Best Way to Get Rid of Lumps After SmartLipo?

Dear Deanna. Thank you for submitting your question. I am sorry you are feeling frustrated with your surgery.  Swelling after liposuction will last for many weeks after surgery. Hard lumpy areas are common in the first several weeks after lipo but rest assurred they will dissapate in 6-12 weeks. Final results take 6-12 months.  Continue to use your contour garment, massage the hard areas , external ultrasound and lymphatic massage will help to decrease swelling. Discuss your concerns with your Plastic surgeon.

We usually recommend lymphatic massages or post surgical massages to all our patients. Massages have to be given three times a week, every week for at least a month. It is very normal to have swelling and inflammation at the beginning, this can last up to four to six months. The best advice I can give you is to show up in person at your doctors clinic and follow up with him/her. He/she will let you know if the swelling is normal or if you are going to need additional treatment. 

It is normal to feel bumps following Smart Lipo beginning 3 to 4 weeks following the procedure. The lumps are areas of treated fat your body is in the process of healing.  The lumps are generally detected by feel and are typically not big enough to see. I recommend lymphatic message for all of my patients and external ultrasound therapy for resistant areas. I recommend making an appointment with your surgeon to make sure that you are healing properly. Express your concern to the office staff of your surgeon, and you should be given a follow-up appointment soon. If you are not satisfied with the level of care you are receiving, I would recommend a second opinion with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Best of Luck.

It is common to have some lumps after any liposuction procedure. The key is knowing how to manage these lump. Many techniques are available, but you need to be able to see your doctor to give you the best advice. Many patients get frustrated with not being able to see their doctor after the procedure. Think of how many times you saw your doctor before the procedure? The service prior to the procedure should give you a hint of the service after the procedure. In my practice, I personally meet with my patients at least twice prior to the procedure to make sure I understand their needs and desires. I then see them as often as they need. This is usually a few days after surgery and as often as they need to make sure we achieve the best result. We have set intervals for these followup appointments. Good luck!

I can understand your frustration. This does happen often and these types of lumps can take months to go away. My recommendation is while lying on your back, perform deep circular massage with a body oil so your hand can glide easily as you make the circles. Start with light pressure then push harder until it is bearable. Do this multiple times a day. Continue to wear your garment. Lymphatic drainage massage and even ultrasound therapy can help to reduce the lumps.

Hi Deanna.  I am sorry you feel such frustration with the results of your liposuction.  It would be best to call and schedule a follow up to be seen, as well as voice your concern regarding the quality of care you are receiving.  It is very normal to feel lumps or bumps 4-6 weeks following surgery.   One thing you can do is go and have a lymphatic massage to help eliminate the lumps you may be feeling.  Remember, this is all part of the healing process and you will need 3-6 months to see your final results.  I guarantee it will be worth it in the end.  All the best!  

The reason someone has SmartLipo is to avoid some of the traditional liposuction side effects and to tighten the skin faster than traditional liposuction alone. Having small lumps following the procedure is not very well reported with SmartLipo, and I would suggest you return to your provider and make sure everything is correct with your post-operative care. We routinely use radiofrequency (RF) treatments following SmartLipo to minimize these concerns, so that may be an option for you as well.

Lumps after Smartlipo are not uncommon and in spite of treatment they may never fully go away.  Patients who undergo lymphatic massage beginning early in the post-operative period appear to do best with less lumps and bumps.  Unlike traditional massage for sore and aching muscles which tends to be vigorous this is very light touch and even treatment of  the very sore areas is well-tolerated.   I have a relationship with two lymphatic massage therapists and I send my patients to them within the first 7 - 10 days of surgery.  I include the first two or three massages with my procedure fees as patients don't like surprise or extra charges and this increases the likelihood that the patients will follow through with treatment.   A combination of lymphatic massage and compression garment wear --sometimes for up to three months-- will satisfactorily treat the lumps in most cases.  If they persist beyond 5 - 6 months it may be necessary to retreat the larger lumps with liposuc tion alone (without laser). 

In my private practice we offer early aggressive lymphatic massages and external ultrasound therapy. Best to ask for these therapies but there will be a cost. 

they should do away with time, usually takes several months. i would suggest gently massaging the areas yourself and also exercising and being active. Lymphatic massage may help.hard to say more without examining you in person. it is not uncommon to feel some lumpiness after smartlipo, especially if your areas were on the larger size, but they almost always go away with time.david berman md