Do You Recommend Icing 2 Weeks After Fat Grafting?

Question

lumps in cheeks after fat grafting (12 days ago). I have been putting ice on them, does this help or hurt?

A.J. Amadi, MD · Answer

Icing that long after surgery is unlikely to help with the swelling. Fat grafting survival is dependent on vascularization of the injected fat, and icing could potentially decrease blood flow. Now, if you're not doing it continuously, it likely won't effect things too much, but ice is effective in decreasing edema only the first few days after surgery.

	Discuss any post surgical instructions with your surgeon.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Icing, or cooling the skin with ice (applied over an interface like a cloth but never directly on the skin) is a great way to help minimize and prevent a lot of swelling following surgery. We usually recommend keeping your head elevated for the first week if possible. Physiologically you continue to swell for 2-3 days, then peek with a slow but progressive resolution of the swelling which is also called "edema". The ice decreases the formation of swelling but in my experience does NOT hasten its retreat. Further if ice is put too close to the skin it can injure it.

Mahlon Kerr, MD, FACS · Answer

I think ice use off and on is fine, but I would check with your PS to see what they reccomend.  Massage can help for lumpy areas but start off easy.  Good luck, Dr K

Philip Young, MD · Answer

Fat survival is reliant on the vascularity and blood supply to the restored fat. Fat with adequate blood supply is more likely to survive the longest. Icing to long each time or for too many weeks can suppress the blood flow to the new fat decreasing the survival rate.

Daniel Del Vecchio, MD · Answer

Fat is best iced when it is outside the body waiting to be transplanted.  Lowering the temperature of the cells can reduce their rate of cellular respiration and therefore reduce the amount of acidosis the cells undergo prior to re-inserting then into the recipient site. Icing the recipient site theoretically reduces swelling.  12 days after fat transplantation, cells either have a blood supply or they do not.  Ice is unlikely to heLp the situation at this time; it may actually be a hinderence.

	 

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Richard Ellenbogen, MD (retired) · Answer

At this stage you must let your body heal the area and reduce the swelling. Ice initially does help swelling but at this stage put the ice in a drink of your choice to celebrate your beautiful new look

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Some patients find the application of ice packs after surgery to be soothing, but 2 weeks post-op it will have no effect on your result. Massage may be helpful to diffuse the lumps, but follow your surgeon's instructions.

Do You Recommend Icing 2 Weeks After Fat Grafting?

Answers (7)

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