First of all, if you think your swelling is excessive, you should definitely contact the board certified plastic surgeon who performed your Vaser Lipo.
That being said, I integrate massage therapy into the recovery phase for all my Vaser lipo patients, which definitely helps with swelling and stiffness.
We typically apply a compression garment at the time of surgery, and afterwards, parents have various amounts of swelling in both surgical and non surgical areas, depending on age (Post menopausal women with Vaser of flanks and abdomen may have ankle and hand swelling due to salt retention, for example). Starting approximately 7-9 days postop, my patients undergo massage therapy at my practice, starting weekly or two times a week for the first six weeks. Some patients elect to have massage a few days after surgery; we usually do light lymphatic massage. You might think it would be a rough and uncomfortable experience, but I can attest that hundreds of my Vaser lipo patients laud the wonderful massage technique of my licensed massage therapist, and they leave the office with less swelling!
I would expect at 5 wks you'd have about 20% of your swelling. We know from wound healing that people vary as to swelling and consequences after surgery.
If you haven't had any massage, I encourage you to find a LMT, as you will enjoy the benefits of smoother results, less swelling in the operative and nonoperative tissues, as well as feel generally better. Massage therapy contributes to the principal of tissue equilibrium, my analogy for that is 2 simultaneous incisions on the back of your hand; if you massage the first 7 days afterwards for a minute 4 times a day and not massage the right one, the non-massaged area will be more sensitive, more swollen and less flexible. The operative site that received the massage would be more flexible, less swollen and have a better scar.
Don't hesitate to contact my office or have your massage therapist contact us for the timing and techniques we use to help you achieve a more supple, less sensitive and less swollen outcome with massage.
Most patients wear the garment for 6 weeks and dislike it so much that some of my patients have burned them when done, or throw them overboard at a Garment Party on their boat (Cleveland is on Lake Erie). Some patients transition into Spanx or other body shaping garments, but nothing too aggressive. Given the fact that you are still swollen and have had no massage, I imagine you will need longer garment use. However, you should also discuss your concerns about swelling with your surgeon to make certain there are no underlying issues that should be assessed.
To your health and beauty,
Dr. Paul Vanek
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Cleveland Mentor OH