Hard lumps, tenderness and rippled muscles on abdomen and sides 5 weeks post tumescent lipo. Is this normal? (Photo)

Question

I'm 5 weeks post op from my BBL. I had abs before my procedure and he went in and harvested one pound of fat from my stomach and sides. I am now 5 weeks post op. My stomach is hard, it it very stiff and feels like the muscles are stuck to my skin and won't stretch out. Worst of all, my tummy looks pretty ridgy and lumpy and not right. What's going on? Please tell me my stomach and abs will go back to normal soon...I'm so nervous!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It is too soon to tell what your final results will be. You have swelling, which can last 3-6 months after your procedure. I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello. Great question. Congratulations on your procedure. A personal examination is needed to properly determine what your lumps are. Please schedule a follow up appointment with your surgeon for further evaluation.

Giovanna Ghafoori, MD · Answer

Hi, GeorgiaGirl. Thank you for sharing your photo and your concerns. At 5 weeks following liposuction (and BBL), you are still very early and your results still changing. The symptoms and observations you are experiencing, while not always expected and certainly not desired, may occur following liposuction of the abdomen, especially on a thinner person and/or when there is some pre-existing skin laxity.There are steps to help improve the skin contour, redraping, and retraction in order to help sigten and smooth out the abdominal skin. Your surgeon would be in the best position to recommend therapies to optimize your results. I find that a diligent massage program, selective molding compression, attention to diet, gentle stretch exercises, and sometimes certain drug therapies to be very beneficial. The skin's recovery and the resolution of post-operative inflammation is a very slow process. Best of luck to you, and I hope all of your issues resolve so that you can go on to enjoy your BBL to the fullest!

Hard lumps, tenderness and rippled muscles on abdomen and sides 5 weeks post tumescent lipo. Is this normal? (Photo)

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tumescent Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Hard lumps, tenderness and rippled muscles on abdomen and sides 5 weeks post tumescent lipo. Is this normal? (Photo)

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tumescent Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.