Swelling 6 Months and Beyond Around 10% of swelling can linger for around 6 to 9 months after liposuction. While you should have an excellent idea of what your final liposuction results will look like around the 6-month point, know that some very mild swelling may still be present.
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.
Swelling usually starts to go down by the end of the first week but wearing the compression garments should continue until week four or as otherwise directed. Some degree of swelling may last for as long as six weeks, but within a few days, you should be comfortable enough to return to work.
A compression garment should be worn day and night for 1-2 weeks after a liposuction procedure. After that, we recommend continuing to wear it at night for at least two more weeks. The compression helps reduce swelling and helps your body absorb excess fluid from the procedure.
Liposuction is the removal of fat cells from areas in the body that do not respond to weight loss from diet and exercise. However, weight gain is still possible after liposuction because fat is deposited into fat cells that were not treated by liposuction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can compression garments cause swelling? The intention of Compression garments is to reduce swelling. However, using tight garments that cause excess pressure can lead to fluid build-up and swelling. Compression garments should snugly fit your body.
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.
Answer: Liposuction Results
My patients typically see results immediately, especially with hi definition procedures and even with swelling. However, ultimate results from the procedure are seen after 3-6 months.
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)
Massage actually breaks up any hardness in the fat below the skin and the minor scar tissue. “Many people during the course of normal recovery develop a certain hardness, stiffness and lumpiness,” Dr. Popp said.
The acute lymphedema that occurs soon after liposuction demonstrates pitting on firm digital pressure. The lymphedema of recent onset, especially in a young patient, may be associated with pitting edema.
What to Eat after Liposuction. It is important to stay hydrated after liposuction surgery. Therefore, patients should increase their water intake to at least 64 ounces every day. This will help reduce swelling following surgery, regulate digestion, and flush out harmful toxins.
Manually Massaging Skin – Lymphatic massages, do more good than you may have thought. Manual massage, utilizing machines or devices can also be used, helps with moving the fluid around faster. Using this massage technique improves lumps/bumps that are due to scarring and swelling.
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.
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 Is Not as Obvious as You Think
For those who'd rather fly under the radar, the good news is liposuction isn't something everyone will notice.
Unfortunately, like any other cosmetic surgery, if liposuction isn't performed with the care required to produce the expected results, it can cause complications. Patients who experience this are said to have had 'bad liposuction'.
It is always to wait at least a minimum of six weeks before having another liposuction procedure even if it is on different areas of the body. This allows the body to recover, it allows swelling to subside and the overall recovery after the second procedure will be better.
Some investigators suggest that liposuction Metabolic effect induces a metabolic imbalance, causing the body to gain weight to compensate for the fat that has been removed [1, 2].
Post-operative swelling can last for several months and many patients may actually increase in weight over the first month after surgery due to swelling and retained “water weight.” Don't worry, this weight gain and swelling is only temporary and it will begin to drop off as the healing process progresses.