Air Pocket Under Skin After Lipo Without Drainage

asked 3 years ago by KariH in Gilroy, Ca
Latest answer by Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Question viewed 1,583 times
Tags: back, flanks, hips, 3 days post-op, abs, air bubble, drainage, drains, fluid

I had Lipo done on my abs, hips, flanks and upper back 3 days ago, and there was no drainage put in. I have 10 holes and was told that they would only need to make 6 holes.

My main concern is that I have this air pocket in the middle of my upper chest and when I push on it I here squishy liquid noises and it sounds like I'm tapping on something hollow. What is this?

5 answers to Air Pocket Under Skin After Lipo Without Drainage

Fluid after liposuction

While what you are describing is unusual, it is not dangerous. As the other doctors have said, it is fluid under the skin and it will respond to time and massage. Follow your doctor's orders on this and don't worry about the incisions as they will disappear over time.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

No air pockets after liposuction.

Hi. Air pockets do not form after liposuction. And drains are almost never necessary. You probably have a little localized fluid collection which will respond to massage.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction drainage

Dear Kari It is very unusual to place drains after liposuction as there is no place to put the drains. The cannulas produce small tunnels where the fat is removed and not a large open space that you would see after a tummy tuck where the skin is lifted up. I can't remember a tiem where I used a drain on a liposuction. The number of incisions used is not unusual for the number of areas suctioned as I usually use 2 incisions per area to cross tunnel in 2 directions. The "noises"... more

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and Drainage

There usually is not drainage tubes placed after liposuction procedures. I understand your concern for 4 more incisions but the surgeon must have felt that there was a need to place more to get you a better result. The feeling you may have is some flood or a pocket of space where the fat was suctioned. There are many things you will feel during this recovery phase. I generally tell my patients that it will be about 4 months time before they achieve their final result. Good luck... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Squishy Sounds after Liposuction

Garlic Greetings! During liposuction hundreds of small tunnels are created by passing the liposuction tubes back and forth in the fat under the skin. To create these tunnels in a symmetrical fashion and minimize waviness, these multiple Cris-crossing tunnels are creating from many small openings. Each liposuction opening (port) will heal and be barely visible. Immediately after the surgery the body produces fluid which remains in the treated areas and on gentle compression makes the... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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