Recovering from Body Contouring Surgery
When people book in for elective surgery, one of their most common questions is “how long will it take for me to recover?” This is true for all types of surgery, including body contouring surgery. This question is so important that, when you read Sono Bello reviews, you will quickly see that many people discuss their recovery as much as the procedure and the results.
Three Phases of Recovery
Everybody recovers at a different rate, depending on exactly which procedures they have had done, their metabolism, and their overall health. However, recovery tends to go through three specific phases:
- Straight after the operation, you will experience pain, be covered in dressings, possibly have drains, and be limited in how physically active you can be. The pain associated with body contouring surgery tends to be quite dull, so that is not something to worry about. After 48 hours, you can usually return to simple activities such as showering and walking around. Usually, the first phase, which is the hardest phase, lasts for about a week to 10 days.
- In the second phase, you will need to return to your surgeon. They will remove the tapes and drains, and make sure you are healing properly. At this point, you will be able to return to various other activities, and maybe even venture out of the house. While you are likely to still feel a bit bruised and sore, there should no longer be any severe pain. Should you have been prescribed painkillers, you will usually be able to switch to over the counter ones at this point. While you can become physically active again, you should limit this to a degree. Working out in the gym, for instance, is still out of the question. It is also likely that your incisions will turn quite red in color, which is perfectly normal, and you should have been given care instructions. This stage usually lasts up to three weeks after your surgery.
- The final phase can end together with phase 2, or it can go on for another five or so weeks. It all depends on the individual. You will feel much better and be able to return to your usual activities. However, it is common to develop small problems at this time, including so-called “splitters”, which means that your dissolvable structures are pushed out of the body, slightly opening up your wounds again. You may also have some fluid buildup from the areas in which the drains used to be. Patients are often surprised by this, feeling that they have gone several steps backwards in their recovery.
Overall, how long it will take you to fully recover from body contouring surgery will vary. Many say that the overall period took much longer than they had originally imagined, with most people thinking they will feel fine again after the first phase. This is also why it is so important to be in regular contact with your surgeon, so you can discuss any concerns.