Lipo of Neck, Unsure of Results - 1 Week

Swelling after neck liposuction is very common and concern regarding the swelling early on is just as common.  We have our patients wear a facial garment that comfortably applies pressure to the neck area that was treated.  This also allows the skin to be apposed to the tissue underneath.  The tissue and skin continue to tighten for several weeks and I frequently remind patients that they will look their best around 4 months.  If 200cc was removed from your neck, then the tightening process will take somewhat longer but be patient, give it more time,  follow up with your surgeon regularly.  Hope this helps.

Patients undergoing chin
liposuction will inevitably develop swelling following this procedure.  During the procedure the liposuction
cannula is passed through the subcutaneous tissue.  This causes disruption of the lymphatic channels and
cellular injury, which causes swelling.

Significant improvement in swelling
can be seen in the first three weeks following surgery with the majority gone
in about three months.  Small
amounts of swelling may persist up to a year following surgery.

We generally recommend the use of
compression support garments day and night for the first week following
surgery.  We also recommend
nighttime compression for an additional two to three weeks after the procedure.

In addition low salt diets and head
elevation are also helpful.  Massage
can be helpful as well.  This
maneuver decreases swelling by mobilizing retained fluid following liposuction.

In your case your swelling is
normal and should resolve with time. 
Your history indicates that a large amount of fat was removed and significant
swelling would be anticipated after a procedure of this type. Compression,
massage, head elevation, and low salt diets will
hopefully speed your recovery.

 At one week, you are having too much swelling to know your long term outcome.  Be patient for 6 months, then see your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and reevaluate your condition.

You can expect to see results a few weeks after liposuction of your chin/neck, but your final results may take up to 3 or 4 months to allow for skin contraction and shrinkage.  Younger patients (<40) will usually have very good results due to the elasticity of their skin.  A garment is helpful to be worn in the first few weeks after surgery to control the swelling and improve the final contour.

Be patient for now, but consult with your plastic surgeon for more details throughout your recovery.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

Hi Sonya70-

At one week swelling is at its' peak. Be sure to sleep elevated. Often a support strap is used to help with the temporary swelling. It will take 6-12 weeks to start to fully appreciate your results. Good luck.

Sincerely,

Tom Kaniff

Sonya

I think patience will definitely be rewarded here.  Even though the before and after photos are taken from very different angles, to me it is suggestive that you already have the start of a significant difference.  However, as others here have pointed out, these types of procedures really do take several months for the swelling to settle.  On week is so early that it is difficult to appreciate the effect of surgery.  Hopefully your doctor took very good before photos so that when you have healed for several months you will be able to compare high quality before and after photos.  Hang in there and yes being patient is a tough job.

At this point it is too soon to tell-you are still swollen and it will take several weeks for that to subside-just stay patient and follow-up with your doctor at your post-op appt.

Anyone who undergoes liposuction, especially larger volumes from areas, needs to be patient and understand that it may take 2-3 months for all the swelling to subside, skin tighten, etc.  It can take that long for all the changes to occur.  If 200cc was removed from the neck and chin area, then that is alot and I would think you will have a nice result with time.  I hope this helps.

1 week is WAY too soon to see your final results.  If he took 200 cc, that was a lot of fat.  I see a difference in the photos that you posted.  But be patient, your neck will continue to improve.

Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.

It takes many months to obtain the final results from liposuction. The neck usually heals faster than the lower body, but research tells us that skin tightening does not even begin for one month after the procedure.