Contents
Your recovery at a glance
- Off work
- Desk work: week 2
- Driving
- Driving: week 1 if no longer taking strong painkillers
- Showering
- Showering: permitted from day 1
- Exercise
- Gentle exercise (walking, light stretching): week 4
- First review
- Week 1 Nurse Check (Days 7–10)
- Full recovery
- 6 weeks for most activities, final results over 3–6 months
This is a general guide for the average patient. Your own instructions come with your discharge information and in your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app, and they come first.
Before you leave the hospital
- Painkillers: Make sure you have your painkillers before you leave, the nurse looking after you will go through them with you.
- Dressings: Applied before discharge. Keep the treated area clean and dry.
- Follow-up appointment: You will be given a card with details of your first nurse check appointment.
- Responsible adult: If general anaesthetic was used, you must have a responsible adult with you for the first night.
Week by week
Days 1–3 Early recovery
What is normal
- Moderate to severe pain at treatment sites
- Significant swelling and tightness
- Bruising that gets worse before it improves
- Tiredness and emotional sensitivity
- Small amount of fluid leaking from incisions
What to do
- Take painkillers regularly (don’t wait for pain to worsen)
- Keep dressings clean and dry
- Rest but take short walks every few hours to encourage circulation
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily
- Sleep in any comfortable position
- Shower from day 1 onwards
- Pat skin dry gently after washing
- Do not soak in baths during first 2 weeks
Days 4–7 Improving daily
What is normal
- Pain gradually decreasing
- Bruising at its worst, then beginning to fade
- More energy returning
- Ready for first check-up appointment
What to do
- Continue gentle movement as advised
- Increase amount of walking (gently)
- Continue regular hydration (8-10 glasses water daily)
- Attend first nurse check-up appointment (usually around day 7)
- May start driving if not taking strong painkillers
Week 1 Check-Up Nurse appointment
What is normal
- Nurse will assess your recovery progress
- Dressings will be removed
- Healing will be checked
- Stitches will be assessed
What to do
- Attend your scheduled nurse appointment
- Nurse will remove dressings
- Non-dissolving stitches will be removed if needed
- Steri-strips will be removed if still in place
- Ask any questions during this appointment
Week 2 Return to light work
What is normal
- Pain continuing to decrease
- Bruising gradually fading
- More energy
- Able to manage most daily activities
- Swelling starting to reduce noticeably
What to do
- Follow wound care instructions as advised
- Can return to desk work and light activities
- Most daily tasks manageable
- Gentle walking encouraged
- May stop painkillers if comfortable
Weeks 3–4 Increased activity
What is normal
- 80-90% of swelling gone
- Bruising almost completely resolved
- May feel firm lumps in treated areas (this is normal)
- Feeling much more like yourself
- Shooting pains as nerves reconnect (normal)
What to do
- Follow nurse guidance on activity levels
- Start moisturizing scars with bio-oil or recommended cream
- Gentle scar massage in circular motions (2–3 minutes, twice daily)
- Can resume gentle exercise (walking, light stretching)
- Full range of activities manageable
Months 2–6 Final results
What is normal
- Final results emerging and becoming clearer
- Scars continuing to fade
- Complete return to normal activities
- Firm lumps softening over time
What to do
- Continue scar care routine
- Continue scar care (moisturizing twice daily for best results)
- Can resume full exercise from week 6
- Can sunbathe after 6 weeks, but use high SPF for one year
- Swimming permitted once wounds fully healed (week 4)
- Regular follow-up appointments as scheduled
Wound care and scars
- Shower from day 1, pat skin dry gently after washing
- Do not soak in baths, hot tubs, or swimming pools for first 2 weeks
- Keep small incision sites clean and dry
- Watch for signs of infection: spreading redness, pus discharge, or severe pain
- Attend week 1 nurse appointment for dressing removal and wound check
- Once wounds fully closed (around week 3), begin scar care with moisturizer or bio-oil
Comfort and pain relief
- Take paracetamol 1-2 tablets (500mg each) every 4–6 hours, max 8 tablets daily
- Take ibuprofen 1-2 tablets (200mg each) every 6–8 hours, max 6 tablets daily
- Take dihydrocodeine as directed for severe pain
- Always take medication with food
- Avoid alcohol while taking painkillers
- Do not exceed maximum doses prescribed
- Most pain subsides significantly after first week
Compression garments (optional)
Compression garments are not required from our perspective, but some patients find them helpful for reducing swelling and supporting the contouring results. Discuss whether a compression garment is right for you with your surgeon during your consultation. If you decide to wear one, your nurse can advise you on fit and duration.
What to Look For in a Compression Garment
- Appropriate coverage for your treated areas
- Adjustable closures (hooks, velcro, or clips) for comfort as swelling changes
- Breathable fabric that allows skin to breathe
- Firm but comfortable fit without cutting off circulation
- Where to Purchase, If your surgeon recommends purchasing a compression garment, you can find them at:
- M&S
- Tesco
- Asda
- Macom
- Lipoelastic
- Note: Use code QUABA for a discount. Waterfront has no financial affiliation with these suppliers.
Scar care
When to Start Scar Care
Begin scar care at week 3 once your wounds are fully closed and any stitches or steri-strips are removed.
Daily Scar Care Routine
- 1. Clean: Gently clean the scar area with mild soap and water
- 2. Dry: Pat the area dry gently with a soft cloth
- 3. Apply: Apply bio-oil, E45 cream, or Aveeno moisturizer to the scar
- 4. Massage: Massage the area in gentle circular motions for 2–3 minutes
- 5. Repeat: Repeat this routine twice daily for best results
- Scar Appearance Timeline
- Weeks 3–4: Start gentle massage as scars begin to heal
- Months 1–3: Scars appear pink or red (this is normal)
- Months 3–6: Gradual fading of colour and texture
- Month 6+: Continue scar care for best long-term results
Lifestyle guidelines
✓ DO
- Keep dressings clean and follow wound care instructions
- Walk regularly to encourage circulation
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily
- Eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein
- Sleep in any comfortable position with pillows for support
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Attend all your follow-up appointments
- Ask questions if you’re unsure about anything
- ✗ AVOID
- Smoking or vaping nicotine for at least 4 weeks
- Alcohol while taking painkillers
- Alcohol for 3 weeks after surgery
- Heavy lifting for 4 weeks
- Strenuous exercise for 6 weeks
- Hot baths for 2 weeks
- Direct sun on treated areas for 6 weeks (then high SPF for a year)
- Tight clothing over treated areas
- Missing follow-up appointments
Activity, driving and work
- Showering: permitted from day 1
- Light walking: from day 1 (short walks every few hours)
- Driving: week 1 if no longer taking strong painkillers
- Desk work: week 2
- Physical work: end of week 2
- Short flights (under 3 hours): week 1
- Long flights (over 6 hours): week 2
- Gentle exercise (walking, light stretching): week 4
- Full exercise: week 6
- Swimming: week 4 when wounds fully healed
- Avoid smoking and vaping nicotine for at least 4 weeks, smoking significantly impairs wound healing and increases infection risk
- Avoid alcohol while taking painkillers and for 3 weeks post-surgery
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for 4 weeks
- Avoid hot baths for 2 weeks
- Avoid direct sun on treated areas for 6 weeks, then high-SPF (30+) sunscreen for at least a year to prevent scar darkening
- Avoid tight clothing over treated areas
Follow-up appointments
- Week 1 Nurse Check (Days 7–10): Your first post-operative appointment to assess healing and manage any concerns. Dressing removal; Wound healing assessment; Non-dissolving stitch removal if needed; Steri-strip removal; Questions answered by nurse
- Further nurse reviews, as needed: Some patients need further nurse reviews. If so, the nurses will arrange these with you and will discharge you from nurse-led care once they are happy your wounds have healed.
- Around 6 months: surgeon review (final follow-up): Your surgeon will usually see you at around 6 months to assess your final result. Your surgeon is always available to review you sooner if required, and in some circumstances may wish to see you before your final follow-up.
Common questions
How long do I need to wear the compression garment?
Compression garments are not required from our perspective but some patients find them helpful for reducing swelling and supporting contouring. Discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation. If you choose to wear one, your nurse can advise on fit and duration.
When will I see my final results?
Initial improvement is noticeable by week 4 as swelling reduces. Final results emerge over 3–6 months as all swelling completely resolves and skin contracts.
Is it normal to feel lumpy areas after liposuction?
Yes, firm lumps are completely normal and expected. They are areas of firm tissue under the skin that will gradually soften over 3–6 months with massage and time.
Can I sunbathe after liposuction?
Avoid direct sun exposure on treated areas for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, use a high SPF (30+) sunscreen when in the sun for at least one year to prevent scar darkening.
Why am I experiencing shooting pains?
Shooting pains or electric sensations are caused by nerves reconnecting as they heal. This is completely normal and usually improves over 3–6 months.
When can I drink alcohol after liposuction?
Avoid alcohol while taking painkillers and for at least 3 weeks after surgery. This allows your body to heal properly without the added stress of alcohol.
Your guide in the patient app
Your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app is the personal, dated version of this page, with your own instructions, your appointments and the hospital’s contact details.
Download the printed leaflet (PDF)
Your discharge information and your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app tell you who to contact and when. If you have any concerns about your recovery, contact the hospital using the details you were given.