When you decide to have a SmartLipo liposuction procedure, or lipoplasty, it’s important to understand what will be needed for your post-operative recovery period and how to prepare. Even if you’ve had experience with plastic surgery previously, the laser treatment of a SmartLipo procedure may present different needs.
It is also unlike most other treatments because you can have SmartLipo performed nearly everywhere on your body. Depending on your individual procedure, your physician’s instructions and advice may vary. Follow these tips and all of your plastic surgeon’s instructions so you’ll be up and on your feet in no time at all.
What Does SmartLipo Involve?
SmartLipo Triplex is an advanced technique used to remove unwanted fat from the body permanently. Using much safer and less invasive methods than traditional liposuction, SmartLipo uses laser energy to liquefy fat and make it easier for removal from the body. As an added benefit, the power of the laser also stimulates the production of collagen in the skin surrounding the target area. This added benefit reduces the risk of baggy, loosened skin left behind after the fat has been removed. In many cases, the area is left even smoother and more taut than it may have been before your procedure.
Because of its precision, SmartLipo Triplex procedures can be performed just about anywhere on the body that fat deposits are collected. Common targeted locations for a SmartLipo include the abdomen, waist, thighs, buttocks, arms, calves, ankles, neck, cheeks, chin and jawline, chest, and back. Work with your physician during the consultation process to determine where you would like this procedure performed.
If you’re not sure how far you’d like to take your SmartLipo procedure, your doctor can offer real-life projections to help your imagination. The imaging technology for SmartLipo Triplex used at the office of Dr. Rubinstein can help you to imagine the results for yourself with a three-dimensional preview of yourself before and after your surgery. Using this technology is a wonderful way to enhance your pre-op consultation and then revisit for your post-op review.
How Long Does Recovery Last After SmartLipo?
One of the benefits of the SmartLipo procedure is the shortened amount of recovery time, especially compared to traditional liposuction which usually left patients resting for days on end. Because it is so much less invasive, your SmartLipo results involve less pain and discomfort, reduced bruising and swelling, and a lot less required downtime.
Of course, the length of your recovery time depends heavily on just how much work your surgery included. If you had SmartLipo to several critical areas of the body, your recovery will take longer than someone who might only have touched up one or two areas. Most SmartLipo patients are asked to rest for up to two days with permission to return to work within two to four days. Generally, exercise and other strenuous activities are restricted for one week up to 10 days, depending on your surgery specifics. Follow your doctor’s instructions for recovery to make sure you take the best care of your body and you’ll be back to work and play in no time at all.
What Can I Do Now to Prepare for My Surgery?
While you wait for the arrival of your body or neck liposuction procedure, take special precautions to stay healthy. Eat a healthy diet to maintain your current weight and get at least 30 minutes of light exercise each day to keep your body healthy and your muscles strong. Liposuction is not a treatment for weight loss, nor will it help prevent weight gain in the future, so get in the habit of eating a healthy and well-balanced diet before your procedure so it is easy to maintain the look of your newly contoured physique. Do not attempt to drop large amounts of weight or begin a crash diet in the weeks prior to your liposuction either.
Make sure to wash your hands frequently in the last week before your surgery to prevent catching any last-minute illnesses. You will not be able to undergo most cosmetic surgery procedures if you are unwell, as it increases the risk of infection and other complications. Take precautions to avoid anyone displaying signs of illness and limit your contact with public areas and large crowds.
Drink plenty of water, stop smoking for at least six weeks before and after your SmartLipo procedure, and don’t begin any new medications without consulting with your physician. Dr. Rubinstein should be made aware of all medications you take regularly at the time of surgery to safeguard against negative interactions with your medications or the anesthetic he will use.
Prepare Yourself for Rest
Most physicians will recommend you prepare a space in your home to designate as your Recovery Area, a place you can go to rest and relax during the first 48 hours after your procedure. If you are receiving SmartLipo in an area that will require this kind of rest, your doctor will advise you to prepare this rest spot on the couch or the bed in the days before your surgery. Try to imagine what you may want to have within reach during your recovery downtime and stock those things nearby to this area.
Start with a basket, perhaps even a small laundry basket, that you will keep near this area and fill it with your supplies. Talk to your doctor about what medical supplies you may need, such as gauze, ointment, pain medication, or ice packs to apply to any swollen areas. He may have specific recommendations for these items or instructions on how to manage your incision and treatment areas after SmartLipo.
Next, find things to entertain yourself for a day or maybe two, like magazines, books, TV shows on DVD, or crossword books, for starters. Depending on where you receive your SmartLipo, some activities like knitting may be too much effort, so keep your options open. Also toss into the basket some of your favorite healthy snacks, like trail mix or fresh fruit, and store plenty of water bottles nearby. Staying well-nourished and hydrated after your procedure is essential to your recovery, so make sure you choose thoughtful snacking choices for yourself.
Finally, you’ll want to be comfortable if you’re stuck in one place, so have plenty of pillows and blankets on hand. Keep some pajamas and loose-fitting clothing in your basket too. Once you’ve collected all of your own essential items and have returned from your surgery, the only thing you want to do is sit down and relax!
How Do I Get Started with My Own SmartLipo?
If you haven’t yet scheduled that SmartLipo Triplex procedure you’ve been considering, now is the perfect time to begin the consultation process with Dr. Rubinstein, a board certified plastic surgeon with a specialty in body contouring procedures, like SmartLipo Triplex liposuction. He completed his training at Brown University, as well as an additional aesthetic surgery fellowship at Harvard University, and has now come to partner with Dr. Rubinstein at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists. This facility offers the only specialty plastic surgery practice in the Hudson Valley area with an on-site joint commission certified surgical suite.
Through the use of the VECTRA 3D Imaging software, your meeting with Dr. Rubinstein will offer you a full scope view of your surgical procedure and what to expect. By using the images created by this state-of-the-art device, Dr. Rubinstein can create life-like models of you with precise measurements of your body before and after surgery to deliver the best results possible, specifically tailored to you. With this incredible pairing of expertise and technology, you’re guaranteed to get the body improvements you’ve been dreaming about. Contact Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC, at 200 Stony Brook Court #2 in Newburgh, New York, by phone at (845) 863-1772 and make your consultation appointment for SmartLipo Triplex today.
