Swelling is a normal and temporary part of healing after liposuction. The bulk of swelling will go down within a few weeks of your procedure to reveal a slimmer and more toned appearance. Some degree of residual swelling and fluid retention can remain after that, obscuring final results for months.
Liposuction swelling lasts for several months up to one year. The majority of swelling generally resolves within the first few months, but more subtle swelling may take up to one year when final results will be apparent. This is the time period for scar remodelling and maturation to complete.
Doctors recommend several best practices to help keep swelling down after your liposuction procedure. These include wearing your compression garment, using ice packs in affected areas, staying hydrated, and in some cases, massages.
Liposuction can remove pounds of fat, but right after the procedure, fluid retention and swelling are typical. These post-surgical effects are temporary and usually resolve within a few weeks. Some minor swelling can remain for several months.
Answer: Liposuction Recovery
It sounds like you are experiencing normal swelling after liposuction and it will resolve with time, however all of it may not be gone for as long as six months after surgery. The body expels swelling in various ways and some fluid is absorbed and eventually excreted with your urine.
Though you are probably anxious to see your final results immediately after getting liposuction, swelling can take several months to diminish. So don't feel discouraged if you still see signs of residual swelling months after your procedure — this is to be expected and should continue to improve over time.
Liposuction will NOT improve the appearance of loose, sagging skin. Liposuction is not an all-in-one body contouring solution. If a patient's primary concern is loose, sagging skin, then a procedure like Tummy Tuck surgery, Arm Lift, or Thigh Lift may be a better option to remove excess skin.
Causes. During a procedure like a tummy tuck or liposuction, large pieces of tissue are removed from the body. This leaves a large negative space in the body, which, until it heals, is vulnerable to the collection of fluid. The fluid is sent to this area in order to prevent infection.
Lymphatic insufficiency might play a significant role in the pathophysiology of lipoedema. Liposuction is up to now the best treatment. As liposuction is invasive, the technique could destruct parts of the lymphatic system and by this aggravate the lymphatic component and/or induce lymphoedema.
The lymphatic capillaries throughout the adipose tissue undergo damage from cannulas. Lymph capillary injury is an inevitable consequence of liposuction, but the extent and the duration of liposuction lymphedema can be significantly reduced by rational postoperative care.
The results will be permanent since liposuction permanently removes fat cells from an area, and fat cells do not grow back or duplicate in the area where liposuction has been done.
With open drainage and high compression the tumescent drainage usually ceases in 24 to 72 hours. After liposuction of an unusually large abdomen or thigh, drainage may persist for several days.
Drink Lots of Fluid
Dehydration is common following a surgical procedure, so it's essential to stay hydrated and get enough electrolytes. Drinking lots of water can also help you flush out toxins and other fluids from your body more quickly.
Hold the swollen part of the body above the level of the heart several times a day. Sometimes, raising the swollen area during sleep can be helpful. Massage. Stroking the affected area toward the heart using firm, but not painful, pressure might help move fluid out of that area.
Doctors will advise their patients that, without massage, there is a risk that the swelling and inflammation could turn into fibrosis, which is a permanent hardening of the area. Lymphatic Massage ensures you'll achieve the best results possible from your procedure!
Your limb will still feel swollen for some time after the operation and it can be up to 6 months or a year until the final normal limb volume is established. A few compression garment appointments are required during this time.
Decongestive Therapy and Compression Therapy
Your doctor may suggest noninvasive treatments, such as: A gentle form of skin stretching/massage called manual lymphatic drainage therapy. Special wrapping techniques called complex decongestive therapy.
You may also have pain, tenderness or heaviness in the affected limbs, and you may bruise easily. Lipoedema can also cause knock knees, flat feet and joint problems, which can make walking difficult. It can be a difficult condition to live with and you may feel anxious or depressed.
If a sizable seroma is left untreated for a long period of time, a thin cover of tissue called a fibrous capsule can develop around the mass. The capsule can make it more difficult for the seroma to be completely drained, and therefore, allow fluid to continue accumulating rapidly.
The swelling should start to go down after a week of rest and care but can get more pronounced than days before due to your level of activity and motion. Even once the swelling goes down, you should still wear a compression garment for up to four weeks or longer if your doctor has directed you to do so.
Here are the signs to look for with a botched liposuction procedure: Saggy skin. Uneven areas that are lumpy even to the touch or do not look smooth in texture. Skin that is discolored longer than the initial recovery time (outside of possible bruising which eventually goes away)
Is it dangerous to have liposuction twice? You can have the procedure done to the same area several times, however, it is important to give your body at least 6 months to recover. The risk of irregular and uneven results increases with each procedure.
Liposuction isn't safe for everyone – you face greater risks if you are over 45, are obese, or have a serious illness. Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery and is unlikely to improve the health effects of being overweight.
Swelling is a normal and temporary part of healing after liposuction. The bulk of swelling will go down within a few weeks of your procedure to reveal a slimmer and more toned appearance. Some degree of residual swelling and fluid retention can remain after that, obscuring final results for months.
Fibrosis after liposuction refers to imperfections occurring as a result of the procedure. These can include lumps, scarring, and thickened areas of tissue. Over time these should improve naturally but they can be helped with regular massaging of the area.