Hot or Warm Soaks After Smart Lipo

I am a healthy 35-year-old female who recently lost 85 pounds (and counting). I am 142 lbs, size 6, with athletic build. I was told by my doctor that I could soak in my OWN garden jet tub 3 days post-op. I was told to cover my 3 incisions with waterproof band-aids (remove them after the bath). I am on Klefex as an antibiotic and seem to be healing as normal (one can expect with a small panus). Today, I am day 5 post-op and have notice before I get into the tub I can feel the lumps, bumps and swelling (normal, I know) and pulling at the skin, but the funny thing is as soon as I submerged into the warm water, they go away immediately--literally. The heat makes the entire belly feel better. I am then able to massage the entire abdomen and smooth it down/tack it. I then follow it with a cold rinse by allowing the cold water to flow over my abdomen for around 5-8 minutes and continuing to massage the tender areas. This feels good and seems to help, but can someone please explain how the lumps are dissipating so quickly only to come back after my garment is on? Is this really safe? ( I'd say it takes 2 hours for them to come back). When the lumps do come back it seems to be less and less each time. My doctor didn't say how many times a day can I do this, but the pain relief is wonderful. My swelling has gone down a lot, but I do have some black, red, and purple bruises across the pubic bone and red bruising across my lower abs like a U. I was told to massage my abdomen a few times a day and replace my garment right away, and then remain on my back as much as possible for as long as I can stand it since I have excessive skin to tack down from haivng children at a young age. My doctor won't be back until Tuesday. So far, I am opting out of a tummy tuck, but I still may opt in for one after I see these results. I really don't want to be cut open (I have had 3 csections) so that is just not appealing to me right now.