lumps after lipo

[linda z.]

Hi there, had 5 short ultrasound sessions and lumps are softening,but the 2 above the bellybutton are frustrating even the Doc.There's soft tissue lumps over hard lumps.He said Garment may have been too tight,don't wear it(now 21days)I think it's trapped fluid,he says NO! everything else is starting to take shape. My knees still hurt alot.Wearing support leggings under clothes,but he wants no constriction around my waist.I'll get 3 ult.snd.treatments in my 4th week.How can you tell if a pocket of fluid is traped under the skin? Has anyone delt with this?What else could be done to be more agressive in getting these 2 pockets to go down? Any advise??????????????

[danya]

if it's a pocket of fluid (rather than swelling within the tissues, then there will be a "fluid wave" when you tap on your abdomen. like the ripple you see when you tap on a waterbed.

this is, of course, different than "jiggling" from fat :p , it's actually a wave. if it's present, and big enough, your doctor can drain the fluid pocket (seroma) with a needle. this will help it heal more quickly. then you need to keep compression on it after draining.

if its small, then it's best to leave it alone because it will go away, and the needle stick increases the risk of infection. and if there's no seroma at all, then it's just swelling and inflammation, and it will still go away on it's own.

danya

[linda z.]

Yes when I push one finger onto it, it moves around, feels fluidy underneath, but the doc insists he doesn't want to try to drain. It must be as you say, it will eventually go on it's own, but I'd rather he be more aggresive and try to drain it. Last week he said "it's not a seroma, there's nothing to drain" in a very stern tone of voice.Now, how can I insist that he give it a try, to me it's obvious, He's beeing overly causious.I want this off me now!And I want him to try draining now while I'm still a little numb.In the meantime the ult.snd.treatments are good for the entire Ab area,and he wants to continue.Politics,it's all politics.I love how you are there with a knowlegable response, and such generousity of spirit.Thank you again for being there.I'll probably end up battling it out with him in some humorous way, hopefully without much bruising!!
P.S...He's really a great surgeon and I do ABSOLUTELY love him and would reccomend him.He is very detailed,honest,kind and brilliant!(but stubborn)Ha-HA

[danya]

If it's small, it's not really worth draining it, as they usually fill up again anyway. (And by small I mean 20 to 30 cc's or less of fluid). My guess is that what you have is about 5 cc...

Cautious is good. Better than careless! Hang in there. It will go away, I promise.
d.

[linda z.]

You are on the mark! I know my cc measurements and I'd say thats about what you'd get maybe less.WOW-O.K.Patients is a virtue will be my mantra for now. Thanks for getting my mind on the right track!

[danya]

Hi Linda,
Just thinking about you and wondering how you're doing. I know it's only been a few days, but maybe you're feeling better after getting some reassurance?
Let me know...
Danya

[linda z.]

Hi, everything is the same,but I have more mobility these past few days,so I feel better.This is so frustrating,the Dr. feels for me.He
will keep up ult.snd. 2-3 x's a week.The bulge above the waistband just wont go yet.I think this is gonna take another month or more.This isn't going to be a..one of these days I'll wake up and it'll be gone.. situation. I wonder if dose of mesotherapy could break up the bulge and release whatever might be trapped under the skin.Am willing to go that route in 4 more weeks. It's 4 weeks today,the incision sites are great,body is taking shape but the hard spots make everything look uneven.(Especially after a meal)I go thru emotional ups and downs about the whole process. Wrapping myself in cellophane after applying emu oil helps eliminate (sweat)water .It's a temporary fix. He sees my creative role in this and respects my effort! I even got to ult.snd. myself, when he had to take a call in the middle of the session, so we woudln't have to stop. I try ro see the humor in it, but the reality is this: the instant gratification of being able to fit better into clothing is undermined by the amount of months one needs to wait, before the final result,enduring the ever changing lumps, swelling and rainy day sorness, and then there might be some fine tuning ahead at that. For now, even tho I am a beautiful woman, the only man I can even consider taking my clothes off in front of ....is only the DOC.You're the best!THANKS

[ninerfaninevada]

Linda;

I read your note about the fluid pocket you have or may not. I just wanted to tell you that I just had an abdominoplasty about 2 weeks ago and I have a fluid pocket above my belly button. I went to my doc yesterday and he said that he wanted to "tap" it, which basically means drain it. I asked if I could wait and he said yes, and I was instructed to massage it to move the fluid around so it will break up quicker, however if it doesn't go down by next week I'm going to get it drained.

Good Luck!!

[linda z.]

Thanks so much. Dayna really knows her stuff and she was right. She said to be patient and it will go on it's own.Even when seromas are drained they can fill up again,so of they're small , they're better left alone. One side went down so far, she was right of course! Unfortunately, now the skin is not contracting properly around the area. It sags when I bend. The PS said it could get better with time, but it may not at all.Wearing the garment 24/7. Looking for ways to help the skin contract/tone. I'm 5 wks P.O. and sit ups are still hard to do! So I'm wrapped up tight and lop-sided for now. THIS Cinderella put on an evening gown and went to the Ball tonight! More ultrasound for me in weeks to come! Best to you and thanks for chiming in.......

[ninerfaninevada]

Well sounds like you are doing fine. You went out atleast...my liquid filled pocket is going down as well. I put a heating pad on it last night and it seems to be feeling better today. The garment I wore was only for about 2 weeks, the first week, 24/7 then I slowly went down to none. For me, it felt better not to wear it all the time. However, it didn't really bother me much. Look forward to hearting from you. I'm on my 3rd week and off to a swim meet this weekend...it just never ends, even after surgery. Take care