Will aspiration help improve Smart Lipo results?

I had Smart Lipo a year ago on love handles, abdomen and inner thighs. No aspiration was done. I have seen no results, except my lower abdomen seems less flabby. The inner thighs also look a lot bigger, and have some remaining hard lumps (painful when pressed). The clinic agreed to retreat and do aspiration, though I have been warned that rarely is aspiration done on the inner thighs, as skin will sag.

However, the surgeon is prepared to aspirate a little from that area, which is my main target for reduction. Is it true that this is never done on the inner thighs? Can I really expect results this time with aspiration?

4 answers to “Will aspiration help improve Smart...”

A: Aspiration is performed in the inner thighs alone and with SmartLipo

By Sanjay Grover, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

It is my understanding that some surgeons in Europe will perform SmartLipo without post procedure aspiration. It is also my understanding that in the United States, the FDA clearance for SmartLipo includes that the procedure is followed by aspiration and not to be done alone. Many surgeons will... more

A: i would not aspirate alone

By David E. Berman, MD - Sterling Plastic Surgeon

I am not sure exactly what you mean by "aspirate"? If you are considering more liposuction that is reasonable and certainly Smartlipo is a good idea. you should get a better idea of what your dr means by "aspiration." you are correct in that inner thigh skin generally has poor skin tone... more

A: Aspiration is essential and I would seek another surgeon as this one is out of his element

By Joel Schlessinger, MD - Omaha Dermatologist

If your surgeon is reluctant to aspirate the fat, they are out of the mainstream and probably don't deserve another chance. It is likely that they haven't performed the actual liposuction before and don't know what they are doing if they end up doing your aspiration. For this reason as well as the reason... more

A: yes

By Kamran Khoobehi, MD - New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

For the best results from laser lipo, the surgeon should aspirate the melted fat. If you leave the damaged and melted fat behind this will cause more scaring and also the result is not as drastic. The other issue is the kind of laser lipo you had. The older lasers were very weak and did not give a good results... more

Comments

Steven A. Schlosser M.D.
92 posts
20 Jan 2009

Inner Thigh Aspiration is the norm with Smart Lipo in the U.S. Typically 50 to 200 cc's can be removed gently from this area. Concerns about loose skin here are real, however, using the MPX Smart Lipo, I have gotten very good overall results including skin tightening on the inner thighs. You may want to seek a second opinion.

aliu
109 posts
20 Jan 2009

Hi Efcaz, SmartLipo results are far superior with much faster healing time when the liquified fat is aspirated out compared to just leaving it in there to be resorbed over time. Your body can only resorb fat at a certain rate, much slower than what can be removed via aspiration the day of the procedure. On personal experience, the first 30-40 cases of the several hundred I've performed were done without aspiration and 85% of them came back to get aspiration. The lumps & bumps that you are feeling are unfortunately quite common after any lipo type procedure and even more common after SmartLipo without aspiration. The inner thighs can be aspirated safely without that wrinkly skin look but you have to be very conservative, just like in the arms. When I perform it, I will usually separate it into separate sessions in order to give the skin time to tighten and heal and to monitor progression as removing too much fat for the skin to "catch up" and tighten is what I feel in my experience puts the area at risk for looking saggy. Obviously there will be patients who are better off with a brachioplasty, tummy tuck, thigh lift etc... if they have too much loose skin to begin with. Good luck!

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