SmartLipo is just a procedure and it takes skill to do it right along with the liposuctioning part of it. If it isn't done right, you can have serious consequences. While I can't say if your procedure was done correctly or incorrectly, these side effects sound quite unusual and probably merit a... more
Cannula lines, hard spots, and discoloration post-Smart Lipo
I had Smart Lipo done in October on my upper arms and chin. I now have cannula lines under my chin, so I have traded one problem for another, and now I'm going to have to try to find a procedure to remove them. My doctor did not mention that this would be a side effect.
Now, my arms are another problem. I am having these hard spots that the doctor states some patients get, so he is injecting them with a steroid and it is helping. I also have discoloration and wrinkling due to this and was wondering if it will ever go away. My doctor did not see me until 5 weeks after the surgery and I think he knows that was a mistake so is seeing me for free for the shots. He also gave me Botox in the neck to remove the cannula lines and that didn't work.What should I expect at this point?
1 answer to “Cannula lines, hard spots, and...”
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109 posts
7 Jan 2009
I'm sorry to hear of your problems related to your procedure. Hard spots after SmartLipo (with or without liposuction afterwards) are quite common and can take several months to go away. Think about them as pockets of healing tissue + liquified fat that need time for your body to resorb. Steroid injections can help reduce the size of these lumps. The skin discoloration can be due to trauma to the skin from the superficial aspect of the procedure. Of the areas treated with SmartLipo, arms are traditionally the least forgiving with the chin being quite forgiving. At this point, it sounds like your doctor is doing everything he or she can do to help the healing process and maximize your chances for a satisfactory result. Although it has already been 3 months, there is still much more time needed for your body to completely heal from the procedure (usually about 6 months). Best of luck! Alex Liu, MD Torrance, CA