Will Skin Be Tightened After Liposuction?

The liposuction procedure itself does not cause the skin to shrink. However, liposuction is a procedure that is selected for patients who have problem areas with the elastic skin covering them. In properly selected patients removal of the underlying fat will result in shrinking of the skin. However, in patients who have inelastic skin liposuction can indeed make the overlying skin appear more loose and uneven.Consultation with a plastic surgeon will give them an opportunity to evaluate your anatomy and skin quality to determine how best to achieve your goals.

Most patients are near normal weight and desire permanent contour changes. Patients with average weight, localized fat collections, and healthy elastic skin are the best candidates for liposuction as there is some tightening of the skin as part of the healing process. Obesity, cellulite, or loose, sagging, and inelastic skin are several conditions which may tend towards less desirable results. In fact, these problems may be worsened by liposuction. Unfortunately, many individuals performing liposuction are not trained in other techniques of body contouring and may not have the experience to recognize that a different procedure (such as a tummy tuck) may provide a better result for the patient. Suction Assisted Lipectomy (SAL) may be used in conjunction with other body contouring procedures, such as breast reduction, tummy tuck, thigh lift, or facelift.

Smartlipo can help tighten the skin a bit but mildly. It also depends on your skin elasticity - if it's good then you'll have better retraction. It's important to wear your compression garment and follow your surgeon's instructions to improve retraction.