How Long Does Swelling Post-VASER Lipo Last?

Hi there-
Swelling, particularly swelling that seems to worsen with activity or at the end of the day, means that the activity or the days events have caused fluid to accumulate in your tissues.
Exercising while this is still occurring risks further slowing the healing process, and so my preference for my own patients is to restrict their activity until this has abated and continue to compress as well.
The fact that you are still swollen shouldn't alarm you though - often swelling can persist in some form for a few months before it completely abates.

I'm sure your swelling has already gone down since this question was asked in 2009. However, I'm going to leave an answer for anyone else who may have a similar question.

Swelling is a common side effect after Vaser liposuction, and the duration of swelling can vary depending on several factors such as the extent of the procedure, individual healing capacity and adherence to post-operative care instructions.


In general, most patients experience some degree of swelling for several weeks following Vaser liposuction, with peak swelling occurring around 48-72 hours after the procedure. The majority of swelling should subside within a few weeks, although some residual swelling may persist for several months.


To help minimize swelling and speed up the recovery process, it is important to follow all post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon. This may include wearing compression garments, avoiding strenuous activity or exercise for a period of time, staying hydrated and taking prescribed medications as directed. If you have concerns about excessive or prolonged swelling following Vaser liposuction, it is recommended to consult with your surgeon or a qualified medical professional.

It is common to see an increase in swelling when you are actively running and working out.  I will tell my patients who are 5-6 weeks out that they can begin working out at half the intensity with the understanding that you are going to experience some swelling.  Final results from Vaser are typically observed 6 months post procedure. I would continue to wear your compression garment, refrain from any blood thinning medications and supplements, and follow up with your surgeon regarding any concerns you may have.  

It’s not at all unusual to still be swollen 5 weeks after your vaser treatment, in fact swelling can take 6-9 months to completely settle. At the end of the day the swelling can appear worse then the mornings and excessive strenuous activities such as exercise can exacerbate this. The amount of swelling and the time it takes to go does vary between individuals but if you’re worried that you’re not recovering as expected I recommend you book a follow up consultation with your surgeon. He /She may recommend further compression and/or MLD sessions to help.

Patient recovery times vary significantly.  In my experience it takes 4-6 weeks for the swelling to subside.  Wearing the garment for longer does help.  MLD massage also helps.
Starting some gentle exercise can sometimes exacerbate the swelling.
Patience is all it takes.  It will eventually subside.  Elevating the legs at the end of the day helps. 
Some patients elevate the foot of their bed too.

Many studies indicate that there is less injury to the body with Vaser than with traditional #liposuction. Recovery from Vaser Liposuction is based on the level of soreness and bruising experienced by the patient. But, it can vary among patients. As with traditional liposuction, there are no large incisions  or effect on the muscle and other underlying tissue. Therefore, #healing time may be less than anticipated by most. Therefore, Vaser patients may experience less #pain or discomfort, #swelling (#edema) and bruising post procedure due to the nature of the technique.  A quicker #recovery for a patient may be two to three weeks without any strenuous activity. This includes the short period of suggested rest of 12-24 hours soon following the procedure. #Exercise and activity are contingient on how the patient feels. Mild activity is not likely to hinder recovery or healing or create problems with recovery.  However, it is recommended to acquire your doctor's permission to do so. Once you begin exercising again, start gently and let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Don’t rush!!  The final results of the procedure are typically most noticeable 2-4 months following the #Vaser. So, you must have patience. The swelling will gradually diminish while the contours of the treated area(s) can continue to improve up to one year post procedure; becoming more apparent in appearance. If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

swelling can persist for weeks to months after vaser.  lymphatic massage, hyperbaric oxygen, compression, and radiofrequency treatments like velashape and venus legacy can help significantly.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Swelling from the VASER liposuction can last up to several months.  Although you'll start seeing a significant decrease in swelling after 6 weeks.  Your skin will continue to retract up to 5-6 months.  Studies have shown that skin retraction plateaus after 5 months, but I have seen some patients to have skin retraction after one year.

Vaser Ultrasonic liposuctioning typically creates less bruising and swelling as compared to traditional liposuctioning. However, even with Vaser liposuction swelling is usually its worse during the first 5-14 days post-op. Then initial results can be seen at 8-12 weeks post-op. Unique to Vaser are the long term results which are in part due to the collagen regeneration that may create skin tightening. Therefore final results are not achieved until 9-12 months. In my practice I ask that patients wear a compression garment 24 hours a day, except for showering, for the first 2 weeks. Then it is recommended that they wear the garment 12 hours a day for an additional 2 weeks. Some patients enjoy the support afforded by the garments for up to 2 months post-op. After the first month swelling is typically worse towards the end of the day, especially in the legs. Patients may exercise at 2 weeks post-op, increasing their activities as tolerated. In terms of clothing, I let patients know that their current clothing may feel tight for the first 12 weeks. I recommend that patients do not purchase new clothes until at least 4 months post op as this is when they will note the improved contouring from the surgery with little of the residual swelling.

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