How can tell if it is post op swelling (liposuction), or a failed procedure?

Question

I had a liposuction procedure done in Feb and it was concluded after my 12 week post op appointment that I had no results. Another doctor at the same facility agreed to perform the procedure again, which happened 3 days ago. I'm having a hard time telling if this is post op swelling, or if I'm once again not going to see any results. In addition, seeing pictures of people that essentially saw immediate results without swelling leads me to believe I will be disappointed.

Samuel Rhee, MD · Answer

Post-operative swelling after liposuction is a very common issue. Factors that play a big role include:1. Type of liposuction (manual, power-assist, laser)2. Body area (for example, back usually recovers faster than belly)3. Volume of fat removed4. Recovery protocol (compression garment, massage treatments)5. Surgeon experienceUsually 3 days after liposuction is too early to judge post-op swelling, especially if you had previous liposuction 3 months ago.However, it is unusual to have liposuction and have no results at all. Did your surgeon give a reason why?Please communicate with your surgeon to discuss your concerns and good luck!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It is very common to have bruising and swelling for weeks to months after liposuction procedures.  What is most important is that you follow your surgeons post operative instructions and continue compression.  If you are concerned, lymphatic massage and Velashape or Venus Legacy treatments can be used to improve the swelling and help the skin tighten.  My patients start treatments right away and it improves the long term results.  Speak to your physician if you are concerned.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. 3 days is too early to see a
result with liposuction. The most swelling is seen in the first few days after surgery.   Final results take 6-9 months. Discuss your
concerns with your Plastic Surgeon

George Volpe, MD · Answer

Swelling often a companies surgery and is a normal part of healing. Usually with liposuction, there is an element of swelling that can last 3 to 4 months and sometimes longer. If liposuction is performed with an experienced surgeon, he or she should be able to give you an idea of realistic expectations that can be accomplished with liposuction prior to your surgery. Always discuss your concerns and listen carefully especially with regards to expected outcomes.

Greg Bancroft, MD, PhD · Answer

It is difficult to say what you are experiencing without any pictures but I do feel it is impossible to say if the current liposuction will be a success if it has only been 3 days. I find with most liposuction patients you can see a very real improvement as early as 1 week and then this continues to improve over the next several months as the swelling recedes and the skin adapts and contracts into its new shape. This of course varies depending on the patient's initial body type - more overweight patients will see a change in their shape faster while a very thin lady who is only getting a small area liposuctioned will not see the change as quickly as the initial swelling can even make the treated area look larger than it was for the first week. I would suggest waiting a little bit longer before deciding if this second round is a failed procedure though as 3 days is too early to make a good judgment on the outcome of liposuction. Good luck on your recovery!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The main two reasons patients do not see results after liposuction are related to either the procedure not being done correctly or the patient not being a good candidate in the first place.When liposuction is done correctly on someone who is a good candidate, immediate results are typically seen. From there on, results typically continue to improve over the next three months. If you have had liposuction twice and are not seeing results, then my best guess is that you were not a good candidate for the procedure in the first place. Determining if someone is a good candidate for liposuction is critical in order to set correct expectations. What makes someone a good candidate for liposuction is if their primary diagnosis is an undesirable fat distribution. If the diagnosis is anything other than that, then liposuction will not deliver impressive results. Diagnoses that are often mistaken for excessive subcutaneous fat include loose skin, muscle separation from pregnancies and intra-abdominal, or visceral, fat. Posting a picture would be helpful.The most common scenario I see of patients being disappointed with liposuction are women who need an abdominoplasty but choose or are told that liposuction will deliver results.While you are most likely still swollen at this time, my instinct says that you will not be happy with the final outcome of your liposuction procedures. If your final outcome is not what you had anticipated, then consider getting another opinion from an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can help make a correct assessment. Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

It's nearly impossible to tell at 3 days.Of course, if you already saw a dramatic improvement - which can be the case depending on what is being done and who the patient and surgeon are - then you could know that there has clearly been a change.  But if it looks about the same at 3 days, it may be hard to tell.  And even harder without a photo to show what you looked like before.I'm surprised, though, that you both (you and the first) agreed that there had been no improvement, but that it made sense to have another surgeon operate on you and you again have concerns about the result.  Are you sure you were a good candidate for the procedure and/or that your expectations were realistic?  It is reasonable, at this point, to re-examine the surgery from that standpoint.  You'll have to wait up to 6 months to see the final result of a liposuction (in my experience) but it's appropriate, at this point, to allow your body to heal and, at the same time, circle around and make sure that you could reasonably have been expected to see the results that you are now hoping to see.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of #RealSelf100@RealSelf

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