18 days post op Smart Lipo on arms/armpit area. Really hard and lumpy. Mornings are worst!

Question

I massage them and they get soft and lumps go away but within hours it's hard again. I massage them multiple times a day but the softness never keeps.

Calvin Jung, MD · Answer

Great question, this is a common occurrence for patients post lipo procedure.  Areas of induration/firmness are very common. Post procedure massages will help the area but over time these small areas of firmness will go away.  It can take up to 6 months for these areas to fully resolve .
Compression garments and post procedure massages will help the area

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

hello mgiz Numbness around suction area will improve a few weeks after the procedure; lumpiness will also decrease with time although massaging can quicken the softening. #options #post-op

Mark Edward Hennessy, MD · Answer

Commonly, for weeks, uneven skin with areas of firmness are side effects of liposuction. Downsizing your compression garment when needed, seeking care from an expert lymphatic massage specialist, increased physical activity and following a low salt diet are potentially helpful. Patience is also important. Six to twelve months may need to pass before you achieve 100% healing. Hope this finds you well.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It can take 3-6 months for firmness and/or swelling to resolve with Smart Lipo. Compression along with lymphatic massage may give improvement. For best results with treatments like Smart Lipo, I recommend adding a combination of radiofrequency treatments like Vanquish, Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra for skin tightening and with Z wave/Cellutone for skin smoothing. In order to get the best results, a VASER HI DEF procedure is needed to get more contouring and definition. See an expert for a formal consultation. Best, Dr. Emer

Renata Wix-Harris, MD · Answer

Don't worry, it is very common to have lumps, swelling and irregularities the first 4-6 weeks after SmartLipo. Massage helps to reduce the swelling, so continue doing that. You could also follow up with your provider to see if they offer ultrasound treatments to help reduce the swelling. But again don't worry, it will get better in a couple of weeks. Good luck!

Ken Knott, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

What you are describing is very common for up to 6 weeks. You are doing the right thing with massage as noted by the swelling going down afterward, however, you might consider a more specialized massage called lymphatic massage. Also, ultrasound or radio frequency treatment is also effective in reducing swelling. We use DMSO at our clinic in combination with ultrasound and it is very effective in most cases. I would suggest calling the doctor that performed your SmartLipo who will probably be able to help you with this issue because we all want great results. Best of luck.
Dr. Ken Knott

18 days post op Smart Lipo on arms/armpit area. Really hard and lumpy. Mornings are worst!

Answers (6)

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