I had liposuction almost 8 weeks ago. Is it normal that I still have bruises on my legs. Is this normal? (Photos)

Hello Gabby1975,
I’m sorry for the adverse symptoms you’re experiencing. Swelling and bruising are common, temporary side effects after liposuction. Every patient is unique and will have different healing processes and deadlines. Typically, the recovery time expected for traditional liposuction methods exceeds the 2 weeks. However, the downtime for VASER Liposuction, an advanced body contouring procedure that “selectively” remove unwanted fat, is usually 7 days. This method uses minimally-invasive ultrasound technology to emulsify fat while leaving all other important tissues intact, resulting in significant desirable effects with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Consequently, patients recover considerably quicker as they suffer reduced bleeding, bruising and swelling in the treated areas. I typically recommend my patients start taking Arnica pills two days before surgery and continue taking them up to 2 weeks after the procedure, to help reducing bruises. I also suggest them wearing specialized compression garments for 6 months and getting a minimum of ten lymphatic drainage massage sessions in order to completely alleviate the swelling and discomfort and also prevent complications such as seromas (fluid collection) and contour irregularities (indentations, and/or fibrosis). In my experience, manual lymphatic massages by their own have proven successful, in the majority of cases, in achieving uniform removal of swelling and ensuring smooth contours. Since every case is different, consult with your plastic surgeon about your specific needs and concerns. Best wishes! Dr. De La Cruz.

Gabby. I appreciate your concern, and while prolonged bruising is somewhat rare, it can occur after Liposuction. Follow up with your plastic surgeon for more specific advice. Good luck.

Bruising can be typical and can take several weeks to resolve. Arnica and VBeam treatments can give improvement. For liposuction after care, I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for the question. It is rather difficult to fully evaluate your situation without an in-person exam. Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks for most bruising and postoperative discomfort to resolve and additional 2-3 months for swelling to completely subside. At 8 weeks post-op, it may still be too early to observe final liposuction results. However, if persistent bruising is bothering you, you should definitely alert your plastic surgeon to these concerns. An in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon would be the best way to assess your needs and obtain a reliable medical advice. Best of luck!