Liposuction Swelling – How Long Until It Goes Down?

Patients undergoing liposuction will inevitably develop swelling following this procedure. During the procedure, the liposuction canula is passed through the subcutaneous tissue. This causes disruption of the lymphatic channels and cellular injury, which causes swelling.

Significant improvement in swelling can be seen in the first three weeks following surgery, with the majority gone in about three months. Small amounts of swelling may persist up to a year following surgery.

We generally recommend the use of compression support garments for about three weeks following surgery. We also recommend a low salt diet before and after liposuction. Exercise is usually started early in the post-operative period, and we want patients to ambulate as soon as possible following surgery.

Massage is also helpful; it decreases swelling by mobilizing retained fluid following liposuction. All of these steps help to minimize the duration of swelling following surgery.