Recovery Guide

Sixteen Weeks,
Explained

A practitioner-written map of what to expect, what to book, and what to worry about — from the day before your procedure through the final tissue settling at four months. Written by Juanita Chabolla, reviewed by three board-certified plastic surgeons.

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Recovery Imagery · Placeholder
Five Phases

The Phases Of Recovery

Each phase has its own priorities, its own risks, and its own treatments. Click any phase for detailed guidance.

00.
Pre-Op
Final week before surgery. Nutrition, one drainage session, what to pre-pack.
7 Days Prior
i.
Acute
48 hrs to two weeks. Drainage starts. Incisional care. Swelling peaks days 3 – 5.
Days 2 – 14
ii.
Early
Weeks 3 – 6. Drains come out. Sutures removed. Bruising fades. First glimpse of shape.
Weeks 3 – 6
iii.
Middle
Weeks 7 – 12. Fluid to tissue. Fibrosis prevention. Sculpt & tone integrated.
Weeks 7 – 12
iv.
Late
Weeks 13+. Final shape emerges. Maintenance cadence. Long-term care.
Weeks 13+
Common Paths

What To Book,
And When

These are the three most common paths our post-op clients follow. Every plan is personalized on intake — these give you a realistic starting picture.

Path A / BBL & 360 Lipo

BBL Recovery
Protocol

Daily drainage days 2 – 7, every other day through week 4, weekly through week 10. Sculpt & tone from week 6.

~20 Sessions · 14 – 16 Weeks
Path B / Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty
Protocol

Incisional drainage through week 2. Full-body drainage from week 3. Scar work at week 8.

~16 Sessions · 12 – 14 Weeks
Path C / Facial Surgery

Facelift & Rhino
Protocol

Gentle facial drainage from day 3. Daily for week one, three times weekly through week 4.

~14 Sessions · 8 – 10 Weeks
Essentials

What Every Client
Should Know

Before Surgery

  • Book your first drainage session 7 – 10 days out
  • Order two compression garments, not one
  • Stock high-protein soft foods
  • Clear your calendar for the first two weeks
  • Pre-arrange an adult to drive you home
  • Do not take NSAIDs for 14 days prior

Warning Signs

  • Fever above 101°F — call your surgeon
  • Sudden unilateral swelling — rule out DVT
  • Incision opening, foul odor, or yellow drainage
  • Chest pain or shortness of breath — emergency
  • Swelling that increases rather than decreases after week 3
  • Hardening that does not respond to drainage by week 6
Endorsed

Reviewed By Surgeons

Three board-certified plastic surgeons in Los Angeles contributed to this guide
★★★★★
"Every one of my BBL patients gets sent here. The protocol they follow is what I would have designed if I had the chair time."
Dr. R. S., MDSurgeon Partner
★★★★★
"Lymphyx fills the gap between the operating room and the twelve-week follow-up. A real part of the outcome, not a nice-to-have."
Dr. M. K., MDSurgeon Partner
★★★★★
"I read the guide cover to cover the night before my surgery and it genuinely changed how I recovered."
S. P.Client · 2025