Does Liposuction Hurt? A Guide to Pain Expectations

Dealing with unwanted fat can be annoying and frustrating, especially if you’ve worked hard to eat healthy and exercise often. After so much effort, you should see the payoff for it, but instead, you’re stuck right before reaching your goal.

If you’ve found that you can’t get over this plateau, then liposuction may help. This procedure removes the stubborn fat to reshape your body, resulting in beautiful contours.

While this sounds fantastic, you may have one question on your mind: Does liposuction hurt?

This post will explain the pain you may experience with liposuction and how you can manage it.

Does Liposuction Hurt?

The short answer is that yes, some discomfort is normal. But in terms of pain, the intensity and duration can vary depending on multiple factors.

We’ll break down the pain levels by stage.

During the Procedure

Liposuction isn’t painful during surgery since you’re given anesthesia. The type will depend on the extent of your particular surgery.

If you’re only getting a small area done, then the surgeon will probably use local anesthesia. You’ll stay awake, but you won’t feel pain, only pressure.

Otherwise, you may be sedated (given twilight anesthesia). Here, you’re relaxed and semi-conscious, and you’ll feel minimal discomfort.

Another choice is general anesthesia, which is commonly used when larger or multiple areas are treated. You’re completely asleep, and you shouldn’t feel a thing.

Immediately After Surgery (First 1-3 Days)

The pain after liposuction will be at its worst in the first few days. Once the anesthesia wears off, you’ll feel:

• Pain
• Soreness
• Tenderness

Most people describe the pain as mild to moderate, and it’s similar to muscle soreness that you’d get after an intense workout or if you got a deep bruise. Naturally, you’ll be the most swollen and bruised during this time.

The good news is that you can manage this pain with prescribed pain medication or over-the-counter pain relievers.

The First Week of Recovery

In the later part of the first week, you’ll feel lingering soreness. You’ll feel it especially when you move or touch the treated areas.

The surgeon will have you wear compression garments, which will reduce swelling. However, they may feel tight and uncomfortable at first.

You can do light activity to help circulation, but the pain may increase if you overexert yourself. While discomfort will persist, it should improve each day.

2-6 Weeks After Surgery

After the first few weeks, the pain should transition from soreness to occasional tightness after liposuction as the tissues heal. You may also feel numbness; some people experience nerve sensitivity, especially around the incision sites.

So how long does liposuction pain last? Typically, just 1-2 weeks. You can even return to work within a week if you work a desk job.

Factors That Influence Liposuction Pain Levels

There are various factors that can significantly impact pain levels after liposuction. These are the ones you should be aware of.

Type of Liposuction Technique

To many people’s surprise, there are several techniques available. They are:

• Traditional liposuction
• Power-assisted liposuction
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)
• VASER liposuction (newer generation of UAL)
• Laser-assisted liposuction
• Water-assisted liposuction

In general, advanced methods may result in less post-op discomfort.

Number and Size of Treated Areas

The more areas you treat, and the bigger they are, the longer the procedure. This also means larger areas of trauma, which will increase soreness.

Typically, small and localized liposuction (such as in the chin or love handles) will be faster, and you’ll have a less painful recovery period.

Volume of Fat Removed

In addition to the number and size of treated areas, the volume of fat removed matters too. If you have more than five liters of fat removed (high-volume liposuction), it’ll often result in increased pain, as well as longer swelling and a greater risk of complications.

If you want less soreness and quicker recovery, then opt for smaller amounts.

Individual Pain Tolerance

Every person is unique, and they have their own pain tolerance levels. Your personal pain threshold will depend on several things, such as your race, age, and even your mental state.

Because of this, some people may describe liposuction recovery as mildly uncomfortable, while others feel moderate pain, especially in the first week.

Surgeon Skill and Technique

Plastic surgeons who are experienced and board-certified usually use precise and gentle techniques that can minimize tissue trauma. This leads to less pain and faster recovery.

On the other hand, poor technique may cause unnecessary trauma, resulting in increased discomfort.

Post-Operative Care

It’s vital that you follow post-op instructions, such as:

• Wearing compression garments
• Doing gentle walking
• Taking prescribed medications
• Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol
• Hydrating well and eating healthy

All of the above can reduce pain and speed recovery. If you ignore aftercare instructions, then this can worsen swelling, bruising, and discomfort.

Presence of Complications

As with all surgical procedures, there’s the risk of complications. With liposuction, risks include:

• Seromas (fluid build-up)
• Infections
• Uneven healing

While these can cause increased or prolonged pain, fortunately, most are preventable. With proper care and early detection, you can minimize pain and discomfort.

So is liposuction recovery painful? It’ll hugely depend on whether you follow post-op instructions and avoid complications.

Have a Speedy Recovery From Liposuction

If you’ve been wondering, “Does liposuction hurt?” then rest easy knowing that pain levels should be relatively low, especially in comparison to other surgeries. Mostly, you’ll experience soreness, but that should be manageable. Plus, it’ll go away quickly.

Just make sure that you follow all post-op instructions and communicate with your surgeon; early detection is key for avoiding serious complications. And the one you pick should be experienced and board-certified, as this will significantly minimize risks too.

Get in touch with us now if you’re interested in having liposuction done. Dr. Valdez has over 16 years of experience and is a specialist in liposuction.