Is it normal to feel like the skin layers are glued on the inside? Laser liposuction 16 days PO to U/L Abs and around waist.

Question

I had laser lipo to my U/L abdomen and all around waist area 16 days ago, I still swell especially when I sit for long periods of time. But as of yesterday, I've been feeling like there's tightening inside my skin. I massage myself often and I feel everything get softer. But the glued like feeling inside is still there. Is that part of the healing process? AND.. Is it normal to have numbness in areas that were not suctioned? (Such as My hips and upper butt area)

Melinda Lirag Lacerna-Kimbrell, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question. It is normal to feel the contraction and skin tightening after laser liposuction.  This can continue up to 3-6 months after surgery and is a beneficial effect of the laser.  Make sure you continue your compression garments and follow up with your surgeon.

Jeffrey M. Hartog, DMD, MD · Answer

Laser liposuction causes significantly more deep tissue scarring and contraction than traditional liposuction due to the heat of the laser. This may be desirable as it is the cause of the skin tightening that one gets with laser liposuction, but personally I no longer perform laser liposuction because many people do not like the stuck down and firm feeling of the tissues that develops. Nevertheless you may want to consider lymphatic drainage massage by a trained massage therapist that may help. We provide this for all our liposuction patients, and find it helps tremendously during the recovery

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

All sounds normal but over the internet very hard to be exact. Best to follow up with your surgeon....

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

What you describe could certainly be within normal and expected outcomes early after liposuction.Because your descriptions are subjective, we cannot say for certain that these are normal.I suggest you contact your plastic surgeon and him or her know your questions and concerns.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Is it normal to feel like the skin layers are glued on the inside? Laser liposuction 16 days PO to U/L Abs and around waist.

Answers (4)