Post Lipo Hardness and Stiffness, What Should I Do?

The tight bands that you are experiencing under your skin after liposculpture is what Dr. Andy Kaczynski of Sacramento, California, refers to as organized swelling.  This is not scar tissue and I believe, if treated early, can be gotten rid of 100% of the time.  What you need to do is increase the blood supply to these injured areas to allow your body's natural healing processes to work their magic. 

 

In my practice, (1) I use DMSO, a liquid which helps open redundant blood vessels in your tissue as well as decreasing the inflammation causing some of the swelling.  DMSO for the body is best diluted with some products to make it okay for human tissue, as the pure stuff is used only in veterinary medicine.  Rumor has it that everyone in the Tour de France bathes in DMSO to decrease the inflammation from bicycling.  (2) Post operative ultrasound (the kind the physical therapist uses to get rid of sore muscles, not the kind that the gynecologist uses to find the baby in your uterus) converts sound waves into heat which increases the blood supply to an area and also seems to level out what semi variable fat cells remain in your tissue. 

 

Since you have had multiple seromas, your plastic surgeon should be consulted prior to implementation of any of the above. 

hello  . Numbness around suction area will improve a few weeks after the procedure; lumpiness will also decrease with time although massaging can quicken the softening. #post-op #options

I have my patients start daily massaging of the treated areas at around 1 week and then more aggressive massaging in the form of endermologie at 2 weeks. This helps break up the scar tissue and decrease the swelling.  

The tight bands are probably localized areas of edema and possibly early internal scarring but should diminish with time. Here are some suggestions besides simple stretching that has been recommended to you: Therapeutic or "lymphatic massage" may be helpful following Liposuction (Smart Lipo, Vaser, Tickle lipo, or conventional lipo) to minimize swelling but not all plastic surgeons recommend it nor is it Mandatory. Make sure your surgeon feels that you have healed sufficiently  and it is safe before doing this.  Endermologie is also very helpful after liposculpture/liposuction but again, not critical.  Although deep tissue massage following liposuction can aid in smoothing out  contour irregularities that invariably accompany this procedure it has limited effect on the final outcome and  is NOT mandatory. Some plastic surgeons recommend it to all  patients as they feel the edema resolves faster.  Ask your surgeon to show you or a significant other how to do this if cost is an issue. Typically they will have you massage toward areas of maximum lymphatic drainage ( for example groin or armpits) A low sodium diet and no heavy exercise especially lifting for the first 4-6 weeks may also be helpful.

Unfortunately, seromas, scar tissue and hematomas etc... are not that uncommon with the type of procedure you had done since it is more common with laser and ultrasound lipos.  Stick with your doc to help you through this rough time.  It will get better with time. Most will still turn out just fine.  Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Tissue fibrosis is common after liposculpture.  I inform all of my patients before surgery that they will have some amount of fibrosis (excess scarring beneath the skin) and will need to have seromas drained even though I leave drains in place to help minimize them.

Continue following your doctor's advice and instructions and things should resolve in time.

-- Hello dear, thanks for your question and provided information as well.. This is the surgical procedure that revolutionized cosmetic surgery becoming one of the most performed cosmetic procedures. Subcutaneous tissue or fat is removed in order to contour the body in a way that is harmonious and pleasing to the senses. It can be performed in almost all regions of the body such as the neck, chin, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and ankles. Usually done through a small incision in the skin through which a cannula connected to a vacuum is applied, it can be performed alone or in combination with other procedures. After liposuction your body is going to be really swollen for at least 2 to 4 months after your surgery. It is important for you to wear your compression garment for at least 6 months, the first 3 months 24/7 and then the last 3 months at least 12 hours per day for your body get use to not having the faja for so many time. When you remove it, your body can get swollen and also you can have pain. Remember to also compress your body to prevent a seroma which is an accumulation of liquid that has to be drained, it is hard to touch and also really painful. Bruises are completely normal for almost 3 months from surgery, that’s why is better for you to use a bruising cream and apply it all over your body 3 times a day. To prevent bad circulation and swollen legs, use compression socks. Brazilian butt lift can be performed with the same procedure and for a month it will be swollen and it will drop a little bit without losing it’s shape if you use your garment.. If you’re going to perform liposuction on your inner, outer, anterior, lateral, postetior thighs, be careful and consult with your surgeon what’s best for you, sometimes we have more extra skin than fat, that can cause severe sagginess on our legs, which can be only be reversed performing a thigh lift!

Post op hardness and stiffness can occur after a lipo.  You will start to see this usually about 2 to 3 weeks post op.  Stretching and massaging are always a must. Usually at two months post op is when you start to see final results.

All patients will develop, to some degree, firmness and lumpiness in the areas of liposuction.  This will improve over time.  Stretching exercises and massages can help early on, but be aware that it can take several months to make a full recovery after liposuction.  Seromas can also develop and may require drainage with needle and syringe.  At two weeks you are still very early in your recovery.  Be patient and follow the advice of your plastic surgeon.  Best of luck!

It is best to check back with the doctor who did your procedure if you have questions post liposuction.  If you are still unsatisfied or concerned, get a second opinion from a well respected liposuction surgeon in your area.