Back and love handles swelling after liposuction. What's the best treatment to reduce the swelling and fluid build up?

Question

I just had liposuction a week ago on the love handles, lower and mid back, and a tuck of the mid back loose skin rolls. I was given a Prednisone pack for the swelling but that lasted a week. I was wondering if there are any other oral or topical medications that will help reduce the swelling and fluid build up?

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

Unfortunately there is nothing that really works for swelling besides resting and wearing your compression garment. But, you have to acknowledge swelling is part of the healing process so you can not skip it. Fluid is different, if you have a pocket if fluid (seroma) that needs to be removed and only your doctor can do it. Be encouraged.dr. Cardenas

Shayne Webb, MD · Answer

I agree with Dr. Commons.  Time is the best medicine.  The only things that I would add would be...1.  Lymphatic massage.  This is very mild massage to keep the fluid dissipate, and needs to be done with a person trained to do post op massage.2.  Arnica Montana.  This is an over the counter herbal remedy that has been around for a very long time.  I give most of my patients this med to begin several days before and continue for a week or more afterward.  It's great on reducing the swelling.  Consult your plastic surgeon before you do either...thanks and take care.

Catherine T. Milbourn, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I hope you have discussed your concerns with your surgeon and been checked for any actual pockets of fluid, as opposed to having swelling in the tissues.  I tell my patients that it takes weeks for the tissue swelling to completely resolve, sometimes even months for the final contours to be completely apparent.  The healing process takes time.   Wear of the compression garment as instructed is important to help with the swelling, as well as massage of the tissues, but it takes much more than a week for the swelling to resolve.  Please give yourself time to fully heal!

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

The best thing to reduce swelling is time.  It take 4 top6 months for the small lymphatics to reunite and you cannot speed them up.  You can reduce your salt intake (Sodium) to 1500 mg or less a day (not easy).  Gentle progressive exercise may help but nothing to excess.   The process of liposuction is followed by the process of healing.  The human body is amazing but you cannot speed up healing.   My Best,  Dr C

Back and love handles swelling after liposuction. What's the best treatment to reduce the swelling and fluid build up?

Answers (4)

Answer: Cures for SWELLING

Answer: Cures for SWELLING

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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Back and love handles swelling after liposuction. What's the best treatment to reduce the swelling and fluid build up?

Answers (4)

Answer: Cures for SWELLING

Answer: Cures for SWELLING

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.