Does Liposuction Hurt, and for How Long? 10 Common Questions

Liposuction is one of the ways many people choose on the path to their ideal figure. But because it is a major aesthetic surgery that comes with side effects, anesthesia, and other concerns, many people hesitate to go ahead. This article answers all the common questions about liposuction, including “Does liposuction hurt?” and “How long does the pain last?”

Q1. What liposuction methods are there?

There are currently 5 liposuction methods on the market: VASER liposuction, laser liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, water-jet liposuction, and traditional liposuction

• Traditional liposuction: Fat is scraped loose by hand with back-and-forth strokes and then removed. It suits large treatment areas, leaves incisions of about 1 cm, has a longer recovery, and causes noticeable pain.
• Laser liposuction: A 0.1 cm fiber-optic probe is inserted into the subcutaneous fat, where laser heat breaks up the fat cells. It suits fine contouring of smaller areas, with smaller incisions, less bruising, and less pain than traditional liposuction.
• Ultrasonic liposuction: The rapidly oscillating energy of ultrasound liquefies the fat into an emulsion-like state, which is then suctioned out. There is little bleeding and less pain, and it can also help tighten the skin.
• VASER liposuction: Uses a titanium probe, the metal most compatible with the human body, to release ultrasound that creates hundreds of dense microbubbles, separating large fat clumps into smaller ones. A spiral water flow then separates the small clumps into individual, well-defined fat cells. The process involves no tearing injury and none of the intense heat of a laser, and it does not damage the surrounding blood vessels, nerves, or connective tissue. This effectively reduces bleeding, bruising, and pain, and leaves the skin at the treated area firm rather than sagging.
• Water-jet liposuction: A high-pressure stream of water separates fat cells from the surrounding tissue. It suits large treatment areas, and recovery is shorter than with traditional liposuction.

Q2. Does liposuction hurt? How long does the pain last?

Liposuction is performed under sedation anesthesia, so you will not feel any extra pain during the procedure, but afterward you may feel mild pain and swelling, most noticeable on days 1-3 after the procedure. Taking pain medication and icing more often can relieve the discomfort. After liposuction of a small area you can usually go back to work the next day; for larger areas, resting for 2-3 days is recommended. Recovery from VASER liposuction takes about 1 month, and the actual experience varies with each person's condition.

Q3. What affects how much liposuction hurts?

Amount of bleeding

In liposuction, a cannula is inserted into the subcutaneous tissue to suction out or break up fat cells, and blood vessels are easily injured along the way, causing bleeding. Heavy bleeding means larger vessel wounds or more injured sites, and the more and larger the wounds, the stronger the pain.

Different liposuction methods

Traditional liposuction is a dry technique in which large fat clumps are broken into smaller ones by hand. This repeatedly injures the tissue, causing bleeding in many places, tearing, and nerve damage, so the wounds are numerous and large and the pain is high. By contrast, VASER liposuction uses a probe that does not damage muscles, nerves, or other structures, and its incisions are small, only 0.1-0.5 cm, so the pain is extremely low.

Doctor's expertise

If the doctor does not control the force well, or is unfamiliar with liposuction techniques or the patient's anatomy, the patient will feel more pain. We therefore recommend choosing a clinic or doctor certified by the liposuction device manufacturer

Size of the treatment area

1. The pain and discomfort afterward differ between liposuction of just the outer thighs, inner thighs, and under-buttock area, and circumferential thigh liposuction, since the circumferential procedure covers a larger area.
2. If several areas are treated at the same time, such as the arms, abdomen, and legs, plus autologous fat transfer to the breasts, the whole body needs to recover, so you will feel more uncomfortable. Without circumferential liposuction, though, recovery is generally faster.
3. If the treated area is the waist and abdomen, compare it with the thighs: because you have to walk, the thighs move more than the waist and abdomen, so thigh liposuction may be more painful than waist and abdomen liposuction. Within the thigh, the inner thigh is the more sensitive area, so it is more likely to feel uncomfortable than the outer or back of the thigh.

Finally, we want to remind everyone that pain tolerance differs from person to person. Some people can get laser treatment without numbing cream, while others still feel a lot of pain even after applying numbing cream for a very long time. So you can judge based on how you usually handle pain!

Q4. How can I reduce the pain?

Daily care:

• After the procedure, use ice packs within the first 3 days and warm compresses after day 7 to help bruising fade faster
• Follow your doctor's instructions and take pain medication
• Keep the wound area clean and dry, and avoid friction and strenuous exercise

Reducing swelling:

• Starting one month after the procedure, we recommend massaging the treated area, which speeds up metabolism and reduces the chance of an uneven surface
• Elevate the affected area to help reduce swelling
• During the first month after the procedure, we recommend wearing a compression garment 24 hours a day, which both applies pressure to control bleeding and reduces swelling

Diet:

• Avoid smoking and alcohol, and cut back on spicy and other irritating foods for about two weeks.
• Eat more high-quality protein and natural foods (e.g., fish, milk)
• Eat more foods that reduce water retention (e.g., winter melon, corn silk tea)

Q5. What are the possible after-effects of liposuction?

1. Uneven surface in the treated area: Wear the compression garment for the length of time your doctor recommends, and massage the area regularly
2. Pigmentation: NAISS CLINIC offers post-procedure treatments (such as StarWalker PQX, Discovery Pico, and others) that can improve pigmentation in the treated area.
3. Soreness, bruising, or swelling in the treated area: NAISS CLINIC offers recovery IV drips to help clients shorten their recovery time. Drinking more sea bass soup can also help with recovery.
4. Bleeding: Change the absorbent pads regularly, keep the wound dry, and wear the compression garment regularly to apply pressure and control bleeding
5. Edema (swelling): Wear the compression garment for the length of time your doctor recommends, and combine it with massage
6. Fat embolism: The incidence is below 1 in 10,000. It is a blockage that occurs when, through careless handling during liposuction, clumps of fat enter the bloodstream and travel through the body to other sites.

Read more:

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What are the risks of liposuction? How to avoid complications? A quick guide in one article

Q6. Liposuction cost

(Final prices depend on the in-person evaluation)

Read more:

2023 liposuction costs revealed! Prices for every body area

Q7. How big are liposuction incisions?

Q8. Liposuction precautions

Do not take medications containing aspirin or anticoagulants for 2 weeks before surgery, including vitamin E, to avoid hematoma or heavy bruising. Do not smoke before surgery either, since smoking constricts the blood vessels and slows blood flow. Fast for 8 hours before surgery on the day of the procedure.

After the procedure, you can clean up with a sponge bath for the first 2 days and shower after 3 days, but you must use a waterproof, breathable dressing. For the first month after the procedure, do not smoke or drink alcohol, and avoid overly spicy food or any herbal medicine that promotes blood circulation. Keep your daily routine as normal as possible and avoid staying up late. Wear the compression garment for at least 1 month to reduce the chance of hematoma after surgery.

Read more:

Fastest way to recover after liposuction? Precautions explained in full!

Q9. How many kilograms can liposuction remove? Is it the same as losing weight?

Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells, and fat cells weigh only 1/3 as much as muscle, so liposuction does not change body weight much. Liposuction is therefore not the same as weight loss; its main purpose is body contouring, to make the figure look more proportionate.

Q10. How soon do liposuction results show, and how long do they last?

Some swelling and bruising are unavoidable at first. Once the swelling subsides in weeks two to three, you can do some exercise to relieve the tightness, and results gradually appear after about one to two months.

How can I speed up recovery?

Wear a compression garment, massage appropriately, and take in more vitamins

Q11. Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction is suitable for people with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, skin with a certain degree of elasticity, and localized fat accumulation, who can improve their body contour through the procedure.

Who is not suitable for liposuction:

1. Teenagers under 18 who are still developing

2. Pregnant women

3. People with a history of coagulation disorders

4. People with chronic diseases, anesthesia allergies, or a history of heart or lung disease

Read more:

Get rid of stubborn fat with liposuction! 3 criteria to decide whether you are a good candidate