Thick, lumpy scar tissue under my skin after lipo to ankles/calves. Permanent or will it eventually soften?

Question

They are like thick bands around and above my ankles and formed approx. 8 weeks post op. I am now 14 weeks post op and my ankles look thicker than what I originally had and getting worse every week. I have been getting Active Release Therapy massage for fascial adhesions but not seeing any improvement. The area is still painful/sore to touch. What are the best ways to break down this scar tissue? Is there any chance of this being permanent?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It is still too soon to tell. You most likely still have some swelling in addition to scar tissue and it can take 6-12 months to resolve. I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen along with your compression and massage to help decrease swelling.  Rooling with foam roller or doing fascial blaster really helps for this.  Venus legacy or exilis treatments with z wave/cellutone help this area.   Give it time to heal. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Karen Quigley, MD · Answer

The farther down you go on your leg the longer it takes to heal and lose edema. Without a picture I can only speculate. Massage is good, a mild compressive stocking might also help. Once again, I would get the opinion of your plastic surgeon. Sometimes in chronic edema situations I add a mild diuretic. Hopefully, things will resolve soon.

William H. Jervis, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

sounds like a real problem.  At 8 weeks surgical revision probably should not be done.  ultrasound therapy could be helpful in speeding up resolution.  Conservative use of very dilute steroids could be used ( under the skin not in the skin).  If the problem is creases under the skin because too much fat was extracted judicious use of autologous ( your own ) fat could be used to fill creases.

Thick, lumpy scar tissue under my skin after lipo to ankles/calves. Permanent or will it eventually soften?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Thick, lumpy scar tissue under my skin after lipo to ankles/calves. Permanent or will it eventually soften?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.