Pre- and Postoperative Care Instructions

The following are the pre- and postoperative care instructions for liposuction at Venus Clinic. While liposuction is comparatively safe and has fewer complications than many other surgical procedures, careful attention before and after surgery is essential for optimal recovery.

These are the general guidelines used at Venus Clinic. Instructions may vary depending on each patient's individual circumstances and do not necessarily apply to every case. Since protocols may differ between clinics, please always follow your surgeon's specific instructions.

Preoperative Precautions

1. Avoid aspirin-type medications, ibuprofen, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba extract, black cohosh, ginger, and similar substances for 2 weeks before surgery.
2. Discontinue any anti-obesity medications at least 2 weeks before surgery. If you need to resume them, wait until 2 weeks after surgery.
3. Continue taking medications for blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid conditions as discussed with your doctor during consultation.
4. After liposuction, only take painkillers prescribed by the clinic. Do not take any other analgesics.
5. Psychotropic medications should be avoided for 2 weeks before surgery. If you must continue taking them, please consult with your doctor in advance.
6. Shower thoroughly with soap the evening before surgery. On the morning of surgery, do not apply lotion or oil, and remove any nail polish.
7. Arrange for a companion to accompany you home from the clinic.
8. A caregiver should stay with you on the night of surgery.
9. If medication was prescribed for the day before surgery, take it as directed.
10. Bring loose, comfortable clothing and a skirt to wear after surgery. Dark or black clothing is preferable.
11. If sedation anesthesia is planned, you must fast for 6 to 8 hours before surgery, including water and cigarettes. A small cup of clear water is acceptable.
12. Bring plastic sheeting and towels to protect your car seat and bed, as drainage fluid may seep through dressings after surgery.
13. Do not drive yourself to the clinic. Arrive with a companion.

Day of Surgery

1. Upon arrival at the clinic, you will be guided to the recovery room to change into a surgical gown.
2. After consultation with the surgeon, the treatment areas will be marked and photographs taken. If necessary, an ultrasound examination will be performed to assess the fat layer.
3. In the operating room, the surgical area will be disinfected and an intravenous line will be placed for fluid administration.
4. After surgery, a mixture of tumescent fluid and blood will drain from the incision sites.
5. Compression dressings are applied to promote drainage of this fluid.
6. You may be discharged 1 to 2 hours after surgery, accompanied by your caregiver.
7. Return to the clinic the following day for wound care and fitting of your compression garment.

Postoperative Precautions

1. Take all prescribed medications as directed. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen for 2 weeks after surgery.
2. Diet: No special dietary restrictions are required, but we recommend eating low-fat foods. Your weight may temporarily increase in the days following surgery due to retained fluid from the procedure.
3. Bathing: While drainage continues, clean your body with a sponge rather than showering. Once you can shower (typically after 3 days), put your compression garment back on promptly afterward. You may hand-wash and dry the garment during your shower. Do not soak in a bathtub, swim, or visit the beach for 3 weeks after surgery.
4. Once drainage has stopped, apply Bactroban (mupirocin) ointment to the incision sites once or twice daily for 1 month.
5. Wear the compression garment and abdominal binder for approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Typically, the garment is worn 24 hours a day for the first 2 weeks, then 12 to 24 hours a day for the following 2 weeks.

Postoperative Care

• Return to the clinic for a follow-up visit 1 to 2 days after surgery.
• Drainage typically continues for 3 to 4 days. Protect your bed with plastic sheeting or a rubber mattress cover topped with towels. The drainage fluid is a mixture of tumescent solution and body fluid with only about 1% blood, so its reddish color is normal. However, contact the clinic immediately if you experience significant bleeding, severe skin swelling, or intense pain.
• The local anesthetic in the tumescent solution remains in the tissue for approximately 12 hours after surgery. Postoperative pain is generally manageable with 1 to 2 tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and gradually subsides, typically resolving within about 3 weeks.
• Bruising may be visible for approximately 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
• Swelling may persist for 2 to 3 months, gradually resolving over 3 to 6 months. You may notice temporary numbness or altered sensation in the treated area, but this will improve over time. Please allow approximately 6 months to see the final results of surgery.
• Skin redness (erythema) may appear for 1 to 3 days after surgery and is a normal finding.
• Do not drive for at least 24 hours after surgery. Most patients can return to office work within 1 to 3 days, depending on the extent of the procedure and the amount of fat removed. Light exercise may be resumed as soon as you feel comfortable. Vigorous activities such as jogging, tennis, or aerobics can typically be resumed 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. Gradually increase your activity level.
• The two most important aspects of postoperative care are maintaining open drainage from the incision sites and proper compression of the treated areas.
• If incision sites were sutured, stitches will be removed at approximately 7 to 10 days after surgery.
• Swelling begins to subside from 2 to 3 weeks and gradually resolves over 3 to 6 months. The final result of liposuction may take approximately 6 months to fully appreciate.
• You may feel firmness or induration (hardening) in the treated area beginning around 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. This is a normal part of the healing process and reflects tissue contraction and scar remodeling. Induration is typically more pronounced and longer-lasting after large-volume liposuction, but generally begins to soften after about 5 weeks. The final tissue remodeling takes approximately 6 months, with continued softening over 1 to 2 years.
• Radiofrequency (RF) massage treatments to improve skin elasticity are not recommended for at least 8 weeks after surgery, as the tissue is still in the active healing phase.

An Actual Abdominal Liposuction: Step by Step

Preoperative Consultation

Before surgery, we perform a physical examination, discuss the surgical plan, and schedule the procedure date. The compression garment is custom-fitted to your measurements. Blood tests are also conducted to confirm your health status for surgery.

Day of Surgery

On the day of surgery, the treatment areas are marked and photographs are taken. Once you enter the operating room, the area is disinfected and you lie down on the table. After sedation, you will rest comfortably, and by the time you wake up, the procedure will be complete.

Ms. Venus Before Surgery

Ms. Venus's abdomen before abdominal liposuction.

Ms. Venus Immediately After Surgery

Ms. Venus's abdomen immediately after abdominal liposuction.

From right to left: immediately after surgery, application of absorbent pads and elastic mesh, compression bandage wrapped over the mesh, and abdominal binder worn over everything.

Day 1 After Surgery

Photographs from the first day after surgery. Some bruising is visible, and a mixture of tumescent fluid and blood is draining through the incision sites. In some cases, the incisions may be sutured, and the compression garment is fitted.

Ms. Venus's abdomen on Day 1 after surgery.

Ms. Venus wearing the compression garment on Day 2 after surgery.

Day 3 After Surgery

Photographs from the third day after surgery. Drainage has significantly decreased or nearly stopped. Thorough drainage is desirable, as it leads to less bruising and a lower risk of complications.

Day 5 After Surgery

Photographs from the fifth day after surgery. The bruising has improved considerably and drainage has nearly ceased.

Day 7 After Surgery

Photographs from the seventh day after surgery. The bruising has largely resolved and the body contour is becoming visible. Sutures are removed at this visit. The tissue may begin to feel firm (induration), which is a normal part of the healing and skin-tightening process.

The above photographs and diary entries from Ms. Venus document the actual recovery process following abdominal liposuction at Venus Clinic. We sincerely thank Ms. Venus for sharing her experience. For more detailed surgical procedures and recovery stories, please visit Venus Clinic's NAVER Cafe to read real patient reviews.