How Much Swelling Is Normal After Belly Liposuction?
If you’re planning to have belly liposuction, it’s important to be aware that you’ll have some swelling after the procedure. Although lipo is minimally invasive, it is still surgery. This means that the usual side effects of surgery can still occur. These include bruising, pain, and swelling. Fortunately, these side effects will usually subside relatively quickly. Nevertheless, you could experience swelling of the treated area for several weeks. You need to be ready for this eventuality before having your procedure.
How Much Will My Stomach Swell?
It’s impossible to say how much your stomach will swell after your liposuction procedure. This is because everybody’s body will respond differently. Nevertheless, all patients will experience swelling. While some patients may experience only a small amount, the swelling for others will be considerable. Being ready for this swelling is imperative for having appropriate expectations of your surgery’s outcome.
Your stomach may swell enough to make your clothes feel tight. Again, this is entirely normal and is a short-term side effect. Many patients find that their swelling is enough to completely obscure the effect of the surgery. That doesn’t mean that your liposuction was a failure or that the surgeon didn’t remove enough fat. You need to have patience and wait for the swelling to go down.
Will I See the Results of My Stomach Lipo Immediately?
Don’t be disappointed if you look in the mirror and see that your stomach is still swollen. Not everyone can see the immediate impact of her stomach liposuction after surgery. In fact, many people won’t see the difference in their physiques for some time. This is because the area has experienced surgical trauma, and the body’s natural response is to swell. Therefore, your stomach won’t immediately look completely flat and taut post-surgery.
How Long Does Swelling Last?
Immediately after your surgery, you will have initial post-operative swelling. This is completely normal and can be quite extensive. This initial swelling will usually reduce after seven to 10 days. You should still expect to have some residual swelling around your stomach for around six weeks post-procedure. In some cases, the swelling will go down more quickly than this. Sometimes, it may take a little longer to see the full impact of your surgery. Nevertheless, after six weeks, you should see improvement in the appearance of your stomach. By the time six months have passed, you should see the full impact of your liposuction.
Is My Swelling Normal?
If you’re worried about the extent of your swelling, it’s important to speak to your surgeon. This is especially the case if you develop even more swelling and bruising several weeks after the procedure. In the vast majority of cases, your swelling will be entirely normal. However, your surgeon can reassure you and give you advice to help reduce the swelling more quickly. Make sure you always follow the instructions you’ve received and wear your compression garment. This will help to ensure your swelling subsides as quickly as possible.
To find out more about swelling after belly liposuction, contact the Artlipo team today.
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.
