Swelling after LIS surgery

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

A composite account, drawn from many real anonymised experiences. It is not any one person's story.

What this experience covers

This experience describes the swelling that commonly occurs after LIS surgery — what people describe, how long it lasts, and when it warrants a call to the surgical team. This is a composite from many anonymised accounts.

The pattern

What people describe

Swelling after LIS is common and expected. People describe:

Puffiness around the surgical site that is noticeable within the first day or two
A swollen lump or ridge near the anus that can feel alarming
The area feeling larger, more prominent, or more tender than expected
Difficulty telling whether the swelling is normal healing or a new problem

The timeline

Most swelling peaks around days two to four after surgery. It then gradually reduces over one to three weeks. Some people describe residual swelling that takes six to eight weeks to fully resolve.

What helps

People manage post-LIS swelling with:

Sitz baths in warm water — help reduce swelling and provide comfort
Lying on the side rather than sitting for extended periods
Cold compresses in the first 24 to 48 hours (wrapped in cloth, not direct contact)
Adequate stool management to avoid straining
Patience — swelling resolution takes time

When to call the surgeon

Normal post-operative swelling is diffuse, gradually improving, and not accompanied by fever. Contact the surgical team if:

Swelling is increasing rather than decreasing after the first few days
There is a firm, painful lump that feels like it is getting worse
The area becomes hot, red, or develops pus-like discharge
You develop a fever

What people wish they had known

That significant swelling is normal after LIS and does not mean something has gone wrong
That the swelling would look worse before it looked better
That it can take weeks for the area to look and feel normal again

When to contact your doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience:

Swelling that is clearly worsening after the first few days
Fever or signs of infection
Heavy bleeding
Severe pain that is escalating

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint: emergency. Fever or trouble passing urine: call today. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Severe or worsening pain
Heavy bleeding
Fever
Black stools
Fainting or dizziness
Pus or unusual discharge
Inability to pass stool or gas
Unexplained weight loss

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

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