Skin Tightening Treatment for Loose Skin After Liposuction?

Thermage radiofrequency tightening has helped patients with similar history. It is not surgery however, and the results are not guaranteed. Some patients obtain better improvement than others.

It sounds like this should have been discussed first. In the abdominal evaluation the surgeon must appreciate the skin to fat ratio and the tone of the skin. He must understand what the skin will do once the fat has been removed. Often a mini tummy tuck is needed in conjunction with abdominal liposuction to remove the excess skin created by the liposuction. The fold you are describing may resolve by continued use of the garment if you're still not far out from surgery. If you are... more

I am hearing a lot of questions like yours lately, thanks to the promotion of liposuction with lasers and other techniques that promise to tighten skin. With the amount of laxity you describe, it sounds like you should have had the tummy tuck instead of lipo, and I haven't seen anything that will tone it up enough short of doing the tummy tuck.

If you have thousands of dollars to spend on painful laser treatments and won't be disappointed if you don't get an noticeable improvement after undergoing those treatments, then it is reasonable to try. These techniques have little or no evidence to document their effectiveness in a situation like yours, and the hype behidn them is being driven by bottom-line minded ad executives hired by the companies that make the machines. If you have too much skin on your stomach, it needs to be... more

You most likely need abdominoplasty.  There are skin tightening procedures, such as Smartlipo MPX which uses a laser to help tighten the skin, however, it sounds like you are beyond what that can achieve.  Good luck.

After liposuction there is a percentage of patients that their skin does not retract adequately that require skin excision.  Skin tightening lasers may give about a 15-20% improvement in the skin.  If you have alot of loose skin, then you need excision.

Hi! For small amounts of loose skin, we get good results with Thermage.  But from your description, you probably have too much loose skin for Thermage. There probably is no good alternative.  I think you need an abdominoplasty.

Infrared (LuxIR Deep and Titan) and Radiofrequency (Thermage and Refirme) if used PROPERLY by well trained personnel at high power settings, will tighten skin about 20-30%. The problem is that very few people who offer these treatments (spas, etc.) really know how to use them. High power settings by a well trained professional must be used in the treatments. If done properly, you will see the results. These devices are best for very small or minimal amounts of loose skin after liposuction... more

Dear BodyArt09 It is very reasonable to first have liposuction of the abdomen even in individuals who might eventually need a tummy tuck. The reason for this is that some individuals often get remarkable skin contraction and firming. Further, liposuction, especially tumescent liposuction under local anesthesia, involves very little down time and minimal risk compared to tummy tuck surgery. This approach is not right for everyone. Out of the gate some women need a tummy tuck. ... more

The best choice is a tummy tuck. Really from what you are describing anything else would be a waste of money and time. There are many laser and devices that claim to tighten the skin in a "non surgical" fashion, but in short they all fall short compared to surgery. In certain cases, like around the neck and jowls some of these devices may be an "alternative" to surgery but no a replacement. Good luck.