Things You'll Need:
- Alcohol gauze pads
- Pain medication
- Compression garment
- Games, books, or movies
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Step 1
Eat well. While liposuction is generally a safe procedure, you will want to be in top physical shape before you put your body through the rigors of surgery. One of your first priorities should be a healthy diet with plenty of protein, fruits and vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and a moderate amount of carbohydrates and healthy fats.
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Step 2
Quit smoking. If you are a smoker, you must quit prior to your surgery. Most doctors will not perform surgery on people who are active smokers as it is a risk factor for complications. Quitting smoking can not only help you to become healthier by surgery day, it can also increase the rate of healing after surgery.
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Step 3
Gather recovery items. These should include alcohol gauze pads (for cleaning incision sites), cold packs to place in the freezer to help combat swelling, a compression garment to reduce swelling and encourage healing and pain medication such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen to help with any discomfort after the surgery.
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Step 4
Put work and obligations on the back burner. You should plan to take some time off from obligations to include work, home responsibilities and other physically demanding obligations so that you can properly heal.
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Step 5
Make sure you have entertainment at the ready. You will probably be spending a number of days in bed after your surgery, depending on how extensive it is. A supply of books, movies, and games will ensure that boredom doesn't drive you out of bed too early in your recovery.
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Step 6
Talk to your doctor about any fears you may have. He or she should be able to address your fears, yet still give you a realistic view of what to expect and what the surgery entails.
