Is Hard Swelling/bruising Normal After Liposuction? (photo)

The pictures provided show a very typical result 1 week after liposuction surgery. I think you have a normal amount of bruising. It is typically a bit sore which is normal.  Sometimes the bruises will migrate downward into the lower leg. Do not be alarmed if this happens.  At one week out you should be in some type of compression garment that helps with discomfort and support as well as skin retraction. Formal post lymphatic post operative massages typically begin about 2 weeks after surgery in my practice.  Both compression and massage are important adjuncts to this procedure. I hope this helps!

Thanks for your question. Healing after liposuction is usually pretty straight forward.  There is a process of swelling and bruising that peaks at 3 days after surgery and then undergoes the first stage of major resolution in the first 2 weeks after surgery.  The lateer phase of healing takes place over the 2-3 months after surgery where everything really settles and softens.  It is after this time that we are getting close to the final result, though this varies patient to patient. 

Recovery following liposuction takes time and patience. Swelling and some bruising is normal following liposuction. The swelling and bruising should improve over the first few weeks. It generally takes 2-3 weeks to see your weight start to drop. The amount of weight you loose should be approximately equal to the amount of fat removed during the procedure. At 6 weeks post-op you should see a nice improvement in your shape. It is normal at this point to feel some firmness and lumps beneath your skin. I generally recommend message to speed up the recovery process. It takes 4 to 6 months after the procedure to see the "final" result.I would recommend that you discuss your concerns with your Plastic SurgeonBest regards, Andrew Lyos MD, FACS

Your
pictures indicate that you have significant bruising and swelling following
your liposuction procedure.This is a
normal finding in someone who is one week post-op.Patients undergoing liposuction often develop
swelling and bruising following this procedure.During the procedure, the liposuction cannula is passed through the
subcutaneous tissue.This causes
disruption of blood vessels and lymphatic channels and cellular injury, which
results in bleeding, bruising and swelling.Significant
improvement in swelling and bruising can be seen in the first three weeks
following surgery, with the majority gone in about three months.Small amounts of swelling may persist up to a
year following surgery. Both
swelling and bruising can be minimized by using tumescent technique and small
liposuction cannulas.In the
post-operative period, we generally recommend the use of compression support
garments for about three weeks following surgery.We also recommend a low-salt diet before and
after liposuction.Exercise is usually
started early in the post-operative period, and we want patients to ambulate as
soon as possible following surgery.Massage is also helpful.It
decreases swelling by mobilizing retained fluid following the procedure.All
of these steps help to minimize the duration of swelling and bruising following
surgery.It’s important to realize that
swelling and bruising usually resolve with time regardless of the
post-operative management.

This is difficult to tell if this is normal or a small hematoma from your photos. In general bruising and swelling are normal for the first week in the suctioned areas and usually increase slightly after the removal of any tape or foam. The bruising will decrease over 3-4 weeks, but may last as long as 6 weeks. The majority of the swelling will be gone within the first 3-4 weeks. However it may take much longer to disappear completely. The compression garment helps reduce the swelling, and the longer it is worn, the more quickly the process will proceed. If you are concerned or the problem gets significantly worse, immediately visit your plastic surgeon to get it examined.

While swelling and bruising are very common after liposuction, if it is sore to the touch and it is significantly swollen, it's best to see your  surgeon just incase it's not a hematoma or seroma.