FAQ
What should I expect with compression garments, swelling and bruising after liposuction?
Dr. Oh’s answer
Generally, most of the swelling goes down in about 1 month, and the rest in about 3 months. Bruising mostly fades within 2 weeks.
Wearing a compression garment alone won’t improve your result. Along with the garment, it’s important to stretch the treated areas and exercise moderately, giving the skin steady stimulation so its elasticity can improve.
If a lot of fat was removed or there was more tissue damage, swelling can last 3–6 months. Even so, the area won’t look badly out of shape in the meantime, so there’s no need to worry. Swelling also varies by area.
The arms are a small area, and the least fat is removed there, so recovery tends to be quick. Most of the shape may show by week 2, when the stitches come out, and the final contour may be visible at 1–2 months. For the abdomen and thighs, the amount removed varies so much from person to person that it’s hard to generalize, but the final contour usually shows after about 3 months. Even so, after just 1 month the area is much slimmer than before surgery.
Translated from Dr. Oh’s original answer in Korean. Read the Korean original