Swelling (Edema) in legs after LBL?

Is this normal?  My legs are swollen all the way down to my ankles (now cankles), and even my feet a bit.  I am getting up and walking regularly, and whenever I am sitting or laying, my feet are elevated.  Im getting plenty of fluids and protein.  I am 3 weeks postop LBL.  

I am writing this with my feet up on the dash of the car...

I had an extended tummy tuck, inner thigh lift, and bl/ba in November. 10 days ago I had a about 6" of my tummy tuck incision corrected. I noticed that I was starting to get a seroma two days ago. I put my compression back on and after a day of traveling my feet were huge last night. I slept w/o the compression last night and put my legs up on pillows. Thankfully my feet are back to normal this morning.

Also, about 3 weeks after my surgery my legs/feet ballooned like crazy. My ps put me on a water pill and I dropped like 6 lbs in 3 days.

Your lymphnodes were all inturrupted by the surgery...I went for lymphatic massage a few times a week for about 6 weeks after my major swelling episode. I also wonder if compression, while wonderful, adds to the problem.

Good luck lady!! I sure hope you are feeling better. I have been praying for you!

I also wore under armour compression pants for quite awhile....perhaps that might help?

Man lady, you and I and some others just have the gamut of difficulties!
In Israel if not going private but rather in a public/govmt hospital, one stays in until all drains are removed and then weekly clinic apptmts.
My legs were in electric compression the first 24 hours (annoying!) and then ace bandage up to knees that would unravel in me.
Elevate (some say on two pillows and bent knees) and call or email your PS/PCP and ask about ace bandages.
I think of you and all these glitches along the way to a healthier and more comfortable body. Gd Willing it will happen soon!
Mikimi in Israel

I am so sorry for all this issues you have been having.  I have not commented to you just for the fact that my recovery has been going really good and did not want to make you feel like you were the unlucky one.  I am praying for you daily for a quick turn around so you can have a positive recovery with no regrets.  I am sending you ((hugs)).

Yes, my legs blew up like balloons.  Oddly, when the last drain was removed, around 3 weeks out, the swelling magically disappeared overnight.  Same explanation as you got above - lymphatic system disrupted and trying to re-establi****self, so you get all sorts of odd but short-lived issues.

I'm sorry you are dealing with crazy swelling.  FWIW, my legs (upper thighs anyway) are swollen too - some days worse than others.  I had an anchor TT almost 6 weeks ago.   I'd imagine that with a LBL you'd have even more leg swelling.  It sounds like you are doing everything right (elevation, fluid, protein) so it will just take time. 

 

I have read these boards for a long time, well before I joined officially, and I remember you from back in 2010.  I was contemplating a DS so I read the DS boards then.  I remember you because you had a LOT of trouble and drama (including drama from your fellow board members!) following your DS surgery.  But I recall you had problems with the surgeon and staff, problems healing, complications, etc. etc.   Lots of difficulties were faced after your DS surgery.   

 

Perhaps you are just very unlucky when it comes to medical procedures.... or perhaps your body just doesn't tend to heal quite the same as some others.  Everyone is different, afterall.  I'm so sorry to see your posts on this board  that you are experiencing a lot of trouble following your plastic surgery as well.  I'm sure you're feeling some element of "here we go again" with having to face complications and medical staff that aren't responding to your concerns as quickly as needed. I can't imagine how scary/disheartening/frustrating that must feel.  You just want things to go smoothly, and by the book... but for whatever reason it just isn't in the cards.    

 

The good thing is, you've been through this type of thing before and come out on top.  Your DS was a huge success in the end, and your plastics will be too.  Hang in there.  You are a strong woman, you've been through a  lot in the past and survived and you will this time around too.  You'll keep healing and things will get better, they really will!

 

No special advice here.  Surgeries suck.  They really do.  ;)    But I just wanted you to know I'm sending you lots of healing vibes and prayers and I also wanted to remind you that you are even stronger than you realize. You came out on top after your difficult DS recovery, and you'll come out on top after your LBL too!   You got this!! 

 

Hang in there.    (((HUGS)))

 

I had cankles post LBL.  If you go to walmart and purchase the diabetic socks and bring them up over the compression garment it will help A LOT!  I wore compressions socks for quite a while after surgery and it helped a lot! 

Whoa... this is weird.  OP - did you change your username?? And avatar?   I hope it wasn't because of what I said.  I hope I didn't "out" you or stir up old drama/posts that you've wanted to forget about.  I'm probably way over analyzing things and being paranoid - er, too much coffee for me today maybe?  But I mean...  you had an adorable name (which I won't repeat in case you are trying to increase your privacy online) and an adorable avatar - why the change???

 

I hope you are doing OK....  sending you prayers and hugs.

I had some swelling and black/blue ankles when I had the extended TT 13 months ago.  When I had the buttock lift & lipo of saddlebags, my ankles and calves were really swollen.  That was 9 months ago and just the last couple of months, the swelling has gone down.  I was told by my regular doc that it was a form of lymphdemia (sp).  I am sure that massage would help as well as low salt but it finally went away.