Soreness after liposuction - how long before it resolves?

Question

I'm at 4 weeks. Many times just lightly touching my abdomen feel sore. Sometimes the simple friction of the garment tugging my skin when i walk feels sore. I would like to understand why this happens and why it takes this long to resolve. Lipo removed nerve endings, it's a procedure that shatters the framework of area and needs to be rebuilt. I understand that nerves re-establishing itself causes the itching, but what causes lingering soreness after 4 weeks? Thank you in advance for helping me understand.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Liposuction sensitivity can take months to go away.  I suggest resuming your normal activity and exercise and you will see this resolves soon/quickly.  If it does not and you are concerned, speak to your physician.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Usually by about 4 weeks pain and soreness usually improve. Best to discuss with your surgeon.  Good luck.

Julie Khanna, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  At 4 weeks post it is normal to still have discomfort. As long as this is continually (even if it's slowly) getting better and not worse then the answer is massage and cold packs.  Because of the work done underneath, the nerve endings at the skin surface tend to be very irritated.  At first, because of swelling there is more numbness, but as that swelling has come down those nerve endings sort of wake up again and are not happy.  It can be very helpful to massage by pressing down on your abdomen a little more deeply and then make small circles to massage moving around the area.  This lets you press past those frazzled nerve endings to get in some good massage, as well as "teach" the nerves to get used to sensation again and they will start to settle down.  At 6 weeks you are about 50% healed and then the healing slows down.  But over the next weeks and months this sensitivity should become less and less and quite a bit better at 3 months or so.  Be sure to check in with your surgeon to track your progress and best of luck!Dr. K.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Typical discomfort after liposuction is often described as muscle soreness and is typically resolved by five to seven days.When liposuction is done more aggressively, then patients will often have postoperative pain for longer.It is unusual for patients to experience postoperative pain for more than two weeks after liposuction.When adjuvants, such as heat-inducing lasers or ultrasound assistance, are used, then the period of discomfort can be lengthened.Nerves are rarely cut from liposuction but can be damaged.Nerves have a fatty coating called a myelin sheath.This layer is sometimes damaged, causing nerves to behave differently.Nerves heal quite slowly, and the sensation of numbness can take days to weeks and sometimes months to return after liposuction.I encourage most of my patients to use ibuprofen to help with postoperative pain.It is often helpful and you can minimize the need for narcotic pain medication.Time will make things better.Continue following up with your plastic surgeon to have him or her address your concerns as well.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Soreness after liposuction - how long before it resolves?

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