The short answer
Expect swelling, bruising and soreness for the first one to two weeks, a compression garment for several weeks, and walking from the first day to protect against blood clots. Most people are back at desk work within about two weeks after liposuction and two to four weeks after a tummy tuck, but your surgeon's instructions come first. Breathlessness, chest pain or a swollen calf is an emergency.
Book a consultationMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Before surgery
Arrange an escort home, help at home for at least the first week, a cool room and two garments.
- 2
Day of surgery
Go home by car with someone else driving. Start short walks once you are home.
- 3
Week 1
Garment day and night. Painkillers on time. Walk often. Drink plenty. Keep wounds clean and dry.
- 4
Weeks 2 to 4
Back to desk work as your surgeon advises. No heavy lifting after a tummy tuck. Attend every review.
- 5
Weeks 4 to 6
Gentle exercise returns as you are cleared. Ask your surgeon before you fly or stop the garment.
- 6
Months 3 to 12
Swelling settles and scars mature. Protect scars from the sun. The final result is judged now, not before.
The first week
You will be sore, swollen and tired. After liposuction, the small cuts can leak pink fluid for a day or two, which is normal. After a tummy tuck, you will walk bent slightly forward to protect the repair, and you may have drains for some days. Take the painkillers you were given on time rather than waiting for the pain to build.
Walk from the first day, short and often, around the house. Moving your legs is the single most important thing you can do to prevent clots. Do not lie in bed all day, even if you feel weak.
The compression garment in Lagos heat
The garment reduces swelling and helps the skin settle over the new shape. It is usually worn day and night for the first weeks, then for part of the day, as your surgeon says. In Lagos heat it can be uncomfortable, and sweat under it can irritate the skin.
- Get two garments so one can be washed while you wear the other
- Wear a thin cotton layer underneath if your surgeon allows it
- Stay in a cool room with a fan or air conditioning, and plan for power cuts
- Check the skin under folds and seams every day for redness or blisters
- Do not make it tighter than it was fitted. Too tight can damage skin
Eating, drinking and toilet
Drink plenty of water. Eat normal, protein-rich food: eggs, fish, chicken, beans if your stomach is settled, and fruit and vegetables to avoid constipation, because painkillers and less movement slow the bowel and straining hurts after a tummy tuck. Avoid alcohol while you are taking painkillers. Do not start a crash diet: you need food to heal.
Travel and flying
Sitting still for a long time after surgery raises the risk of blood clots. A long car ride through Lagos traffic on the day of discharge needs someone else driving and stops to stretch your legs if possible. Flying, especially a long-haul flight home to the UK or US, should wait until your surgeon says it is safe. When you do fly, walk the aisle, drink water and wear stockings if advised.
What is normal and what is not
Swelling that comes and goes, bruising that turns yellow and fades, numb patches, and a lumpy feel under the skin are common in the first weeks and usually settle over months. Some fluid can collect under a tummy tuck (a seroma) and may need draining at review. Darkening of the skin over treated areas is more common on dark skin and usually fades.
Get help today if
Go to an emergency department, and call your surgeon on the way, for:
- Chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood or a fast heartbeat
- A painful, swollen, warm calf or thigh, usually on one side
- Fever, chills, or spreading redness and heat around a wound
- Pus or a bad smell from a wound, or a wound that opens
- Bleeding that soaks through the dressing, or a fast, tense swelling
- Severe tummy pain or vomiting that does not settle
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Do I need lymphatic drainage massage after lipo?
Some surgeons recommend it, others do not. Only have it if your surgeon advises it, and only from a trained therapist. Firm massage by untrained people can hurt and cause damage.
When can I go back to work?
Most people return to desk work within about two weeks after liposuction and two to four weeks after a tummy tuck. Physical jobs take longer. Your surgeon will tell you what fits your operation.
Can I bathe or swim?
Showers are usually fine after the first day or two, as your surgeon says. Avoid baths and swimming until the wounds are fully healed.
When can I fly back abroad?
Only when your surgeon says so, after a review. Flying soon after surgery raises the risk of clots, and you want problems found in Lagos, not after you land.
The procedures
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). NHS. Patient information.
- Liposuction. NHS. Patient information.
- DVT (deep vein thrombosis). NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.