How long will it take for my body to return to normal after Liposuction?

Without examining you, it is difficult to know exactly what these lumps represent, but they can be either fluid collections that have hardened, scar tissue, or residual fat pockets.

Usually by 6 months, you have a very good sense of the final result, but it can take up to a year for everything to settle down. I would continue to stay in close contact with your surgeon, but you may need a revision procedure in the future as a touch up.

After liposcution there is often residual swelling and bruising that persists for several weeks. The majority of swelling will go away fter 3-4 weeks but you may see residual swelling for several months afterwards, especially if you exert yourself significantly.

The stomach is the hardest area to get a perfectly smooth result after liposuction. I try very hard to prevent irregularities but still occasionally see them.

We use a form of massage called lymphatic drainage massage for 2 or 3 weeks after liposuction of the stomach because we think this helps get  a smooth result.  But I don't  know if  this would help you at four months.  It is worth a try.

I have seen the lumps that you describe.  They may well get better in the next couple of months.  They are probably little collections of fluid that eventually become organized into internal scar tissue.  If they don't go away, they can be quite hard to treat.  Since I haven't examined you, of course I cannot make specific recommendations, but one possibility is ultrasound assisted touch up liposuction.

Gianna

I agree with the advice given to you by the other surgeons. I have performed many liposuction procedures over the years. Although I do use the VASER, what I have to say still applies to one having a procedure of straight liposuction.  In general, I advise our patients that the final results, assuming no increase or gain in weight, is not seen until around six to nine months.  At four month, though, the trend should be that of improvement.  Lumps, unevenness, and contour irregularities may be due to several things.  The most common causes may involve internal inflammation and scarring, poor lymphatic drainage, untreated areas of fat, and/or poor skin "re-draping".                                                                     

So, be patient but continue to see your surgeon and point out these "problem" areas out.  He is the best one to know what they are and how to treat them.                                                                                                   Hope this helps!

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD, FACS

Healing is different for everyone. The more fat that is removed the longer it will take for the swelling to resolve. I tell my patients that swelling takes anywhere from 6 months to a year for the final results. Your surgeon can examine the lumps and decide if they are the results of;

1. Excess fat - for which revision should be scheduled.
2. Seroma - a fluid collection under the skin that should have treated a long time ago.
3. Hematoma - blood under the skin, which also should have been treated a long time ago.
4. Routine swelling- which can be treated with compression garments, massage, lymphatic drainage, Ultrasound treatments and the TOT (tincture of Time).

Good luck.

Robert M. Freund, MD, FACS

New York, NY

Gianna,
It may take 6 months or so for bumps and hardness to soften and flatten. For this reason, you can not critically evaluate results of a liposuction. Your surgeon should be able to give you some massage techniques or ultrasound treatments to resolve the lumps more quickly. Good luck!

Hi Gianna, Typically after liposuction there can be a 2-3 month period of numbness, swelling, and contour irregularity. My patients typically wear a compression garment during this whole time.

I also believe in post-liposuction massage to "iron out" small irregularities due to swelling or small lipo cannula marks. Hopefully your surgeon has made these recommendations after evaluating you for more serious problems like seroma (fluid collections) or an organized hematoma (scarred in collection of blood under the skin).

If after six months, you are still lumpy, it is most likely one of the above, or an asymmetry with some fat still left irregularly in place. If some fat got left behind, a quick revision liposuction can even things out. A seroma or hematoma would require a surgical correction that can leave significant scars.

Good luck. Dr. Shah

It normally takes 4-6 months for the final results of surgery, especially liposuction, to be seen. Lumpiness or bumps are not unusual within the first 2-3 months. When you break up the fat with liposuction, not all of it is removed with the canula. A significant amount of fat has to be absorbed and destroyed by the body. This creates inflammation and firmness. That is what causes the lumps. By 4 months the lumps should be resolving. If the lumps are soft, you may need some touch up surgery to smooth the areas. No decision to touch up should be made before 6 months. Often doctors will use post op massage or endodermologie to assist with the smoothing. But in reality, time is the best cure for an area that isn't smooth. If the lumps do not resolve, discuss this with your physician to help you understand your options.

After Liposuction, it is not unusual for patients to experience some hardness, lumpiness, and asymmetry in the treated areas. In most cases, the problems are temporary and resolve within six months. Problems that may lead to prolonged hardness or lumpiness would include hematoma (a collection of blood which is slower to resolve than swelling within the fat), or seroma (an accumulation of fluid from resolving hematoma or other trapped fluid).

During the initial healing process after Liposuction, patients are encouraged to wear compression garments and to aggressively massage the treated areas, in order to minimize fluid accumulation and to encourage lymphatic drainage. External Ultrasound treatments may also be effective in promoting resolution of localized lumpiness.

After 3-4 months, it should become apparent what is causing the prolonged healing. Residual fat deposits may require a return to the O.R. for a touch-up procedure, but I generally would not do this until at least 6 months has passed, the longer the better.

If you're lumpy and don't like it, ask your surgeon if your recovery is on track.