Liposuction requires going under anesthesia for the procedure. This means you won’t feel any pain during the liposuction surgery. However, you’ll feel pain after the procedure. Recovery can also be painful.
Depending on what parts of the body require liposuction, you may have a shorter or longer hospital stay. Some procedures can be done in an outpatient center. It’s common to have pain, swelling, bruising, soreness, and numbness after liposuction.
To minimize pain before the procedure, you can:
- talk to your doctor about pain concerns
- discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used
- ask about any medications you can take before the procedure
To minimize pain after the procedure:
- take all prescribed medications, including pain pills
- wear the recommended compression garments
- keep the drains after surgery in place based on your doctor’s recommendations
- rest and try to relax
- drink fluids
- avoid salt, which can increase swelling (edema)
