Question:
I had a t.t and did not have hip lipo. I am 2 wks post op.

My outer thighs are more prominent and seem to be swollen. I did not have lipo there, and have tried on some clothes and they are too tight! I am 10 pounds less than the day of surgery. Will this get better?    — zena X. (posted on August 10, 2004)

August 10, 2004
You are probably retaining fluids in that area. Maybe the swelling from your tummy has traveled down a bit. Call your surgeon and ask about it. You will look wonderful before you know it.
   — bubbleboo K.

August 10, 2004
Thanks for the support! I hope you are right. I saw him this a.m. and he said 2 things: the new flat tummy/waistline is so dramatic that it makes the hips look bigger, and there is likely still a great amt of swelling. He did discuss an outer thigh lipo/lift, perhaps for next summer, but I really wish I would have done the lipo while I had the TT since the costs for hospital/o.r. would have been absorbed by the other procedure. I had a huge hernia repair (from rny incision) and a TT at the same time. Insurance covered this. Any other comments or advice would be welcomed.
   — zena X.

August 10, 2004
I'm two weeks post-op from my LBL and my thighs are also swollen even though they weren't lipo'ed. My PS told me today that the swelling moves south as it abates, settling into lower areas. I noticed it had hit my thighs when I bumped something yesterday and it hurt like hell (and I wondered why since I hadn't been operated on there, lol). Like you, I also can't get a lot of my regular pants on due to the swelling, but I've heard it can take up to three-four weeks for major swelling to subside, and three to six months for most swelling to subside.
   — Suzy C.

August 10, 2004
Thank you Suzy for that explanation. I do feel so much better knowing that I am not alone with this problem. My PS implied the same thing, but did say that a hip lipo and lift would certainly be an optimal solution. Thanks again!
   — zena X.