8 Months Tumescent Lipo Post Op - Still Experiencing Pain and Swollen?

Question

hello! I had lipo done on my love handles, lower and upper abs, flanks, inner thighs, inner knees, and mid thighs for a breast fat grafting procedure. It has been 8 months post op but I am still experiencing pains from neuropraxic injuries, and a hard swollen stomach and love handles. I have always been very fit and had a smooth stomach, but now I have a muffin top so now it looks like I gained weight instead of lost. Is this normal? Also there are very large dimples where the scars are. help!!

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

Tumescent
Liposuction is an excellent surgical technique that has the potential to
dramatically improve body contour. 
Unfortunately this technique isn’t for everyone for a variety of
reasons.

When
evaluating abdominal contour several factors should be considered when
formulating a treatment plan. 
These include laxity of the skin, the amount of subcutaneous fat, the
amount of intra-abdominal fat and the strength of the underlying muscles.  When all of these factors are
considered an appropriate treatment plan can be formulated.

When
massive weight loss is accompanied by significant skin sag, a skin resection is
usually always necessary to correct the problem.  In most cases, this requires an abdominoplasty to tighten
the muscles and remove excess skin.

Under
these circumstances, tumescent liposuction wouldn’t address the majority of
problems associated with massive weight loss.  In addition, it wouldn’t provide enough skin tightening to
address the skin laxity that occurs following extreme weight loss.  For this reason, an abdominoplasty
would have been a better choice and is probably still necessary.  In your situation 5 venous freeze
treatments wouldn’t add to your results.

It’s
important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this
area.  This surgeon should not only
be able to perform tumescent liposuction, but more complicated procedures like
abdominoplasty as well.  This
surgeon should be able to formulate an appropriate treatment plan to correct
your excess saggy abdominal skin.

T. Wayne Day, MD · Answer

Pain and swelling eight months after tumescent liposuction without laser is very unusual. I suspect you may have had a complication due to laser liposuction. The laser is like a hot tipped poker which can injure nerves, vessels, skin and other important structures.

	In the rush to go to the "current fad" of laser liposuction, we are hearing about people getting hurt.

	It sounds like you are going to need some help like Dr Shureih suggests.

	For other readers, consider choosing tumescent liposuction WITHOUT laser. The liposuction doctors I know with 10+ years of experience consider it a SAFER choice.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

Though very rare, chronic pain after liposuction can happen especiall when using a source of energy to do the liposuction.

	To those patients I recomended pain manegement centers, and massage therapy and external ultrasound treatment. will take about 6 months to a year to resolve.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

A bit more details and a good exam are key to figure out what is going on.  At 8 months after lipo things should be back to normal already.  Good luck.

8 Months Tumescent Lipo Post Op - Still Experiencing Pain and Swollen?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lipo issues 8 months out

Answer: Lipo issues 8 months out

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8 Months Tumescent Lipo Post Op - Still Experiencing Pain and Swollen?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lipo issues 8 months out

Answer: Lipo issues 8 months out

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Everything you need to know about Tumescent Liposuction

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