How long does recovery from liposuction take? What is it like after 1 week, 1 month and 3 months?

Liposuction at Pretty Body and Line Clinic is performed under sedation. It varies by area, but the operation usually takes 1–2 hours and recovery takes about 2 hours as well, and a staff member in charge of recovery is stationed in the recovery room and looks after you until discharge. You cannot drive yourself on the day of surgery.

Light daily activities are possible from the next day. Pain can last about 7–14 days, and you may take the medication prescribed by the clinic together with Tylenol. The compression garment is worn 24 hours a day for the first week. From 2–3 days after surgery, you can shower once waterproof tape is placed over the stitch sites, and we show you how to disinfect the wounds yourself at home.

Although it varies from person to person, you can return to office work within 1–2 weeks. Major swelling and bruising usually last about 2 weeks. The stitches are removed on day 10 after surgery, and radiofrequency (RF) care can be started after the stitches are removed. After the first week, the compression garment is taken off only when you sleep, and wearing it for about 1–2 months is recommended.

Hardness and lumps in the operated area appear from 3 weeks after surgery and gradually improve over time. Drinking, smoking, saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses) and swimming are possible from 1 month after surgery, and strenuous exercise should also wait until 1 month after surgery.

The contour keeps changing while the swelling goes down. It varies from person to person, but the final result takes shape over 3–6 months.