Swelling after lipo! Am I going to have a smaller waist? (Photo)

3 weeks post-op
is still too early to be judging your results.  Swelling is
completely normal and expected after surgery and your body needs time to
heal.  Usually it takes about 7-10 days
for the initial swelling to go down but residual swelling may be present for up
to 4-6 weeks.  It is important to
remember that your final results can take up to one full year to be apparent.  Be sure to address any questions with your surgeon.

It is very common to have bruising and swelling for weeks to months after liposuction procedures. What is most important is that you follow your surgeons post operative instructions and continue compression. If you are concerned, lymphatic massage and Velashape or Venus Legacy treatments can be used to improve the swelling and help the skin tighten. My patients start treatments right away and it improves the long term results. Speak to your physician if you are concerned. Best, Dr. Emer.

Patience my dear.  It is absolutely normal to be experiencing swelling and bruising for sometimes a few months.  The best way to decrease the swelling and have a quicker recovery is to wear constant compression.

Liposuction will not treat the loose skin. It will remove excess fat and if your skin can contract it will mold to the smaller more contoured body. At three weeks it is not uncommon to have swelling and the loose skin after pregnancy responds slower and less than skin that has not been stretched, but it really is too early to know the final result. I suggest discussing your concerns with you r doctor but at this point I think wearing a compression garment would help.

You still have swelling at this point.  Swelling can last up to 3 months after liposuction, wearing your compression garment will be very important. 

At three weeks there is undoubtedly a sizable amount of swelling after liposuction. Continue to remain patient. Acute swelling will be gone in about six weeks. The final 20% will take six months or longer.

Thank you for your question. At only 3 weeks you still have a considerable amount of swelling. I tell my patients that they will not see what their final results are going to look like until about 3-6 months after liposuction surgery.  

Perhaps the most common concern on RealSelf in the liposuction forum is the lack of results in the early recovery after liposuction. When liposuction is done correctly on someone who is a good candidate, some immediate improvements are typically seen. From there, results continue to improve for the next three months. There may be subtle changes for longer than that. The majority of results will be seen between three and six weeks after the procedure. Most patients go through an early healing phase where results are often seen as uneven, firm and lumpy. These typically improve around six weeks after the procedure. Patients who have moderate skin laxity are at higher risk for having skin irregularities after liposuction.Also, patients who have muscle separation and loose skin from pregnancies have less potential for drastic improvements.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

At only 3 weeks you certainly have swelling that would mask the result of your surgery. I tell my patients to be careful about salt intake as this can make swelling worse. It can easily take 2-3 months to see your final results after a big surgery like you had.  Be sure to keep any scheduled follow up appointments you have with your surgeons for his evaluation and advice. Good luck, Dean Vistnes.