PostOpTrip

Liposuction in Medellín · Day 2 of 7

Day 2 after liposuction in Medellín

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.

Short answer

On day 2 after liposuction in Medellín:

  • Not today Exercise · Showers, baths and pools
  • With care Compression garment · Walking · Fluid from the cuts · Flying home

Good options today: Parque Explora and aquarium, Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero, Exotic fruit tasting at the market.

Today's rules

With care

Compression garment

Wear the compression garment or bandages constantly for several weeks, taking them off only to shower. How long depends on the area treated, often 3 to 4 weeks or longer.

Source: NHS · Kaiser Permanente

With care

Walking

Walk every day, a little more than the day before. Normal walking and general movement are fine.

Source: Kaiser Permanente · NHS

Not today

Exercise

Nothing strenuous in the first couple of weeks. Sources differ on when it is fine: Kaiser Permanente says strenuous exercise may be fine in 2 to 3 weeks, while the NHS suggests gentle exercise at 3 to 4 weeks and avoiding strenuous activity for 10 to 12 weeks. Ask your surgeon.

Source: NHS · Kaiser Permanente

Not today

Showers, baths and pools

Showering is usually fine 24 to 48 hours after surgery if your surgeon agrees. No bath for the first 2 weeks. The sources cited here give no date for pools, the sea, hot tubs or the hammam, so ask your surgeon.

Source: Kaiser Permanente · NHS

With care

Fluid from the cuts

Fluid can drain from the small cuts for several days, bloody at first and then clear. Light gauze under the garment helps.

Source: Kaiser Permanente

With care

Flying home

The sources cited here give no fixed date. Stitches usually come out after about a week, so plan the flight after that check and with your surgeon's clearance.

Source: NHS · NHS

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.

4 things you can do today

  • Parque Explora and aquarium

    An interactive science museum with a large freshwater aquarium. Indoors.

    Gentle walking, indoors, about 2.5 hours

    See times and prices

  • Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero

    Fernando Botero's paintings indoors, and his bronze sculptures on the busy square outside.

    Gentle walking, some open-air walking, about 2 hours

    See times and prices

  • Exotic fruit tasting at the market

    A guided walk through a busy market, tasting fruits most visitors have never seen.

    Gentle walking, shaded or covered, about 2.5 hours

    See times and prices

  • El Tesoro or Santafé mall

    Large air-conditioned malls with cafés and benches, handy for a rainy afternoon.

    Gentle walking, indoors, about 2 hours

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Also fine today: Medellín Botanical Garden · Pueblito Paisa on Cerro Nutibara · Colombian cacao and chocolate workshop · Cafés in Provenza, El Poblado · Metrocable ride over the hillsides · Colombian cooking class · Museo Casa de la Memoria · Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM)

2 things to skip today

  • Coffee farm tour

    Why not: Too much walking and effort for this stage.

    Usually fine from day 4.

  • Hotel spa with steam and hot tub

    Why not: It involves swimming or water contact. It means steam, hot water or sauna heat.

    Not during the 7 days this guide covers. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.

Where to eat today

  • Arepas. Corn cakes with cheese or butter, at every bakery and street stand.
  • Bandeja paisa. The regional platter: beans, rice, ground beef, crackling, egg, arepa and plantain. Huge and heavy.
  • Empanadas. Fried corn pastries with meat and potato, sold on every corner. Crunchy.

Put every day of this guide in your calendar, with your dates

Questions people ask