Healing Bruises After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

First of all, you have a great result! Your bruising and swelling look normal for one week after surgery. You will be surprised, but the swelling and bruising will resolve over the next week or so. I usually have my patients go for medical massage starting 10 days after surgery to help with the swelling and lymphatic flow. However, you should discuss this with your surgeon before starting any therapies. Also, avoiding alcohol, salt and spicy foods helps keep the swelling down. Finally, Arnica Montana tablets or cream may help with the bruising. This is available in most health food stores.
I hope this is helpful.
Dr. David Shafer
New York City

Congratulations! You look great. Many of my patients are very happy with a lotion called BruiseGuard or Arnica montana to prevent and/or treat bruising. You should feel free to try them now if your surgeon approves, but there is nothing proven to speed up the process.  It looks like you will have bruising for 2 to 3 weeks.  Here is the most important thing I can tell you:  Whatever you do, avoid all sun (and tanning bed) exposure on the bruised areas until the bruising is fully resolved. If you don't, the bruising could last for months and months.

Dear vv3037,

Congratulations on completing your tummy tuck and liposuction procedures! It's not uncommon to experience bruising in the treated areas following surgery, but rest assured that it's usually temporary and will resolve with time.

Bruising typically occurs as a result of trauma to the blood vessels during surgery and can vary in severity depending on individual factors such as skin type, surgical technique, and extent of the procedure. While the bruising may appear extensive, it's a natural part of the healing process and should gradually fade over time.

Here are some tips to help speed up the healing process and minimize the appearance of bruising:

Arnica Montana: Consider taking Arnica Montana supplements or using topical Arnica gel, which is believed to help reduce bruising and inflammation. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage and consult with your surgeon before starting any new supplements.

Cold Compresses: Applying cold compresses to the bruised areas can help constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling and discoloration. Use a clean cloth or ice pack wrapped in a towel and apply it to the bruised areas for 10-15 minutes several times a day.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush toxins from your body and promote overall healing.

Avoid Blood Thinners: Avoid taking medications or supplements that may thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as certain herbal supplements.

Gentle Massage: Once cleared by your surgeon, gentle massage of the bruised areas can help improve circulation and promote the breakdown of bruised tissue. Be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions and avoid applying excessive pressure to the surgical sites.

It's important to remember that bruising is a normal part of the recovery process and may take several weeks to fully resolve. Be patient with your body as it heals, and continue to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions for optimal recovery.

If you have any concerns about your bruising or the healing process, don't hesitate to reach out to your plastic surgeon for guidance and reassurance.

Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery!

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen
Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for the question. Generally, abdominoplasty involves a recovery period of longer than most plastic surgical procedures. It generally takes 3 weeks to get over the first phase of recovery. However, downtime for abdominoplasty can vary from patient to patient, depends on the size of the operated area of your body.The exact downtime will be determined by your surgeon according to your surgery results. I wish you all the best.

Most of the bruising is from the liposuction surgery.  10 days is still to early, the bruising should be gone in another 2 weeks and you will be feeling better by then.  If you have concerns regarding your recovery you should ask your surgeon. 

Most patients will be placed in an abdominal binder, which they will wear the first week. There is usually a fair amount of swelling and the binder should be opened several times a day so that there are no pressure points. After the first 7 to 10 days the patient is placed in an elastic garment for compression over the next six weeks. Swelling can persist for several months and will gradually improve and will look better at three months, six months, and even one year. Frequently the pubic area and the scrotal and penis area for men can become very swollen and discolored during the first two weeks due to gravity as this is the lowest area for swelling to accumulate.You can return to full activity without restrictions at 6 weeks.Liposuction adds to bruising . Swelling can persist for several months after the liposuction.

For 1 week your photo and bruising is very typical. Bruising around the abdomen is to be expected. Regarding the bruising down to your knees likely liposuction was also performed on your thighs/hips and it does move lower with gravity.Arnica montana is an over the counter herbal remedy that can be used orally and topically to help with bruising. Vitamin K can be helpful as well.  It can take a few weeks for all the bruising to resolve.   Looks like you are doing just fine! 

Bruising and swelling are normal in the suctioned areas and usually increase slightly after the removal of any tape or foam. The bruising will decrease over 3-4 weeks, but may last as long as 6 weeks. The majority of the swelling will be gone within the first 3-4 weeks. However it may take even more months to disappear completely. The compression garment helps reduce the swelling, and the longer it is worn, the more quickly the process will proceed. Arnica Gel and some Lasers can also speed this process.

It is normal to have a surprising amount of bruising after liposuction and abdominoplasty.  This typically improves significantly within two weeks of surgery, though bruising can persist in some areas for longer.  Time and patience are the most effective "treatments" for bruising as its resolution requires certain steps from your body.  Some patients have reported slightly quicker resolution of bruising with the herbal treatment Arnica.  Any treatment that you consider should be discussed with your surgeon.  You should certainly address any questions regarding your healing process to your surgeon to make sure that your healing is on track.

Thank you for sharing your photo, it looks like you're headed for a great result.  Bruising, especially after liposuction, is extremely common and can be quite extensive.  In general, the majority of the bruises can be expected to have resolved by about 3 weeks post-op.  To help speed the resolution, I prescribe a short course of arnica pills (SinEcch) to all of my post-op patients, as well as prophylactically to my facial injectable patients.  Beyond that, patience and a little time.  You're going to look fantastic.

Thank your for your question!  It seems as though most of your bruising would be more from the liposuction than the tummy tuck.  That being said, bruising can slowly manifest its way down the lower extremities.  This is not uncommon.  As far as how long it take to go away depends on the person and the amount of bruising.  I would say it can take up to 4-6 weeks for the bruising to resolve.  I know we have had good experience with Arnica Montana and its effect on bruising.  Some people seem to get good results with Vitamin K cream.  I hope this helps!