After Lipo on the abs, is it normal for your legs and feet to be swollen?

Yes, it is likely normal that the legs and ankles may be swollen after liposuction. You should elevate them when you can and eat a high protein, low salt diet. If the swelling is asymmetrical, that is concerning and you should seek medical attention. That could be the sign of a blood clot in the leg which could be very serious.

Dear karenthompson1,I would recommend you to consult your plastic surgeon. It is important to rule out DVT and other complications.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

hello karenthompson1Most of the swelling and bruising will resolve in the first two weeks (although some may persist for 6–8 weeks). You should contact or visit your PS about this concern

This can be typical as swelling can move with gravity, however, I recommend following up with your Doctor. 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

Some swelling may be expected but other complications
such as DVT should be ruled out. Call your plastic surgeon 
and discuss your concerns as soon as possible. Best wishes.

Thank you for your question. Your swelling could be moving downward for a couple of reasons. For one, it’s not uncommon for swelling and bruising to migrate downward as you recover from surgery before they go away entirely. This is simply gravity doing its work. It’s also possible that you’ve spent a lot of time sitting or staying in one position since your liposuction appointment, and this has caused your extremities to swell. Try walking more frequently to aid in blood circulation and use an ice pack to encourage swelling to subside.

Swelling of the legs and feet is common after liposuction.  Due to gravity, fluid tends to settle in the lower half of your body.  It will help to keep your legs elevated whenever you are sitting and try and avoid prolonged standing.  Swelling in one leg only with or without pain should be addressed immediately with your PS.  

Congratulations on your recent surgery and thank you for sharing your question about your post operative recovery and results after your surgery.  Final results can take 6-12 months for all the swelling to subside.  At our office here at CARE we actually see all of our surgery patients the very next day after surgery and then again at two weeks and beyond. We enjoy staying closely connected to our patients and enjoy giving the extra attention and service. Your concerns are important to discuss directly with your board certified plastic surgeon.  He or she will appreciate the open communication and will want to help you. I hope this is helpful and wish you all the very best.  Sincerely, Brian S. Coan, MD, FACS

Thanks for the question.  Yes, swelling of the legs and feet can happen after liposuction.  It often depends on what type of technique was used.  Did you have tumescent awake liposuction?  This often requires more fluid to be administered and can result in more fluid retention after the procedure.  This often shows up in the legs and feet.  I usually recommend a low sodium diet 2 gm or less/day to help avoid fluid retention.  I recommend you see your plastic surgeon to exclude any other potential causes of the leg swelling.