Post-op, having a 'line' of swelling from nipple to Armpit/Serratus???

[rakatak]

[A picture of me is added at the bottom]

Hi everyone!

I had liposuction + gland excision surgery 19 daya ago. Now, around the chest area, there is a hardening swollen surface approximately 4-6cm tall and it runs all the way across my chest to my side torso, its all under the nipple area going towards the serratus anterior.

It's hard for me to say whether this is normal swelling, or left gland / fat...

Do you have any experience with such a phenomenon?

Thanks in advance,
Y.

[DrPensler]

You are still very early in your postoperative course. I would recommend 1) advise your surgeon of your concerns and 2) sit tight for a while and let everything resolve.

[Litlriki]

Issues of this nature are not uncommon in the early post-operative period.  Observation and perhaps some massage are the first lines of treatment.  Most of these issues resolve on their own.

Rick Silverman

[rakatak]

Thanks Doctors!

Dr. Pensler - what do you mean by "sit tight fow a while"? not going to gym?

Dr. Silverman - is massage appropriate 3 weeks after surgery? isn't it too early..?

[DrPensler]

I would be active it will help break the scar down. I mean by sit tight as Dr. Sliverman said the problem you have is not uncommon and typically resolves so be patient.There are often minor bumps in the road after surgery but if the operation is executed properly the issues resolve most of the time spontaneously.

[Litlriki]

I allow my patients to start massage after a week, though it's often not very comfortable at first, so they're instructed to be gentle. 

RS

[rakatak]

Thank you doctors for your answers. Sorry about the language barrier

[rakatak]

Also, I'd like to know: where does scar tissue evolve?

-Right underneath the peri-areolar cut?
-Where Breast tissue has been taking off?
-Where fat was liposuctioned?

Or.. all of the above? Very curious about it..

[Litlriki]

All of the above.  Healing occurs with a scar, and scar forms wherever cuts were made, either with a knife, scissors or liposuction cannula. 

RS