AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2200 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question Hello Dr, I am a male 42 years old. I had liposuction done 2 months ago on my abdomen and love handles. As I write to you my stomach looks like I'm 9 months pregnant. My belly is very tender. I had an ultrasound done. The Dr. told me there was a collection of fluids that would probably go away on it's own. My plastic surgeon spends no more than a few minutes with me at his office saying that all will be well soon. I got a second opinion and was told by the PS that my results were inappropriate. Have you ever seen this before ? It gets so much worse at bed time. I hate the way I look ! From a 34 size in jeans, I'm up to 38-40 !
Please help ! Do you think I'll get better ?
Thanks !
Pete
Answer Hi Pete,
There's more about lipo at my site, www.bodysculpture.com.
First of all, I am very sorry for the problems you're having. I'll offer some thoughts but it is, of course, impossible for me to make any significant statements or give advice via this online forum.
If what you're saying is accurate, then it sounds to me like you have a collection of fluid, often termed a seroma, in the regions that had surgery. While it's common to have swelling for several weeks to months after a lipo, it is typically worse in the first few weeks, and then should generally be moving in the right direction; ie, down. The treatment for a fluid collection, in general, is to make sure it's drained appropriately. That means either inserting a needle into the fluid, or inserting (or reinserting) one or more drains to empty the space or spaces. The fluid may be absorbed on its own but (a) it may not adequately (in which case some scar tissue can accumulate) and (b) its already been two months, so I think it merits addressing.
I'm not sure what to say in terms of talking to your PS. It sounds like you need to try to sit down and have a better discussion with him.
