The thin skin in the upper arms and inner thighs make these areas very risky for liposuction compared to other areas of the body where the skin is thicker and more elastic. These two areas should be approached with a very conservative procedure consequently (or not done at all if the skin is too loose). ... more
Bumps, Lumps and Roping After Smart Lipo: Is this normal?
I had Smart Lipo on my upper arms 6 weeks ago, and I'm horrified by the lumps and bumps on the underside of my arms. I look disfigured and I'm scared it will not improve. I've been massaging the areas daily, sometimes to the point of bruising my arms since it is such a tender area. I don't really see a consistent improvement.
Would Endermology or Velasmooth treatments help? How about Tri Active treatments? When should I expect improvement, or should I accept the fact that there won't be any?
2 answers to “Bumps, Lumps and Roping After Smart...”
A: This is one very real challenge with underarm/arm surgery unfortunately
While many people can turn out great when they do liposuction on the arm area, it doesn't always turn out that well. It is this reason that makes my rate of arm liposuction very low. In order to be a good candidate, you need to have excellent elasticity and the surgeon has to be very careful while... more
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2 posts
10 Nov 2008
i had smart lipo 2 weeks ago. while he difference in my stomach is pretty dramatic. the saddlebags and inner thighs are not dramatically different. my stomach areas are numb and very lumpy. i am also very very sore. the bruising has gone whihc is good. is the dimpling and soreness normal after 2 weeks.
1 post
19 Feb 2009
hi, Im really concern cause I did laserlip actually smartlipo its been 3months and still have a wavy and hard stomch I massage everyday will it ever get better. why dont surgeon tell you this will happen
109 posts
5 Nov 2008
I understand your concern about the appearance of your arms, given that you are 6 weeks out. There is much time needed before you know your final outcome however. That being said, you are doing everything that you can be doing; this early in the healing process, massage is the best thing you can be doing for yourself. Lumps & bumps early on are usually healing tissue in the area treated. The best way to think about it if if you accidentally cut yourself, you are left with dried blood and a scab. Eventually the scab will fall off after healing and being exposed to the outside environment. Now most of us accidentally or purposely pick off the scab. Unfortunately, inside our bodies we can't do that; the scab needs to naturally dissolve which takes time. Skin in the underarm (as well as inner thighs) is quite thin. When performing liposuction in this area, less is more. It is best to purposely leave a rim of fat underneath the skin to avoid divots/lumpiness in the appearance. Many of the procedures you mentioned (Triactive etc...) can help the appearance but only after you have completely healed. There can also be areas of small residual fat pockets that can be re-treated as well.
15 posts
13 Mar 2009
I had my arms done. They look fantastic. I was faithful to use the garment and I have no lumps and not even 3 mmonths out. I'm pretty sure my doctor left a little fat, which is fine. I think the DR is the most important choice. I have a couple lumps in my abdomen but the DR is monitoring them. My thighs look decent too. It's hard to tell on yourself a reduction in an area we are so critical of. My abdomen shape is the same (exactly what the DR told me) but it is atleast half the size. I think working with your DR and asking lots of questions is a good thing.
15 posts
17 Mar 2009
Today makes one month since I had my abs done and next week will make one month for my sides. I must say I am please with how things are going, I am still not as flat as i would like to be but there is light at the end of the tunnel.I wore a form fitting dress this week end and I must say that everyone thought that I looked great and they noticed the weight lost.smile smile [ I have not told any one that I had smartlipo this will be my secret ] I still have lumps not as large also I'm still a little tender all the way around my middle section. I no longer wear my garment but I do wear panty hose that have good support for my waist and abs. I am still eatting fresh pineapple everyday to help the swelling. lots of water, plenty of fresh raw green vegetables, berries, nuts no salt, no fast food of any kind the salt intake may be high also the fat.I will continue to keep you up dated as I hope you will also.Four to five months to go. I am in it to win it along with you guys.
9 posts
2 Apr 2009
I am almost at the 5 week period of my arm lipo and tt. You have to wear the arm sleeves faithfully to help with the formation of the tissues and lumps. The lumps change every so often but my doctor reassured me that it will contour itself by the final result. My arms are much smaller than they were, which were noticable immediately. I didn't have a great deal of swelling but there are still some sore spots and bruising on one arm but my clothes fit much better. I went from wearing an xl because of my arms and tummy to a medium shirt. My arms look great but the results aren't final as of yet. Thanks for sharing the info about the pineapples, you know hawaii has the best sweetest pineapples and I love them. I haven't really massaged my arms except in the morning in my shower with the exfoliating cloth and lotion or cocoa butter stick after my shower. Other than that, it was worth it. Just hang in there.
15 posts
5 Apr 2009
Hi lr79, my left side has started to look even but not flat, my right side shows more lumps [3 ]left. In the beginning I had lumps all over my tummy.I still have hope that all will be well in 2 to 3 months since this is what my Dr. has continued to tell me.I massage and use the heating pad every night. I also continue to eat fresh pineapple everyday [ about 3 whole pineapples a week ] I saw a friend today that I have not seen in about 18 months and he said I look great and ask did I live in the gym I had on a tight tee with jeans. It's kinda funny my tummy dose not show through my cloths as before only I seem to see the bulge and the bumps.I will keep you posted and you do the same for me.
4 posts
13 Apr 2009
I HAD TUMMY FLANKS AND BRA ROLL ALMOST 4 WEEKS AGO, I FEEL AS THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS LIFTED BUT ITS LIKE I'M 3 OR 4 MONTHS PREGNANT, MY SISTER IS 8 WEEKS IN AND ALMOST LOOKS AS BIG AS WHEN SHE 1ST HAD IT DONE. THEY TOOK A LOT OUT ON US BOTH. I WONDER WILL THE SWELLING GO DOWN, OR IS THIS JUST A BIG SCAM!
1 post
31 May 2009
i am on my 6 week of tummy tuck but , i still have dark skin and four good size lumb in abomen, so what causes the lumbs and will they go away soon they are still tender, to tough, was told to masage them but it does't help tell me what to do thanks jane
2 posts
22 Jul 2009
I did the smart lipo 2 yrs ago. abdomen,flanks,inner&outer thighs. The first procedure didn't show any improvement. I had lots of bruising & scarring up & down on both side of my back. The scars are still there after 2 yrs. (I was hopeful) I was convinced I needed some tweeking so I went in for the 2nd & the 3rd time only to be left with lumps, pumps & ripples. I had no cellulite to start with, no visible stretch marks, no punctures in my skin anywhere. Now I look very distorted. I'm disappointed with the procedure. I've pd $11,000.00. I've never been a fat person. I just wanted a little help with those areas. I ended up with a disaster. I was promised the world at first then every excuse was invented why the procedure turned out to be this way. I was very cautious about scarring & skin laxity (I was assured none of this will happen)otherwise, I wouldn't have done the procedure. Is this normal?