Post-Operative Instructions

Congratulations on completing your lipedema surgery! You may watch the video from Dr. Volshteyn to learn more about what to expect after the surgery and be aware of the post-operative instruction for better recovery. 

Here are some important instructions to follow for a smooth and successful recovery:

1. Pay attention to your nutrition before the surgery. Make sure to eat plenty of proteins. You can add additional protein sources to your diet, such as GNC shakes. Take multivitamins like Centrum 1 pill twice a day and Vitamin C 1000 mg twice a day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
2. Have someone stay with you for about a week after the surgery. If you are traveling from far and cannot have someone to care for you, let us know, and we will help you arrange a skilled nursing facility or rehab bed.                                  
3. After the surgery, you will have an incision from which drainage will happen. You will wear a garment with slits where the skin incisions are located and also wrapped with the ace wrap for additional compression. You will drain for 24 to 36 hours, and the nurses will change the dressing every 6-8 hours or more often if needed. During the dressing change, ABD pads will be put with no tape.                                                                                             
4. Do not take off the garment for the first week to avoid shear injury of the skin. If the garment is wet, blow it on the wet areas with a hair drier in the warm setting. After a week, you can remove the garment and toss it.             
5. Start walking the first day, ideally three times a day. Intermittent swelling is normal and will get better over time. However, you can start doing manual lymphatic massage or using your pump again only a week after the surgery and after a follow-up with the doctor. Please do not use the full strength of your pump; you have to start doing it at the lower settings and do it to the point of pain but not through the pain.                                                                 
6. Take medications as prescribed after the surgery. We try not to use narcotic pain medication as the first resource for pain relief.                                                                                                                                        
7. Make sure to drink plenty of water and be on a low-sodium diet.                                                                                         
8. Avoid diuretics after the surgery.                                                                                                                                
9. When you come for the follow-up appointment, we will change your garment to a smaller size.

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to support you throughout your recovery process.