2 weeks postop facial fat transfer. Only right side hardening w/ large lumps & swelling. I looked better 5 days than now (photo)

Question

Left side of my face perfect, soft. Right side lower cheek is swelling with a large hard lump. Today (2week post op) my upper cheekbone (undereye) is hard/ swollen. I looked better 5 days post op than now. 1 week post op I had a dexamthazone shot, which helped, I had another yesterday, now worse. I sleep up right, I take 800mg of Ibporfen, I was told not to use ice, it melts fat. I use warm, but can't tell if it makes it worse or not. My dr is very experience in fat transfer, but not helpful now

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Please se your physician to ensure there is no local reaction or infection.  Swelling takes weeks to go down but shouldn't get hard or much worse 5 days post. Best, Dr. Emer.

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD · Answer

To insure there is no infection please make an appointment with your attending physician. Let him/her assess the concern. If you are not satisfied with the answers or what process has taken place then seek consultation with someone else.You want to make sure there is nothing other than the healing process going on. Everyone heals differently and without a complete visual to assessment it is not easy to say if there is something else going on or just the healing process.

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD · Answer

It is not uncommon to have more swelling on one side of the face than the other after fat transfer. However, if a hard lump is developing and the area feels warm to the touch you may have an underlying infection. This should be related to your surgeon so he is aware and may prescribe antibiotics. Although ice can be detrimental to the fat, I do recommend cool compresses. This means taking gauze dipped in ice water and placing that on the area of the hard lump. Sometimes, manual lymphatic drainage can also be helpful at this time. This should be done by a certified therapist who has training and certification in manual lymphatic drainage.

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

You need to be assessed for an infection of you grafted area.  Infections can and do occur.  I would advise a checkup and likely antibiotics.   My Best,  Dr C

Tarick K. Smiley, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Edema, or swelling caused by excess fluid, is not uncommon after fat grafting or any form of facial plastic surgery.  It can last between three weeks and two months for most patients, so give yourself enough time to recover.Because the amount of fat reabsorption is relatively unpredictable, minor touch-ups are not uncommon after fat grafting.  However, it is important to wait for all the residual swelling and bruising to subside before revisions are attempted. Good luck and best wishes.

2 weeks postop facial fat transfer. Only right side hardening w/ large lumps & swelling. I looked better 5 days than now (photo)

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