Hyperpigmentation Resulting from Smartlipo, How Long Until this Should go Away? (photo)

My plastic surgeon has told me that the skin discoloration I have experienced from smartlipo is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. He gave me hydroquinone 4% to use twice daily to help clear it up, which I haven't started using. Is it normal for this to occure? Does it usually go away? How long? Below are photos of 10 days post op (looks kind of like a dark red birth mark) and 7 weeks post op...I am 8 weeks out and it still looks like it did at 3 weeks.

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by LaurieKay1 in Topeka, KS

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Hyperpigmentation from Smart lipo

I have never seen this with standard tumescent liposuction. It may be from the smartlipo heating mechanism getting too close to the skin. Hard to say what the final outcome will be. IPL may help but I would wait a few months to seek a consultation.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Skin Hyperpigmentation After Abdominal Smartlipo

All of the hyperpigmentation that I have seen with Smartlipo, or any form of liposuction, is at the entrance sites for the probe and cannulas used to treat and extract the fat. This is a reaction of the skin edges to the frictional irritation from the in and out of probe and cannulas. What you are showing, however, is hyperpigmentation of the skin over the areas treated by the Smartlipo probe. I can only assume this is a reaction to the heat used to treat the undersurface of the skin or the... more

Hyperpigmentation Resulting from Smartlipo, How Long Until this Should go Away? (photo)

This can occur from any type of liposuction. The healing time and bleaching creams can help. Did you have much bruising or bleeding? This can be a cause over the heating of the tissues.