Swollen, Hard, Tender Under Chin 8 Days After Smartlipo Normal?

Swelling following Chin  Liposuction can vary early on whether Smart Lipo or traditional liposuction techniques. What you describe is probably a normal response to surgery.


There are many predictable portions of the healing process that ALL PATIENTS EXPERIENCE after liposuction. Temporary areas of firmness (lumps) can be seen early on but usually resolve on their own. Although both doctor and patients would like to not have this happen, it is part of the healing process. These Side effects refer to what you will be experiencing from the healing process: Here are some of the common things you will experience. The common side effects include: swelling which is maximum 2-3 days later, bruising (highly variable), numbness which takes several months to resolve,  tightness takes several days to months to resolve, discomfort (generally mild with this surgery, nausea (variable) and in some patients emotional lability in some. Although most of the visible edema resolves in 2-3 weeks in mini-lifts and 3-4 weeks in traditional facelift approaches, residual firmness (edema you feel but don’t see) can linger for several months. Skin suppleness also takes a while to return as does scar maturation. I tell my patients it takes up to a year for final resolution of the healing process. A chin strap often hastens recovery after neck/submental chin liposuction. In my experience, the above rough time table is usually delayed in smokers, when multiple procedures are performed together and when resurfacing procedures are done at the same time as the lift. The same is true if complications occur such as infection, hematoma, skin loss or compromise, etc

I would recommend an immediate assessment by your surgeon.  It is possible you are describing an early infection that needs immediate medical attention.  I would conduct yourself accordingly.

Hi Katie Q,

For you to have some swelling, mild tenderness, and even firmness is not unusual about 7 to 10 days after this procedure.  HOWEVER,  hard and painful is concerning.  See you surgeon this week and have it looked at.  You may need a little steroid injection if not some by mouth.    Sounds like you're doing everything you need to do.  Have your doctor look at it.

Best of luck

Chase Lay, MD