Hypovolemic shock, intraperitoneal or inthrathoracic perforation and pulmonary fat emboli are very rare but have been reported. Pulmonary fat emboli have been reported. Death is an extremely rare event. Postoperative Care and Medications Compression garments such as binders, girdles, tape, foam and other specialized equipment have been effectively used with favorable results. The use of compression is optional but appears to be most helpful in the first 7 days following surgery.
Some surgeons prefer to encourage draining of tumescent fluid residuals.
Prophylactic antibiotic therapy may be indicated in cases of liposuction surgery. Some surgeons elect to provide presurgical and intraoperative steroid administration in an effort to reduce postoperative swelling. Reasonable early ambulation of liposuction patients seems advisable to avoid venous stasis and to shorten the postoperative recuperation period. There is anecdotal experience suggestive that the use of postoperative superficial ultrasound application may be helpful in the reduction of postoperative swelling, particularly the edema and induration that persist over 2 weeks. In addition, the use of lymphatic and manual massage may be helpful in the reduction of such swelling and firmness.