6 Months Post-op Liposuction - Huge Lump on Hip and Flabby Belly. Is This Normal?

if only the lower abdomen were treated wtih liposuction, there may be a flabby upper abdoemen that hangs over the lower abdomen as a shelf. Residual focal fat may leave a lump that may need more liposuction. The upper abdomen may need more lipsuctions or an abdominoplasty.

It sounds as if your daughter may be a better candidate for a tummy tuck rather than liposuction. Get advice from two other plastic surgeons.

Lumpiness can be several things including retained fatty tissue, a seroma, fat necrosis to name a few. As for flabbiness this may be ther esult of poor skin quality or over-resection of tissue.  Without an exam it is hard to tell.

By six months, your daughter should have realized her final result. "lumps" may be do to persistent fat, swelling, or even a fluid collection. Her physician can determine this. If she has loose skin, this may not be improved with liposuction ( depending on the quality of it) and may need further treatment. Regardless, she should communicate these concerns with her physician. If she is uncomfortable with this, she can always seek another opinion.

At 6 months, you should be pretty close to the end result. Your plastic surgeon may want to look at the left hip to make sure a fluid collection (seroma) is not present. If the lump is just due to some extra fat, a touch-up liposuction may improve it. The loose abdominal skin may be hard to treat without surgery but waiting another 6 months won't hurt.

I would help your daughter set us a second opinion for a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  This is not likely to improve much if it has been six months.  Try to get a copy of her records and preoperative photos so the surgeon can see what was done.  Good luck.

Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

Hi.

This does not sound good.  Lump may be organized seroma or hematoma. But most things can be improved. Have your daughter see two other board certified plastic surgeons.