Not Much Results After Liposuction? (photo)

I had liposuction on January 26th. My biggest problem areas were my tummy and back. They however are not showing much improvement. I discussed this with my surgeon and he insists on my being patient, he also noted that my stomach has hanging skin & the only way to get rid of it is with a tummy tuck. I completely disagree as I have viewed several post op photos on RealSelf where folks who had larger tummies have had vast improvement. Should I expect to see more of a change in my abdomen? Please advise..

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back stomach no change 3 weeks post-op

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by Waiting on results in New York

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Insufficient Liposuction

It's difficult to tell from your pictures exactly how much excess skin you have (although it does not appear to be much), but perhaps more importantly, the quality of that skin. Is it thin? stretched? loose? If you have poor skin quality, you would need a tummy tuck operation with liposuction to achieve the results you want. However, if you have good skin quality (appears that might be the case, by your pictures, but difficult to say for sure), you should be able to achieve a nice flat... more

Liposuction results

Even when removing large amounts off the abdomen, its harder to see the results than in other areas, just because the tummy has fatty tissue inside too....often twice as much. If your tummy has poor support, it makes it even harder to see the result. The good news is you still have some time for the skin to tighten. You will not know your result until 6 months and it may still improve for up to 18 months. I find that the back often responds well to liposuction. If... more

Not Much Results After Liposuction?

I generally advise my patients that it takes about 4-6 weeks to see 85% of the result after a lipo, 3 months for 95% and 6 months for the final result (and sometimes even longer). So at this point you should have at least some indication of what you'll look like. The process takes longer when skin tone is less good, particularly if you were a candidate, even borderline, for a skin removal or tightening procedure (such as a tummy tuck or modified tummy tuck). Even when there... more

Minimal Results After Liposuction

Thank you for your interesting liposuction question and photographs. You are still in the early post operative liposuction period and should give it more time and regularly follow up with your surgeon. Unfortunately, we do not know your history of childbirth, which would be helpful to make the best decision for you. If after 6-12 months, you do not have the optimal results, you can seek a second opinion with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Options include: additional... more

Disappointing Liposuction

Thank you for your question and photos about your liposuction result. Photos suggest some improvement. Swelling now obscures the result More photos and an exam will tell if you need more lipo or a tummy tuck. Ask for a copy of the op note to see how much was removed, Consider a second opinion with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. In the future you can protect your privacy more by using paper panties to... more

Liposuction results

Liposuction results may take a few months to see completley due to swelling. If you have loose skin, you may need a full tummy tuck.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction dissatisfaction

This is one of my pet peeves--now your doctor says that you need a tummy tuck! It is what you needed from the beginning and, if so, I would not perform the operation you thought you wanted (and which may have been a reasonable choice for other patients, but not for you). I also agree that back lipo does not always produce the desired improvement. Give things more time to settle down.

Liposuction

It takes a minimum of 3 months to get your final result with liposuction, so you need to be patient, however I have been doing this 23 years and I never think suctioning the back gives the result I would like to see. As far as your abdomen is concerned, I agree with your surgeon that abdominoplasty would give a better result, but that should have been discussed before surgery. Good luck

3 Weeks after Liposuction and No Results

3 weeks after liposuction is not a good time to evaluate for final results. I tell many of my patients who have less than optimal skin that tummy tuck is always a possibility. I typically liposuction 5 liters to get the most dramatic result. Give yourself at least 6 months before making any decisions. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Results after liposuction

Your photos are a little difficult to assess and you really are quite early. It would help to know your weight, height, and volume of actual fat removed. Some of what is bothering you is swelling. I do not know the end result because wound healing takes a year. Nevertheless at 2 months you should see improvement and at 4 months and 6 months get quite a change. If your `change is not impressive you need to discuss with your doctor but be a... more

Not Much Results After Liposuction?

Most patients by a month after surgery are barely back to their pre-op size after having been even larger due to the swelling. Allow at least six months to see the expected difference. I do concur with your surgeon that because of the skin overhang, a tummy tuck would have been a far better option. All the best.;