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Liposuction Downtime - when is Recovery is Over?

asked 2 years ago by Gianna in Lombard, IL USA
Latest answer by Jaime Perez MD
Question viewed 26,354 times
Tags: abdomen, downtime, recovery

I've had my abdomen, hips, and flanks liposuctioned close to 4 months ago. My abdomen has bulging lumps (mainly below belly button) and hardness. How long will it take for my body to return to normal and the lumps and hardness to diminish? Basically when is my liposuction recovery officially over?

23 answers to Liposuction Downtime - when is Recovery is Over?

Probably by 6-8 months

It sort of depends on how much fat was removed since patients with a big tummy often have more fluid accumulation in the tissue and it takes longer for the lymphatic system to remove it. Also if you haven't been massaging the area, I would recommend more aggressive massaging or endermologie to help the areas shrink faster. The excess skin from a large tummy takes 6-8 months to shrink. Skin is elastic and shrinks a fair amount after lipo. The younger you are or the less stretch marks you... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Recovery from liposuction takes months

Recovery from any surgery is different from patient to patient, there are many factors that go into play technique, number of treated areas, your health, your age etc… however for the most part an average patient with average areas treated can expect to feel well enough to return to guarded work activities five to seven days after surgery. At four to six week you should be able to return to all activities with no restrictions. Full recovery can take up to a year where you will not... more

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction recovery happens in phases

Recovery from Liposuction happens in phases. The first phase is the immediate post-surgery where you need pain control and are limited in activity. With liposuction that is generally about 1-2days. After that, you can typically drive and do your daily activities. Next step is for the majority of your swelling and bruising to resolve. For liposuction, that is about 2-3 weeks. That is when you can start light exercise as approved by your surgeon. At 6 weeks, you can return to all... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Recovery after liposuction.

Recovery after liposuction can very from patient to patient, but as a general rule most of the swelling is gone after 3-4 months. In lower extremities, especially below the knees, it can take even longer. Proper technique during surgery and proper post-operative care can reduce the healing time somewhat. Most of our patients can wear a bathing suit after about a month, although the final result might not be apparent for 3-4 months.

Boris M. Ackerman, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

Six months for liposuction recovery

We usually tell patients to wait at least six months to see their final results, although it might be longer in ceratin patients. If the swelling still seems variable from day to day, you have likely not reached a stable endpoint.

W. Tracy Hankins, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

At 4 months things should be pretty settled after liposuction

Hello, At 4 months out, most liposuction patients have had their swelling subside. Areas of hardness can take longer to soften, but only rarely do we see these with lipo alone. I would return to your surgeon and maybe look into doing something else to change things. Did you discuss other procedures as alternatives when you saw him or her before your surgery? Best Regards.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Surgical and non surgical options to improve liposuction results

The swelling and bruising resulting from liposuction usually take 8-12 weeks. Residual bumps following Liposuction are residual fat pockets, fat necrosis or uneven Liposuction. A revision might be required. In many cases it could be a small revision under local anesthesia. It is hard, however, to determine this without examining you. Some non-surgical options like Velashape could be helpful in some cases as well.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Massage during liposuction recovery

There are a variety of explanations for what you are observing and I will discuss some of these options. I have seen patients who were better candidates for tummy tucks but underwent liposuction instead leaving them with loose skin that appears to be lumpy. If this is the case you may be better treated with a tummy tuck. Alternatively, any injury can result in healing which produces scar tissue for 6 weeks (proliferative phase) followed by resolution of the scar tissue (maturation... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

You should have a good sense of final liposuction results after 6 months

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.

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

Be patient, but continue to see your surgeon and point out these "problem" areas out.

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... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

The normal final result is expected about 4-5 months after surgery

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... more

David A. Dreyfuss, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Recovery

Liposuction recovery varies from patient to patient. I recommend patients to try lymphatic drainage massage to help with lumps, bumps and hardness. I would first advise that you address the issue with your surgeon to see what he or she would recommend.

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

Liposuction recovery schedule

Recovery from liposuction takes time. Its easy to get discouraged but if you stay patient you should enjoy very nice results in time. i tell my patients that there is a three stage healing process. The first stage takes 2-3 weeks. During the first 2-3 weeks the initial swelling is resolving and you can get a general sense for your new shape. The second stage takes 2-3 months and will show you the details of your new shape as the swelling subsides and your tissue softens. The final... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Results - generally 6 months is enough

After 6 months, the majority of the skin tightening from scar healing has completed, and you should be able to assess your final result. In some cases, hardness can represent small "hematomas" or blood collections that hardened, and these can take longer to resolve (do you remember being really black and blue?) - up to a year.

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Length of liposuction recovery depends on what you want to do

After liposuction, patients are usually able to accomplish their light household tasks within a few days to a week. Most return to work after one week if their job duties are not strenuous. It takes about a month for patients to feel comfortable participating in sports and vigorous exercise.

Franklin D. Richards, MD
Bethesda Plastic Surgeon

Several months

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.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You should see the final result of liposuction at four months.

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. ... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Swelling resolves art different rates for different patients

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; Excess fat - for which revision should be scheduled. Seroma - a fluid collection under the skin that should have treated a long time ago. Hematoma - blood under the skin, which also should have been treated a... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Lumps and hardness

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!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It can take up to six months

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... more

Manish H. Shah, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Like It Or Lump It!

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... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Your problems should be resolving by now

Gianna, If you are four months out from liposuction, your problems should be resolving by now. Are you seeing any improvement? After liposuction, you will have swelling and occasionally "hardness" of the tissue (from lymphedema), but this progressively resolves. Additionally, the swelling may worsen throughout the day while you are standing and improve overnight as you are sleeping. You should not have large lumps. Do the lumps feel like they have fluid in them? Occasionally, fluid... more