Heat or Ice for Liposuction Swelling?

If the swelling is in the area of the surgery, compression is the best via garments.  Ice compresses can be helpful in the first day of the procedure and the next, but please be careful as the area is numb for many hours after the procedure and you don't want to leave the ice on for too long, or fall asleep with the ice in place and cause problems wtih the skin. If the swelling is in an area below the area of surgery, then these fluids which are just settling by gravity will need time to go away. Usually swelling resolves in two to three weeks and continues to improve the last little percent for a while thereafter.

This is common following liposuction. It is important to follow your surgeon's post-care instructions and make sure to wear your compression garment. To help with swelling, you can also drink plenty of fluids, go to the washroom regularly, cut back on salt, and walk leisurely around to assist in your circulation. These will help more than ice or heat packs.

In general, right after liposuction, reducing swelling is best done with ice or other cold objects.  This should help reduce the swelling, discomfort, and swelling after your procedure.  Everyone has a slightly different protocol for the "best" ice regimen, so talk to your plastic surgeon about what he/ she recommends. 

 

Heat right after liposuction will increase blood flow, and thus will increase swelling.  It's best to avoid extra heat right after your procedure.

 

Other things which help to reduce swelling may include walking around, elevating your body areas of liposuction after surgery, and possible use of homeopathic medications.

 

Best Wishes to You!

Roy

I would suggest compression as the best option for liposuction swelling.  I do not think that heat or ice will be a problem and help with comfort.  

 

Good Luck.

Thank you for the question.

Carefully applied cooling and/or heating can provide symptomatic relief after liposuction surgery. Care must be taken to avoid thermal injury to the skin since the area treated will likely be numb. It is possible to freeze or burn the skin...

Best wishes.

Immediately after the lipo I recommend ice to control swelling.This is the most effective to minimize swelling for the first 3 or 4 days post op.

For the first few days after liposuction surgery cooling LOCALIZED areas that are particularly sore or swollen has been helpful to many of my patients. It is best done by placing a bag of dried beans in your freezer, then after a half hour of cooling in the freezer, applying the bag over your pressure garment at the particular site that feels sore or swollen.

If ice or heat makes you feel better, then you can use them, but they will not really help with the swelling.  Patients are usually given a garment to wear which will help reduce swelling over time and encourage skin contraction.  Patience is important because it will take some time to subside.  Continue to follow your post op instructions and wear your garment as directed.  

I typically do not recommend either ice or heat following liposuction.  The best method to reduce post-operative swelling is to wear a properly fitting compression garment (snug but not too tight) for several weeks following the liposuction procedure.  Within a few weeks of the liposuction procedure, therapeutic massage may assist in lymphatic drainage and also reduce swelling.

Ice, heat, girdles are all unproven methods to affect post op change in liposuction. Not a single study supports any of these and other methods when compared to doing nothing. Only time works and if your surgeon is technically good at this surgery your swelling will be uniform and your result outstanding. Ask your surgeon how many have you performed and then trust him. Any board certified plastic surgeon will give you good advice, follow his instructions. Liposuction is an art not a science. Liposculpture, liposuction, laser lipo, ultrasound lipo, assisted lipo, all these methods work and the swelling will go away in a few weeks, or a few months. So tincture of time is what I recommend.