Fatigue After Liposuction

Liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that involves having fat sucked out of various parts of the body through a tube. This procedure helps people to achieve a slimmer, leaner look, yet it can be very taxing on the body. People who have liposuction experience fatigue up to a few months after having the surgery. There are several different reasons why liposuction can lead to fatigue.

Physical Trauma

The main reason why liposuction leads to fatigue is that the surgery is a physical trauma to the body. The Food and Drug Administration states that the process of liposuction involves an actual cut into the skin, in the area in which the liposuction is performed. After fat is sucked out, the area is stitched. This physical trauma can be exhausting because the body is spending so much energy on healing the tissues rather than producing energy.

Medications

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The Food and Drug Administration states that several medications are used to prevent and treat pain both during and after the liposuction procedure. Anesthesia is given just before the surgery in order to prevent the patient from feeling pain. The FDA explains that some plastic surgeons use sedative medications to keep the patient from waking up during the procedure. These medications can cause drowsiness for up to a few days after the procedure.

Pain

Despite pain medications, most people feel some pain for a couple of weeks after having liposuction. Pain medications help to reduce the extent of the pain, but often leave a person feeling weak, dizzy and tired. Excessive pain can lead some people to feel fatigued, which is another reason for fatigue after liposuction.

Dehydration

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Dehydration is fairly common after liposuction, according to the Food and Drug Administration. They explain that in addition to fat, fluids are also sucked out of the body during the liposuction procedure. Because so much fluid is removed in the process, patients may be dehydrated after the surgery, which can lead to fatigue. Patients may forget to pay attention to their thirst cues because they are in pain or feel odd from medications, so they can be dehydrated even a few weeks after having the surgery.

Lack of Exercise

Dr. Drew E. Tuckman, a certified plastic surgeon in New Jersey, states that another reason that patients often feel fatigued after liposuction is that they are not able to move around much so they don't get enough physical activity to make them feel energized. He explains that because of the pain and swelling, people who have had liposuction should not exercise for about a month after having the surgery. Since exercise enhances circulation and promotes good energy levels, the patients' energy levels may drop for up to a few months after liposuction.