Had lipo 7 days ago, first day after my waist was nice. Now it’s swelled up and hard. When will the swelling go away? (photos)

Swelling after liposuction generally rebounds starting at day 4 and can be quite dramatic depending on the amount of fat removed, the location, and the person.   It is important to wear the compression device as instructed, drink lots of water, and stay active (as permitted).   If swelling is uncomfortable, lymphatic massage can be a great way to reduce this swelling temporarily.  Often patients, will do lymphatic massage starting around day 5 or 6 and do them weekly for the first month.  Best of luck.

It's very reassuring that your waist looked good the first day after the procedure. That indicates that, once the postoperative swelling goes away, you should have results that you like. It generally takes 6-12 months for all of the swelling to go away. Lymphatic massage is helpful, as is faithful usage of your compression garment.Hope this helps - Sam Jejurikar, MD

Every patient recovers differently and it depends on the extent of the surgery, but you are still very early in the recovery process. On average, most patients will see 90% of the ultimate results three to six months after the procedure. It can take several months for the swelling to completely go away, but wearing a garment can help reduce the initial swelling. If you have any concerns, I would consult with your plastic surgeon so they can monitor your recovery.Kamran Azad MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon