Is it normal to look the same right after your lipo? (photo)

Question

Yesterday I had a tumescent lipo in my flanks and today I showered (as my Dr. said it was okay). My concern is that my flanks look exactly the same than before getting the lipo (except for the bruises). I know I have to wait around 3-6 months to see the final results, but I have also been reading that most people do notice a signficant change the first day after the Op. Is this normal?

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Swelling in the first week after liposuction is quite common. It's best to follow your surgeons specific advice post-operatively. There is a process of swelling and bruising that peaks at 3 days after surgery and then undergoes the first stage of major resolution in the first 2 weeks after surgery.  The lateer phase of healing takes place over the 2-3 months after surgery where everything really settles and softens.  It is after this time that we are getting close to the final result, though this varies patient to patient. I  have my liposuction patients wear a compression garment (faja) covering all treated 24/7 except to shower for 4 weeks post op.  This helps ontrol swelling as the compression on your tissues helps your body to reabsorb the edema fluid that accumulates in the tissues after any procedure. This can take quite some time to happen without help from the compression garments.  It also helps improve  contour.  Compression helps to keep the tissues adherent to the underlying structures while healing, this can help prevent the wrinkled skin appearance that can happen when the tissues heal in ways we don't want them to.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there and thanks for your question and photos! Post op day 1 is too early to see any result from your liposuction.  You are very swollen and bruised.  Your swelling may worsen over the next day or so and will then gradually go down.  I recommend compression to help reduce swelling.  Hope this helps and best of luck in your recovery!

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

In one of the images you show yourself grabbing the side of your hip at the iliac bone area, however the liposuction was not made at that area but at the lumbar waist (aka love handles or muffin toppings), which is absolutely correct; if you expect any modification in the frontal view this may sound disappointing but the lumbar fatty rolls do break the contour mainly at the rear view and the effect of the removal with liposucion happens to be noticed from the back and not from the front. Another question is the agreement between you and your surgeon; if you agreed to receive also liposuction on the side flabs at the hip then that area is missing treatment.Secondly, it is too soon to notice remarkable results, nevertheless and as far as the pictures show the result is pretty good and promising.

Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB · Answer

Hi there thanks for sharing  your question and your pictures. it is very early to start seeing the results. The swelling post liposuction takes upto six months to settle and only then you can  appreciate the final result. It is very important to follow the post operative instructions, wear the compression garment continuously to achieve best results. Make sure you follow up with your primary surgeon at regular intervals and discuss your concerns.

Eduardo Ochoa, MD · Answer

Hello Ana, thank you for your question!
If there´s one thing that a surgeon can´t avoid is inflammation and swelling is one of the main components. Its the response of our tissues after an injury or a surgical procedure in this case liposuction, every patient is different and so will be their response. The swelling can last for 4 to 6 months in some patients so it´s completely normal that you look the same right after, many times you still have some infiltration fluid and it will go out or be absorbed as water and disposed later. There are many patients and many different cases some may notice a change real quickly and others don´t, judging by your pictures you are a very thin patient and thats why you can´t notice a big difference yet. I always explain the swelling process to my patients and tell them that in the first weeks they may look the same or sometimes even bigger than before the liposuction. Nothing to worry about, be patient and you´ll see the results. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and follow all the postoperative care instrucciones.

I hope you find this useful, wish you the best

Is it normal to look the same right after your lipo? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Is it normal to look the same the day after liposuction

Answer: Is it normal to look the same the day after liposuction

Answer: Is it normal to look the same?

Answer: Is it normal to look the same?

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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

Is it normal to look the same right after your lipo? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Is it normal to look the same the day after liposuction

Answer: Is it normal to look the same the day after liposuction

Answer: Is it normal to look the same?

Answer: Is it normal to look the same?

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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