I was super swollen (and it was hard to the touch), and almost 5 months past surgery, I still have swelling on one side, although it is softer now and lessening incrementally. As Cheryl said, the removal of the nodes, and the scar tissue prevent the "normal" movement of fluid.

I have also done lymphatic massage, and my physiotherapist taped the more swllen areas to encourage movement to where nodes still were (in my case by my jaw), which also helped.