Objective To investigate the effect of dexamethasone combined with nitroglycerin on skin recovery and pain intensity after liposuction surgery. Methods A total of 100 patients who underwent liposuction surgery at Shenzhen Jumei Boyue Medical Beauty Clinic from June 2022 to June 2025 were selected, and they were divided into the control group and the observation group by the random number table method, with 50 patients in each group. The control group was treated with dexamethasone, and the observation group was treated with dexamethasone combined with nitroglycerin. The skin recovery, pain intensity and adverse reaction rate were compared between the two groups. Results The bruise resolution time and hematoma absorption time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores in the observation group at 1, 3 and 5 days after operation were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group (8.00%) was lower than that in the control group (18.00%), but the difference was not statistically signiffcant (P>0.05). Conclusion The application of dexamethasone combined with nitroglycerin to the skin in the surgical area after liposuction surgery can effectively improve skin recovery, relieve pain intensity, and accelerate the resolution of bruising and hematoma, with deffnite clinical application value.