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Does Risk of Necrosis Go Up if I Have a Tummy Tuck After Smartlipo?

asked 1 year ago by tdskkenn in SD
Latest answer by B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Question viewed 471 times
Tags: age 35-44, female, necrosis

Hi there. I had smartlipo 6 months ago. I deeply regret it because the tummy tuck would have been a better option. (I have severe diastasis and did not understand that at the time). That being said, I want to have a high lateral tension TT in the next 6 months. Because of the heat used in smartlipo, I am worried I will be at a greater risk of necrosis due to the heat damage to my blood vessels. I am 40, healthy, don't smoke. What is your advice?

22 answers to Does Risk of Necrosis Go Up if I Have a Tummy Tuck After Smartlipo?

Tummy tuck surgery after having had smart lipo

You should wait about one year after any liposuction procedure on your abdomen before you have a tummy tuck procedure in order to ensure the best blood supply. This also allows time for the skin to shrink and soften up after the lipo/smartlipo procedure. The tummy tuck may be slightly more difficult as the tissue will not have the same laxity as it once had, but you can certainly still have the surgery. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to having surgery.... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Tummy Tuck after SmartLipo

The effect of SmartLipo on the risks have probably been minimized one year after the laser liposuction procedure, however the tummy tuck may be technically more difficult for your surgeon. Some tips: Choose a well experienced tummy tuck surgeon for your procedure. If you are a smoker, quit at least 2 weeks before- and after your procedure Focus on good nutrition (adequate protein intake) before and after your procedure consult with your surgeon about... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Complications of Tummy Tuck done AFTER a SmartLipo

Regarding: "Does Risk of Necrosis Go Up if I Have a Tummy Tuck After Smartlipo? Hi there. I had smartlipo 6 months ago. I deeply regret it because the tummy tuck would have been a better option. (I have severe diastasis and did not understand that at the time). That being said, I want to have a high lateral tension TT in the next 6 months. Because of the heat used in smartlipo, I am worried I will be at a greater risk of necrosis due to the heat damage to my blood vessels. I am 40,... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Risk of necrosis after a tummy tuck

In our practice, we commonly perform liposuction with every tummy tuck. We feel that it is an essential modality to help sculpt the fat and create the result that our patients are looking for. All patients receiving a tummy tuck should understand the possible complications that exist with the surgery, including necrosis. To avoid these complications, it is essential that you work with a plastic surgeon that is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is very... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) after failed.Smart Lipo

After 6 months the tissues should be sufficiently relaxed to allow th performance of a tummy tuck. The skinsmay be somewhat thicker and the longer you wait the better it may be.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck after Liposuction or Smart Lipo

You may have your tummy tuck after liposuction (traditional or with laser). I recommend waiting at least 6 months for the swelling and the scar healing from lipo to resolve.

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

Safety of abdominoplasty after liposuction

You should not have any more risk for problems if you have an abdominoplasty 6 or more months after any type of liposuction. When you see your Board Certified plastic surgeon for the tummy tuck, make sure you explain what you had done so far. Your surgeon may want to wait until the skin has had a chance to soften up after the liposuction so that better abdominoplasty results can be achieved.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Smart Lipo, Tummy tuck

Smart Lipo does cause burning with laser as well as scarring but this should not interfere with a tummy tuck. Smart lipo is done for excess fatty tissue and even though some studies have shown that you do get some skin contraction, this may not be the case, especially with a lot of excess skin. The only sure way of removing excess skin is by cutting it out with a tummy tuck. Watch my videos.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Do risks of tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)go up after Smart Lipo?

One of the many good things about Smart Lipo is that the major vasculature (and nerve supply) is spared by the laser. Therefore, the risks of necrosis do not go up.

Kenneth L. Stein, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Risk of healing problems with atummy tuck after lipoafter

Often lipo helps produce a better contour after the fatty layer has been reduced. The secret is not to do extensive undermining of the skin-fat flap that will be left behind. If a lot of lipo has been done, then wait for a mimium 6 months healing period before having the skin removed.

H. Michael Roark, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Risk of Necrosis

Have lipo or Smartlipo 6 months prior to abdominoplasty does not increase risk of necrosis during the surgery. If you post pictures, we may be able to give you advice on your suitability for surgery. Your situation is not unlike many people. No matter how much we explain about the difference between lipo and tummy tuck and the need to fix diastasis during the tummy tuck, many patients do not fully understand this until after they see that the lipo removes the fat... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Tummy Tuck After Smart Lipo

Six months after your Smart Lipo, you should be OK to proceed with a tummy tuck. However, as my colleagues have already stated, you will may be at increased risk for delayed healing. In addition, given the scarring from your smart lipo procedure (which may not be visible to you now), a tummy tuck could potentially unmask deformities that were created from your previous smart lipo procedure. This is why it is imperative you visit with an ASPS member surgeon to learn... more

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

What are the effects of Smart Lipo?

Smart Lipo is a propriety procedure. It has been marketed well and has been done mostly in an office setting by many practitioners who are not Plastic Surgeons and do not have the training to perform Abdominoplasty. I believe this has led to many cases like yours. I know of no large peer reviewed study that gives an answer to your question. Although there is FDA approval of the Smart Lipo device there have been few studies in the Plastic Surgery literature to compare results to standard... more

Thomas R. Walek, MD
Providence Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck healing after laser lipo

Your situation is becoming increasingly common, with people being convinced that laser lipo is an alternative to abdominoplasty and then needing one anyway. Because of the scarring from the laser, it can be a lot more difficult or not at all depending on each case. On average the chance of problems with healing is probably higher but your plastic surgeon will be able to make some adjustments in technique to minimize them.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after a not so smart lipo

Ordinarily liposuction will remove fat while the damage to surrounding blood vessels is modest. Smart lipo however uses heat energy to destroy the fatty tissue and cause resorption of the fat. This does have the potential of disrupting circulation to the skin, at least temporarily. The skin circulation will repair itself, and though there are not reports of skin loss with tummy tuck after, I would suggest a wait of six to twelve months to allow the tissues to fully recover. Can't... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

You can safely have a tummy tuck after liposuction

Liposuction of any sort can damage the blood supply to the overlying skin. However over time healing occurs and blood supply is restored. While your risk of complications are slightly higher than those of someone who has not had liposuction, you should be fine if you wait long enough. It is my opinion that there is no cookbook answer about what is enough time between operations . Tissues are well healed when they are soft and supple again and no longer feel " woody" and stiff as they did... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Smart Lipo Not Always the Answer

By waiting a year like will the risk of problems because of the Smart Lipo is minimal. In your case you run no higher risk of necrosis versus someone who has never had Smart Lipo. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after smartlipo

A tummy tuck can safely be performed one year after liposuction. This should also include repair of the diastasis. Best of luck

Dana Khuthaila, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck OK after Smartlipo

I don't feel that you will have a significant increase in wound healing problems 12 monthe after your Smartlipo. Smoking would be much more hazardous and much more likely to result in necrosis. I certainly agree with the others in that you would have been much better off (including financially), if you had undergone the tummy tuck initially.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Does Risk of Necrosis Go Up if I Have a Tummy Tuck After Smartlipo?

Sorry for the mis diagnosis by the ?surgeon? who did your Smart Lipo. Yes it is fine to have a TT. Best of luck from MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after smartlipo

At about 1 year after your liposuction it should be okay top have a tummy tuck. It just may be a bit tougher because of residual scar tissue from the liposuction.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after Smartlipo

It sounds like you were deceived by someone who told you that SL was best for you in the face of a post-pregnancy abdomen with a rectus diastasis (I doubt it was a plastic surgeon) or that you didn't do your best research or that you wanted to hear that you didn't need a tummy tuck when you really did need one. Unfortunately your story is being re-written daily around the country as the hard sell for Smartlipo continues. Either way, this was a mistake and you will make... more