and bruising should I expect after lipo to knees, thighs and hips?