I'm 8 days post liposuction. After a long flight home, I have noticed that all the liposuction areas have become hard and lumpy.

Question

I'm 8 days post liposuction. After a long flight home, I have noticed that all the liposuction areas have become hard and lumpy. Can I get my body to soften again? I have also some fluid in my lower stomach, and makes sounds as it has bubbles in them, how can I get rid? Would lymphatic massage help?

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

The lumps you describe are common after liposuction.  Flying should not aggravate them.  If you are concerned you should feel comfortable calling your surgeon.l

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Hard areas after laser
liposuction are common and will dissipate in about 6 weeks to even as
long as 6 months. Lymphatic massage and external ultrasound will help
smooth out the areas faster.  Good Luck and hope for a speedy recovery.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I usually review the healing process at length with my patients before surgery so they can anticipate the different stages of healing after liposuction.I describe the stages of healing after liposuction as:Initial results at 24 hours. One day after liposuction, the swelling has just begun. The pressure garments that we use usually keep that very early swelling down, and patients usually see a drastic change. That initial result is then lost for a time and reappears later as the healing process finishes.The swelling phase. Swelling usually peaks around 5-10 days after liposuction. It gradually decreases from two weeks to three months. There is still some swelling at three months. At six months after liposuction, we usually say the results are final and no more change should be expected. The exception to this are the tiny skin openings. Those can take over a year until they stop changing in color. This is especially true with certain skin types and skin complexions.Lumpy bumpy phase. As the initial swelling settles down, patients often experience the treated areas becoming firm. The areas treated may also look uneven. This part of the healing process is usually seen between 10 days to six weeks after the procedure.Final result, which is usually seen at three to six months after liposuction.We do more liposuction and fat transfer than any other
procedure.  I prefer to do my liposuction with my patients awake, thereby avoiding
general anesthesia. It allows me to have my patients move into different
positions, giving consistently good results.  We use no needles, no
scalpels and no sutures. Most patients find the procedure and the recovery are easy.  Most
patients are back to most normal activities in a few days.I do not believe what you are describing is due to flying. Many people believe patients should avoid flying soon after liposuction. That has more to do with the risks of developing blood clots, which is increased both from flying and from having had surgery. By the way, there have been studies showing fewer people develop dangerous blood clots when sitting in the aisle seats compared to window and middle seats. This is believed to be because people in the aisle seats are more prone to get up out of their seat. If you are on a long flight (generally considered over six hours), do some leg stretching and leg exercises.Please let you surgeon know what's going on.I hope that helps.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

I'm 8 days post liposuction. After a long flight home, I have noticed that all the liposuction areas have become hard and lumpy.

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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

I'm 8 days post liposuction. After a long flight home, I have noticed that all the liposuction areas have become hard and lumpy.

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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