Recovery after liposuction: what to expect
Swelling, bruising and a tense feeling are part of normal recovery after a liposuction. Discover why this happens, how a gentle, supportive lymphatic drainage cán support natural recovery, and why every step is always taken in consultation with your treating doctor or clinic — only with their go-ahead.
Book a free consultationFirst, to be clear
BodyFix does not perform liposuction
Let us be clear about this straight away: a liposuction is a medical, surgical procedure, and we do not carry it out. At BodyFix — specialised in connective tissue and fascia techniques since 2008 — our role lies solely in the recovery phase after the procedure, and only as support alongside the aftercare of your doctor or clinic. What we can offer is a gentle, supportive lymphatic drainage, aimed at your body’s natural clearance process. It is always in service of — and never a replacement for — the medical aftercare you receive from your treating doctor or clinic. Want to understand how that drainage system works? Then first read the lymphatic system explained.
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Liposuction is a surgical procedure — we do not do that
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Our role lies in the recovery phase, as support alongside the medical aftercare
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Every step is taken in consultation with your treating doctor or clinic
Good to know
Why swelling after a liposuction is normal
After a liposuction, your body responds with a natural recovery process. It sends extra fluid to the treated area, so that immune and repair substances can do their work. That extra fluid causes swelling — also known as oedema — and often bruising and a tense, sometimes heavy feeling. In most cases your lymphatic system gradually clears this fluid again, after which the swelling subsides step by step. This can take weeks to months and varies greatly per procedure and per person. So it is an understandable phase of recovery. How much swelling is normal and how long it lasts is something your treating doctor or clinic should tell you — they know your procedure and are your first point of contact for that. You can read more about fluid build-up after a procedure in swelling after surgery and in lymphoedema and oedema explained.
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Extra fluid to the treated area is part of a normal recovery
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The lymphatic system usually clears this fluid gradually on its own
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How long it lasts differs per procedure — your doctor or clinic is your first point of contact
What drainage can mean
How supportive lymphatic drainage can support recovery
Lymphatic drainage is a gentle, rhythmic technique aimed at stimulating the natural clearance through your lymphatic system. During a recovery process after a liposuction, this can help the body let built-up fluid find its way more easily, so that a heavy or tense feeling around the area may ease. Important to be honest about: this is support of a natural process and emphatically a complement to — never a replacement for — your medical aftercare. Lymphatic drainage is not a medical treatment and not part of the procedure, and we make no promises about the end result or about a fixed effect on swelling. Want to know exactly how the technique works? Then see what lymphatic drainage is and the difference between manual and machine lymphatic drainage.
Can support
Natural clearance
The gentle technique is aimed at stimulating the natural clearance through the lymphatic system, as support for a process the body does itself.
Feeling
Lighter feeling
Many women experience a lighter, less tense feeling around the area — without any promise about a fixed result.
No claim
No replacement
A treatment is always a complement to your medical aftercare and never a replacement for it. We do not promise a medical result or a cure.
Go-ahead first
Always in consultation with your doctor or clinic
This is the most important thing on this page: after a liposuction, every step towards massage or lymphatic drainage should be taken in consultation with your treating doctor or clinic. They know your procedure, your recovery and any risks involved, and they determine whether and when a supportive treatment on the treated area is sensible. We only start once they give the go-ahead for it and once the area has healed sufficiently and is no longer vulnerable. In terms of timing, we follow the advice of your clinic; around scars we align with our site-wide rule that we typically work only from about eight weeks onwards, once a scar is fully closed — unless your doctor or clinic advises a different moment. That is not a fixed date but a guideline; the judgement of your doctor or clinic always comes first.
Ask your clinic
Discuss with your treating doctor or clinic whether and when supportive lymphatic drainage is suitable in your recovery.
Wait for the go-ahead
We only start once the doctor or clinic agrees and the area has healed sufficiently and is no longer vulnerable.
Calm and gentle
After that we look together, with a gentle approach, at what may feel supportive — without promises about the result.
Wondering whether a treatment is sensible in your situation? Then also look at our contraindications, and see how we deal with healing scar tissue in treating scar tissue explained. This information is general in nature and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis.
Warning signs
When you go to your doctor or clinic first
Not all complaints are part of a calm recovery. There are signals that should always be assessed medically first before you consider a supportive treatment. Do you get a fever, do you see or feel signs of an infection, or does the area become red and warm? Are there wound problems, or do the swelling or the pain suddenly increase? Then contact your treating doctor or clinic first. A relaxing treatment is not intended to assess or treat such complaints, and in doubt the rule applies without exception: your doctor or clinic first, and only then look at whether a treatment is suitable.
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Fever or signs of an infection — your doctor or clinic first
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Redness, warmth or wound problems around the area — have it assessed medically first
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Sudden increase in swelling or pain — contact your clinic first
The BodyFix Method
How BodyFix deals with recovery
At BodyFix — specialised in connective tissue and fascia techniques since 2008 — care comes first, certainly with someone recovering from a procedure. We never begin before there is a go-ahead from your treating doctor or clinic. If it comes to a treatment, we first look at your situation with a diagnosis-first approach (Bodyreading) before we start. Our lymphatic drainage is a gentle, supportive technique that we tune to what your recovery allows at that moment. The aim is modest and honest: to support the natural recovery and help ease a heavy feeling, no more and no less. Our treatments are carried out by medically trained therapists with a physiotherapy background and 2,500+ hours of training. Want to see the offering and prices? See lymphatic drainage in Amsterdam or read about our manual and machine lymphatic drainage.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about recovery after liposuction
Does BodyFix perform liposuction?
No. Liposuction is a medical, surgical procedure and we do not carry it out. BodyFix is a private practice specialised in connective tissue and fascia techniques and in lymphatic drainage. What we can offer is a gentle, supportive lymphatic drainage in the recovery phase after a liposuction — solely as a complement to the aftercare of your treating doctor or clinic, and only once they have given the go-ahead for it. We treat women only and do not work through health insurance.
From when after a liposuction can I start lymphatic drainage?
Your treating doctor or clinic determines that, not us. The right moment to start differs per procedure, per clinic and per person, and depends on how your recovery is going and on the state of the treated area and any scars. Some clinics advise starting drainage early in the recovery, others later — always follow the advice of your doctor or clinic. We only start once they agree and once the area has healed sufficiently and is no longer vulnerable. In doubt? Then check with your doctor or clinic first.
Can lymphatic drainage improve the swelling or result after liposuction?
Lymphatic drainage is not a medical treatment and not part of the procedure itself; we therefore make no promises about the end result or about a fixed effect on swelling. What the gentle technique can do is support the natural clearance through your lymphatic system and help ease a heavy or tense feeling — as a complement to your medical aftercare, not a replacement for it. Whether it is suitable and sensible in your situation should always be determined in consultation with your treating doctor or clinic.
When should I go to my doctor or clinic first after a liposuction?
Always have complaints assessed medically first in the case of warning signs such as fever, signs of an infection, redness or warmth around the area, wound problems, or a sudden increase in swelling or pain. Those are signals that belong with your treating doctor or clinic and not with a relaxing treatment. A lymphatic drainage is intended to support the natural recovery and to ease a heavy feeling, not to assess or treat a medical complaint. In doubt, the rule always applies: your doctor or clinic first, and only then look at whether a treatment is suitable.
What does a lymphatic drainage at BodyFix cost?
A single lymphatic drainage (30 min) costs €45; with a 5-session card of €200 that works out at €40 per session. If you want to combine lymphatic drainage with our connective tissue massage, the combination treatment costs €110 (30 min), €175 (60 min) or €240 (90 min). The free 20-minute intake is included. BodyFix is a private practice: we do not work through health insurance, so there is no reimbursement or claim and you pay yourself.
Curious whether drainage suits your recovery?
Have you been given the go-ahead by your doctor or clinic and are you curious what a gentle, supportive lymphatic drainage could mean for your feeling of suppleness and lightness? Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute intake. We look at your situation together, read the body and explain which approach may suit you — with no commitment and always in tune with your medical aftercare. Please note that BodyFix is a private practice that does not work through health insurance and treats women only.
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Free intake (20 min) included — no obligation
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Specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008
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Two locations in Amsterdam-Zuid — Mon to Sat 09:00–19:00
Prefer to call or email first? You can reach us on +31 6 5580 4938 or info@bodyfix.nl. You will find us at Legmeerplein 7 (1058 NJ) and at Haarlemmermeerstraat 115H in Amsterdam-Zuid.