How Long Until Tumescent Fluid Leaves the Body After Liposuction?

 

The Tumescent liposuction technique
involves infusing fluid into the subcutaneous tissue before proceeding with
liposuction.  This fluid contains
epinephrine and local anesthesia. 
This helps alleviate post-operative pain and minimizes bleeding during
the procedure.  In addition, the
fluid improves the pressure gradient and allows greater amounts of fat to be
removed.

                  In
most cases the tumescent fluid is resorbed and excreted by the kidneys in 24 to
45 hours.  Despite this, patients
may continue to be swollen for 3-4 weeks following this procedure because the
body responds to any type of injury by retaining fluid.  This phenomena
can be minimized with massage, compression, exercise and low salt diets.

If you have open drainage (incision sites are 2mm round holes left open to encourage drainage), 90% of the drainage is over in 24 hours. The drainage can persist for up to 3-5 days on average.  If it is closed drainage (all of the incisions are sutured), the fluid is trapped under the skin and can persist for 7-14 days.  

Some of the fluid is removed at the liposuction.  The remaining fluid is absorbed over 24 hours and the excess is excreted in the urine.  There is some swelling in the tissues from the surgery which remains for months until complete resolution.