Liposuction revision surgery, sometimes called liposuction correction or liposhifting, is a plastic surgery procedure that strategically removes or adds fat, to improve on the results of a previous procedure.Â
Revision lipo can enhance a result that once looked great but has changed over time (weight gain or loss), or it can correct complications from a previous liposuction procedure, including asymmetry, indentations, or other contour irregularities.Â
A revision procedure can usually be performed on any area of the body that was previously treated with liposuction, but “it is most often done on the abdomen and inner and outer thighs because the skin is thin or stretched out,” says Dr. Allen Gabriel, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Vancouver, Washington.Â
Lipo complications and unmet expectations are two reasons patients commonly seek a secondary liposuction procedure. Patients may need secondary liposuction if their previous surgeon was inexperienced, but irregularities and other issues can also just be a result of the way a person heals. Age-related or weight changes can also contribute.Â
Related: Liposuction Gone Wrong: 6 Signs of Bad Work and How to Fix Them
“Contour irregularities almost always result from over liposuction or removing too much fat, too close to the skin’s surface. Good liposuction is always subtle, with great care to avoid taking too much fat,” says Dr. John Burns, a board-certified plastic surgeon and president of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute.
If you’re unhappy with your liposuction results, it’s best to wait up to a year to revise the area, says Dr. Joel Beck, a plastic surgeon in Matthews, North Carolina. “During this time, the scar tissue typically softens, which allows the [revision] surgeon to better break up the scar tissue and improve the irregularity.”
Related: The Lipo Risk No One Talks About (and a Surefire Way to Minimize It)
Cosmetic surgery to correct uneven lipo results may include:
These treatments may be performed alone or in combination, depending on the patient’s unique concerns and the provider’s preferred technique for addressing them.Â
In some cases, a different type of liposuction technique or body contouring procedure may be the best solution.Â
For instance, many providers use VASER liposuction to treat fibrosis, a type of scarring that’s one of the most common complications of liposuction. It employs ultrasound technology to break down adhesions that form during the scarring process, which makes it easier to remove any remaining excess fat.
Related: Plastic Surgeons Say the Best Liposuction Results Have 4 Things in Common
Pros
Cons
Your liposuction revision cost will depend on the details of your treatment plan (including your anesthesia), your surgeon's credentials, and their practice location.
If you return to your original surgeon, they may waive at least a portion of their surgeon's fee for a revision procedure, which could reduce your cost.Â
If you choose a more experienced surgeon, you will likely pay more than you did for your original procedure. More skilled surgeons can change more for their time, and revision liposuction procedures are often more complex and time-consuming.
The liposuction revision photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Liposuction revision is an outpatient procedure. General anesthesia or local anesthesia with twilight sedation are typically recommended.Â
What happens during your procedure will depend on your concerns and treatment plan. If you have asymmetrical areas or results that simply don’t look sculpted or natural (what doctors refer to as “feathered”), a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatological surgeon can perform a combination of treatments to create a more balanced result.  Â
Additional liposuction:Â
High-definition sculpting or etching:Â
Fat grafting
Tummy tuck (or other procedures that tighten loose skin)Â
Your downtime will depend on the type of revision you have. Everyone heals differently, but if you have additional liposuction or fat transfer, you can expect to take one to two weeks off from work and to wear a compression garment for several weeks post-op.Â
If you have a tummy tuck or another type of surgical body contouring, plan on at least two weeks off work and six weeks of total healing time before you can engage in any strenuous activity.
You’ll see bruises subside after about two weeks and swelling go down after a few months. Full results are usually visible within a year.
Updated September 15, 2023