Infection or fat necrosis? (Photo)

I don't think anyone can give you an accurate assessment.

This early after surgery there's a lot of inflammatory process is going on.

Generally the first symptoms of infections are increasing pain.

This and redness are the first things patients usually notice.

At 13 days the transferred fat cells or probably has the most sensitive stage in regards to long-term survival. This is the time when the fat has become dependent on a reestablished new blood supply called neovascularization.

Any grafted fat that does not develop a blood supply or the blood supply is destroyed early in the healing process will become necrotic fat.

The term fat necrosis is not something that happens instantaneously though there is no real set definition other than tissue that is dead is considered the chronic.

In other words the fat that has been removed with Lipo suction is technically dead as soon as it's removed from the body.

The fact that establishes a new blood supply after being grafted survives.

The fat that does not develop a new blood supply remains dead and it will eventually be absorbed and leave scar tissue.

This is a little bit like death and resurrection.

It's possible that physical trauma can have caused some compromise and long-term fat survival but most likely it's just inflammation and swelling and your results will be fine with time.

I would follow up with your plastic surgeon and have him or her take a look at you.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom M.D.