Liposuction · Medellín, Colombia
Medellín after liposuction: a day-by-day guide
A week in Medellín after liposuction: the compression garment, short walks in El Poblado, what to ask the recovery house, and which tours to keep for later.
Make a dated calendar for your trip
At a glance
- How long to stay
- About a week: most people stay one night in hospital, and stitches usually come out after about a week
- What the rules are about
- Liposuction usually means one night in hospital. The rules are about wearing the compression garment around the clock, walking every day, nothing strenuous for the first weeks and no baths for two weeks.
- Weather
- Spring-like all year, usually around 17 to 28°C, at about 1,500 metres above sea level. Showers are common, especially in April and May and from October to November. The sun is strong at this altitude.
- Getting around
- Ride apps and taxis are cheap and best for the first days. The metro and the Metrocable cable cars are clean and fast but busy at rush hour. El Poblado is hilly, so even short walks can be steep.
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
Recovery timeline
- Day 1
Most people stay in hospital overnight, and someone should stay with you for the first 24 hours. Fluid can leak from the small cuts for several days.
- Days 2 to 7
Walking and general movement are fine. Showering usually starts 24 to 48 hours after surgery if your surgeon agrees. Keep the garment on except in the shower.
- Weeks 2 to 4
Bruising and swelling usually improve after 10 to 14 days. Stitches come out after about a week unless they dissolve. Gentle exercise from around 3 to 4 weeks.
- Months 1 to 6
The NHS says to avoid strenuous activity for 10 to 12 weeks and to check with your surgeon. It can take up to 6 months for the area to settle.
Activity rules, day by day
Sun, water, exertion, heat, alcohol and flying, for each day of a typical stay. Every rule is sourced on the day pages.
| Rule | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compression garment | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Walking | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Exercise | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
| Showers, baths and pools | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today | Not today |
| Fluid from the cuts | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
| Flying home | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care | With care |
✕ Not today ! With care ✓ OK
What to do each day
You are back at the hotel after a night in hospital. Rest, keep the garment on and let your companion handle everything. The picks below are for them.
For your companion: Coffee farm tour · Comuna 13 graffiti tour · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero
Day 1 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
Walk a little several times today. If your surgeon agrees, the first shower is usually now: take the garment off only for the shower and put it straight back on.
Good picks: Parque Explora and aquarium · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Exotic fruit tasting at the market
Day 2 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
Bruising and swelling are normal. A short outing to somewhere calm near your hotel is fine if you feel up to it.
Good picks: Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Exotic fruit tasting at the market · Metrocable ride over the hillsides
Day 3 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
You can usually manage a few hours of gentle sightseeing with breaks. Nothing strenuous.
Good picks: Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Coffee farm tour
Day 4 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
Keep walking every day and keep the garment on. Leave boat trips with swimming and spa days for later.
Good picks: Comuna 13 graffiti tour · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras
Day 5 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
Ask about the stitch check and the garment before you plan the flight.
Good picks: Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras · Coffee farm tour · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero
Day 6 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
Stitches usually come out around now. Ask your surgeon when you can fly, and walk about every hour on board.
Good picks: Coffee farm tour · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras
Day 7 in detail: rules, 4 safe activities, 2 to skip, where to eat
For your companion
Your companion has the same idle days without the restrictions. These are the things the patient has to skip on most days of this guide, which makes them perfect solo outings.
Guatapé and El Peñol day trip
The colourful lakeside town and more than 700 steps up El Peñol rock, about two hours each way, often with a boat ride.
Strenuous, mostly in full sun, about 10 hours
Hotel spa with steam and hot tub
Steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs in El Poblado hotel spas.
Seated, indoors, about 2 hours
Medellín tips for recovering patients
- El Poblado's streets are steep. In the first days, take a taxi even for short distances.
- Many patients spend the first nights in a recovery house with nurses. Ask what is included and how you get to check-ups.
- Medellín sits at about 1,500 metres. The air is mild but the sun is strong, so plan outdoor sights in the shade or early in the day.
- Check current travel advice from your own government before you go, and use ride apps or registered taxis at night.
Pharmacy and clinic map: Medellín
Clinic districts
- El Poblado. Most plastic surgery clinics, recovery hotels, cafés and nightlife. Clinics · Pharmacies
- Laureles. Flatter, quieter streets with hotels and clinics. Clinics · Pharmacies
- Envigado. South of El Poblado: residential, with several clinics and recovery houses. Clinics · Pharmacies
- Centro. Plaza Botero, museums and markets. Busy by day. Clinics · Pharmacies
Pharmacies and emergencies
Pharmacies (droguerías) are on almost every street, and several chains in El Poblado and Laureles open 24 hours and deliver.
Emergency: 123 for ambulance, police and fire.
Questions
Can I do the Guatapé day trip after liposuction?
Not in the first week. It means about two hours on the road each way and more than 700 steps up El Peñol. Keep it for later or for your companion.
How long should I stay in Medellín after liposuction?
About a week suits many people. Most stay one night in hospital, and stitches usually come out after about a week unless they dissolve.
More about liposuction recovery
Travelling with someone?
Sources
- Liposuction. NHS (UK). Checked 2 November 2026.
- Liposuction: what to expect at home. Kaiser Permanente. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): long journeys. NHS (UK). Checked 2 November 2026.