What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February. (Photos)

Question

After surgery everything looked ok but now I look bigger than before in my stomach. I’ve had 1 baby wo is 2 year old. My stomach looks poofy and feels hard 24/7. You can’t really tell but from the front it even looks football shaped. The first picture is before surgery and the second is after. What could be wrong?

George Marosan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. Although you were told that you had 360 degree liposuction, I beg to differ based on these photos. 360 degree liposuction means liposuction and sculpting the whole abdomen, pubic area, upper and lower back, lower back fat pad, upper hips and waist area, latera and upper chest wall including the lateral breast or fat rolls, axillary breasts and lateral chest wall. ALL these areas are connected, no separation between these areas. This allows your skin to shrink wrap around your muscles. Maybe, your surgeon has explored some of these areas, but did a suboptimal liposuction ( can be seen from the frontal photo on the abdomen, no definition of the semilunar lines, epigastric midline depression, excess fat on the chest wall under the breast crease, lateral chest fat roll and axillary fat roll). I use the VASER Hi Def Lipo technique to create an hourglass figure. Your surgeon did not achieve that for you, because fat reduction liposuction even if it is done "360 degrees" is not sculpting or revealing liposuction.You are about 5-6 months postop, and I know the other posts are telling you to be patient, you are still swollen (maybe), but it is evident from the side view photo that you have a bra roll, a midback roll and poorly defined waistline and lower back. Seek a second in person opinion with a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques. Good luck.See the enclosed web reference what 360 degree liposuction should look like.

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

It appears from your pre-operative picture that you have loose skin and fat on your abdomen.  Your lateral picture shows minimal to no muscle separation.  Obviously, an in person exam would be necessary to see if, in fact, you had some post-operative muscle separation (i.e. rectus diastasis).  It is possible that the liposuction of your abdomen, which removed unwanted fat, and tightened some of your skin may have inadvertently weakened the fibers that kept your rectus diastasis from getting wider.  Please understand this is only an assumption based on a few pictures.  An evaluation by your personal plastic surgeon should answer the question whether this is, in fact, more muscle separation with bowel coming forward or some other post operative event.360 liposuction is a term applied to liposuctioning all the way around one area of the body.  In the post pregnancy body, liposuction of the flanks, hips, upper and mid back is an excellent technique to reduce one's circumference.  However, liposuction of the abdomen in women who have had one or more pregnancies needs to be done very cautiously, if at all.  Because muscles are already separated by pregnancy and the elastin fibers in the skin are very often stretched or torn, unless one tightens these abdomens with a tummy tuck, at a minimum, there will be difficulty in having a smooth outcome and, of course, the worse case scenario could lead to a greater separation of these muscles allowing more abdominal protrusion than was seen pre-operatively.All the above plastic surgery mumbo jumbo means you need to reconnect with your personal plastic surgeon.  He or she knows exactly what was done in surgery and can give you the best answers.

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It's difficult to say without examining you in person. Early after surgery people can develop collections of fluid under the skin. However, if your surgery was performed back in February that is unlikely. As you know, it takes 6-9 months for swelling to go away completely. Gaining weight would lead to more fullness. I would consider contacting your surgeon's office, so that they can examine you and give you specific advice.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It is too soon to tell what your final results will be. You have swelling, which can last 3-6 months after your procedure. I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. However, a tummy tuck and VASER HI DEF revision may be needed to get the smoothest result. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. After liposuction there is a process of swelling that undergoes the first stage of major resolution in the first 2 weeks after surgery.  The lateer phase of healing takes place over the 2-3 months after surgery where everything really settles and softens.  It is after this time that we are getting close to the final result, though this varies patient to patient. It usually takes up to 6 months for the final results to settle in. I would suggest to follow up with your surgeon so that he/she can take a look.

What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February. (Photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Liposuction Results & After care includes RF treatments (Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra) Cellutone/zwave, hyperbaric oxygen

Answer: Liposuction Results & After care includes RF treatments (Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra) Cellutone/zwave, hyperbaric oxygen

Answer: What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February.

Answer: What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February.

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What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February. (Photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Liposuction Results & After care includes RF treatments (Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra) Cellutone/zwave, hyperbaric oxygen

Answer: Liposuction Results & After care includes RF treatments (Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra) Cellutone/zwave, hyperbaric oxygen

Answer: What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February.

Answer: What is wrong with my stomach? I had lipo 360 done back in February.

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.