Will I Have Swelling After Calf Liposuction?
Calf liposuction is an effective solution for women who desire slim and attractive lower legs. However, knowing what to expect after this surgery is crucial. Swelling is a normal side-effect of any kind of surgery, but it will eventually subside. Once it does, you’re sure to love your legs’ trim new look. There are several things you can use to reduce your calf swelling and accelerate the healing process, too. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll feel confident in short skirts and swimsuits before you know it.
Why Does Calf Lipo Cause Swelling?
Calf liposuction is an effective way to improve the appearance of the lower legs. Surgeons perform this surgery with the patient under a local anesthetic. They make small incisions in the calves, pass a narrow cannula through, and use it to break up the fat. They then suction it away, permanently removing it. The surgeon uses the cannula carefully to shape the remaining fat and create an attractive silhouette. The outcome is slimmer, more toned-looking calves with an improved shape.
As you can imagine, this process causes trauma to the tissues, and trauma results in bruising and swelling. Eventually, this bruising and swelling subsides and disappears. In fact, all surgeries cause swelling due to trauma to the tissues. It’s entirely normal and nothing to worry about in most cases.
ALSO READ – A GUIDE TO CALF LIPOSUCTION
When is Post-Lipo Swelling Worst?
You may notice some swelling immediately after your liposuction procedure. However, swelling tends to reach its peak around 72 hours or three days post-surgery. Your legs may feel tight and uncomfortable. At that stage, you may worry that the procedure hasn’t worked. Don’t worry, though. Continue wearing your compression garments and following your surgeon’s advice. The problem is only temporary, and you’ll soon notice an improvement.
How Long Does Swelling Last After Lipo?
It is essential to have realistic expectations after undergoing liposuction. You won’t immediately see beautiful, slim calves. Straight after surgery, you may notice an improvement in your legs, but there will certainly be some noticeable swelling. That is nothing to worry about, as it is an entirely normal reaction to surgery.
The swelling will become worse in the days and weeks immediately post-procedure, but rest assured, it will start to reduce. After two to three months, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in the swelling. After around six months, you’ll see the final result of your surgery. In a few rare cases, it can take up to one year before you see the final outcome of liposuction.
How Can I Reduce Swelling After Leg Liposuction?
Although you cannot eliminate swelling completely following surgery, there are things you can do to reduce it. Some steps to take include:
- ·Always wear your compression garments as prescribed by your surgeon
- ·Avoiding bathing or swimming until given the go-ahead by your surgeon
- ·Staying well-hydrated
- ·Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol
- ·Resting for the first few days after surgery
- ·Taking gentle exercise until advised to return to more strenuous activities
- ·Always follow the surgeon’s advice carefully
- ·Attending all follow-up appointments with your surgeon
If you follow these guidelines, you should find that your swelling is minimized and improves more quickly.
What Happens if the Swelling Doesn’t Go Down?
Some patients worry about swelling after liposuction, but in most cases, there’s no cause for concern. Swelling may persist for longer than you expect. But it’s very rare for swelling to remain for longer than six months. Even if you take no action to reduce the swelling, eventually, it should resolve itself. You just need to be patient.
Sometimes, tissue trauma from incorrect use of the compression garments can occur, causing swelling. The tissue trauma will be identified and rectified by the surgeon at follow-up appointments, which is why attendance is so important.
In very rare cases, there can be an underlying medical issue that explains the persistent swelling. Kidney issues can cause this type of long-term swelling. Therefore, you should seek medical advice if the swelling continues longer than expected. Your doctor will be able to examine you and confirm whether there is any cause for concern.
Seeking Expert Liposuction Treatment
The best way to minimize the chance of experiencing any problems with excess swelling is to choose the right surgeon. Not all cosmetic surgeons produce equally impressive results for their patients. Therefore, you need to choose someone who specializes in this area of surgery.
Surgeons with extensive experience and expertise in the liposuction field will ensure the best possible outcome for patients. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is a liposuction specialist. He has many years of experience in treating a wide variety of liposuction patients and produces outstanding outcomes. Take a look at our image gallery to see for yourself the results he can achieve. If you want to find out more about calf liposuction, contact the ArtLipo team today. We’re here to give you the information you need and to arrange your consultation.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.