Recovery

The residual effects of the local anaesthetic in both the donor and the recipient sites are still in effect when you go home, and as such, surgical discomfort is minimal. As the local anaesthetic wears off, the use of oral pain-relieving medications that Dr Masters will prescribe becomes necessary. Some patients literally take no additional pain relief; others find themselves in moderate discomfort for a number of days, requiring strong oral pain relief. There is no way to predict how a certain individual will respond to the post-operative discomfort. Although, as a rule of thumb, the smaller the area of grafting performed, the less discomfort the patient has.

Usually there are areas of altered skin sensation initially, full return of sensation is to be expected, however this may take a number of weeks to months.

Most patients would be technically capable of performing their normal day-to-day duties, including work, within two to three days of having the procedure. However the bruising and swelling associated with fat grafting can be quite significant and may necessitate a number of weeks off work if the patient does not wish for their colleagues to know they have undergone the procedure. Exercise is usually discouraged for a number of weeks.