Liposuction Swelling
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires the insertion of a canula or a pen-like tube into the under part of the skin to extract fat deposits. This procedure is usually done to improve the looks of the person. There are many complications that accompany this procedure. Liposuction swelling is one of the complications that often occur after the patient undergoes the procedure. Liposuction swelling is also called edema and can occur to anybody who undergoes the procedure. Another effect of the procedure that can be visible is a liposuction scar.
The cause of liposuction swelling is the body’s reaction to injury. Whether we like it or not, liposuction injures some areas of the body due mainly to the probing or the movement of the canula. Water based substances are released by the body as a reaction to the injury that it perceives to have incurred due to the liposuction procedure. This edema or liposuction swelling is seen as an alteration to the outward appearance of the skin to the naked eye.
The intensity of the liposuction swelling is sometimes dependent on the series of events that occur before the injury or that lead up to the procedure. Liposuction swelling can also be affected by the patient’s genes as well as the location of the liposuction. The lower on upright body the site of the procedure, the more prone it is to liposuction swelling. This is due mainly to blood and other liquids pooling in most lower parts of the body.
The lack of compression garments can also be a factor to the intensity of the liposuction swelling. Patients who do not wear compression garments or wear loose fitting compression garments are more prone to swelling compared to those patients who wear them religiously.
Avoiding swelling is the way to go after a liposuction procedure. If there is some swelling after the procedure, it is best to consistently wear the compression garments to minimize this. Massaging the swollen area can also help to ease the pain and reduce the liposuction swelling. Some experts also recommend the application of cold compresses to the area although there has been some debate to the effect of this application to swelling caused by liposuction.
Liposuction swelling is usually diminished after several days. The key to having less swelling is to take the doctors’ advice seriously regarding the compression garments and the drugs and medications to take after the procedure.