At Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, we get a lot of questions about postoperative care requirements and best practices—and we LOVE it! Setting reasonable expectations at the beginning is the best way we know of to counteract potential complications after a procedure before they have a chance to become problems, which is why we’re so excited when we get questions like this one. During a recent Ask Dr. Pane segment on Instagram Live, a patient asked our Chief Medical Officer and founder, Dr. Thomas A. Pane:
“How long do you have to wear the faja after a 360 lipo, and when can I
start working out after the lipo?”
We’re going to break this question into two parts, just for the sake of clarity on the page.
360 lipo is an alternative to conventional liposuction which addresses the entire circumference of the abdomen, rather than just targeting a few disproportionate fat deposits. This is a more extreme and generalized form of lipo that emphasizes body shaping and sculpting over simply removing a given volume of fat cells. The recovery time for traditional and 360 liposuction are about the same, but 360 lipo patients typically require some extra aftercare because of the extent of the area it covers.
A faja is a special compression garment worn over the abdomen after procedures like liposuction, BBL and mommy makeovers to ensure the patient’s skin heals and contours correctly. Fajas are staged in size from pre-op to Stage 1 to Stage 2, in tightnesses ranging from fairly loose to highly compressive. A Stage 1 faja should be worn for at least three weeks postop, after which the patient will typically upgrade to a more compressive Stage 2 faja. During Stage 1, patients should refrain from wearing undergarments beneath their faja to prevent rippling or marking of the skin, but can usually resume undergarment use once they move up to the next stage.
Talking about the faja, Dr. Pane says, “Usually it’s recommended to wear it for about three months, because that’s when the scar tissue is most active. Beyond that, the faja has less of an effect.” This is because as the healing process progresses, most patients begin to reach a point of negative returns concerning the use of the faja versus the benefits it confers.
He continues, “In terms of working out, I usually tell people to take it a little easy for the first couple of weeks because if you work out a lot, with lipo you’re not going to hurt it and it’s not like you can stretch the muscles out or damage the muscles. But when you work out a lot, you’re going to get more swelling of the tissue, you’re getting your heart rate up and so on. When you get to about 2-3 weeks [about the time most patients transition to a tighter Stage 2 faja], you can probably do whatever you want and it’s probably not going to be a big deal. You may notice a little more swelling afterward than you otherwise would, but dealing with that with massage and so on should help.”
It’s important to note that, like with any other injury or insult to human tissue, postoperative patients are likely to notice some swelling, redness and bruising near the surgical area. This is very common and in most cases is an indication that the incisions and tissues are healing and resolving the way they need to. However, in cases where patients note unusual or unexpected redness, extreme swelling or discoloration of the affected areas, it is always a good idea to check in with your cosmetic surgeon just to make sure nothing’s wrong. If you notice a foul-smelling or cloudy discharge or your sutures break prematurely, you should definitely contact your surgeon as quickly as possible to prevent further complications. And of course, following your prescribed aftercare regimen concerning rest, medications and activity restrictions can help prevent a lot of these problems before they have the chance to get out of hand. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and check in if you think there might be a problem than wait until an issue that could be easily corrected turns into a major complication!
If you have a question about anything related to cosmetic surgery, the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics is happy to help get you the real information, honest answers and straight talk you
need to decide whether a given procedure is right for your body, lifestyle and goals. Simply call us at (561) 422-5116; click here to contact us via email; or send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. Your question might become the focus of an upcoming Ask Dr. Pane segment, helping us educate and inform other patients who may share your questions and concerns while giving you the information you need to make the right choices for your cosmetic
surgery journey. Remember, at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, we believe the only bad question is the one you DON’T ask!