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2-3 weeks post-op is much too early to see much in the way of imporvement--YET. Assuming you went to an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon with excellent training, experience, and ethics, you can rest assured that something was removed in the operating room. The problem is that there is always surgical swelling which takes several weeks to reabsorb, followed by scar induration (firmness) and lymphatic swelling (especially in the armpit area) that can take months to settle and mature maximally. Many studies confirm that healing takes an average of about 7 months, which is why we surgeons tell our patients that "final" results can take 6-12 months to be achieved (remember the bell-shaped curve centered over 7 months--some will heal a bit faster, some will take up to a year). Sometimes the hardest job we have is to explain why "instant gratification" is usually NOT something associated with surgical recovery! Be glad you can wear a tank top; be patient and watch your diet and resumption of exercise. These two operated areas are very metabolically "active" as they heal, so any "extra" calories you eat tend to "go there" where the metabolic demands are highest. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen
Swelling can persist for 6 months and sometimes up to 1 year following liposuction. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
if you cannot see any difference at all its possible that you might have excess skin in the area and not see a difference because of that. my advice to you would be to wait and follow up with your doctor
Axillary tissue can be several things. It can be loose skin, fatty tissue or breast tissue. Each one may require slightly different treatment.
Accessory breast tissue in the axilla and anterior axillary line can be fat , or fat with breast tissue. You are still too early, only two weeks after surgery. May improve with time. otherwise you need reevaluation and possible liposuction and direct excision of breast tissue, maybe tightening of the skin through an incision in the axilla.
Recovery after liposuction take a full year. At 2 weeks you will possible see more puffiness and not less. Be patient. By 4 to 6 weeks you should see some improvement and by 4 to 6 months you will see 80 to 90 % of your gain. The last 10% gain occurs between 6 to 12 months. As with any surgery liposuction surgery takes the full compliment of wound healing. Best to be patient and take good care of yourself. Do not gain weight. Do not increase you body fat %. Stay active. Massage can help a little but the various machines that are supposed to speed your recovery after liposuction and a waste of you money. My Best, Dr C
I think you should check the credentials of the doctor who performed this procedure; I suspect s/he is not an American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified plastic surgeon, particularly since you had the procedure done in Columbia. BTW, your questions about activity should have been something...
SOme bruising is normal with liposuction and often more swelling and bruising occur in the dependent regions of the body. Best to speak to your doctor or see him to make sure.
Don't worry about having swelling that seems to come and go in the weeks after liposuction. It's perfectly normal. This can go on for weeks and even months in some cases. The treated area is just reactive and depending on your activity, eating habits (more or less salt, for example), and...
