Fat grafting or tummy tuck for botched liposuction? (photos)

Question

I'm told I'll need a tummy tuck to correct this botched lipo after an attempt at revision that made it worse. It's not obvious to me how a tummy tuck will improve this and I'm worried about making it worse. Is my skin too thin now to pull tightly without obvious deformities? (photo attached). Wondering if you doctors on here concur and what you'd recommend?

Miguel Mota, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for posting your photos with your question. It is hard to say what procedure would be best for you without an in-person evaluation. I don't think you have enough skin for a TT, plus your navel is a little high (this would make a TT even harder because we would need to pull down from higher up).I feel you need to see several Plastic Surgeons before you make a decision. There might be non-surgical procedures that could help a little. Please do the research before having a TT done, because the risk of making it worse is high.Best of luck,Dr. Miguel Mota

Rajat Gupta, MD, MS, DNB · Answer

For someone like you, basically you need fat equalization. You have certain areas of more fat and certain areas that are depressed or have deficiency of fat. You need a fat equalization along with some fat grafting, so that these contours can be improved. But understand that these can only be improved. Don’t expect 100% smooth contours. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon near you who specializes in correction surgeries after Liposuction and he/she can guide you much better.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,It's not obvious to me how a tummy tuck will improve your situation, unless you have skin laxity, and liposuction is also performed. If there is no laxity, then revision liposuction would help you best.  An expert surgeon using the only known technique to effectively improve liposuction defects - SAFE lipo, a registered trademark by Simeon Wall, Jr., M.D.,  will be all you need. Vaser, Lasers, and radio-frequency assisted liposuction will not be better, and may make things worse. SAFE lipo is technique based, not gadget based, and requires that the surgeon be expert in this technique to smooth and redistribute the fat into a more homogeneous layer. Go visit a few ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons who are facile at this liposuction technique.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear tinkerbell2,I would have to examine you but it appears that this is a contour irregularity after liposuction.  This happens often when areas the undergo liposuction are not feathered appropriately.
The good news is that it can be fixed and I have done so with good results before. The revision can often be done under local as well.While there is always a chance for contour irregularities with liposuction, someone who takes their time and uses the appropriate sized cannulas should give you a superb result.I have all my patients wear compression garments and I use multiple sized cannulas to feather out the result.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

If performed properly with both a low horizontal incision as well as a small (1 inch) vertical incision from your old belly button location, the abdomen can be made smoother.  I have done a few of these types of cases and the tummy tuck can work as a way to smooth out bad prior liposuction.  I usually harvest the fat at the same time to do some additional small fat transfer when needed at the completion of the tummy tuck case.Good luck on your journey.Dr Remus Repta

Mel T. Ortega, MD · Answer

there is a mini tummy tuck, tummy tuck and a vertical abdominoplasty. The appropriate procedure depends the amount and location of the excess skin. That's what your plastic surgeon will have to determine after the actual physical exam.Choose a board certified plastic surgeon who has done a ton of Tummy Tuck and has privileges to do this surgery at a local university hospital. This says his credentials have been checked out by fellow Drs. All surgeries carry risk, talk to your plastic surgeon.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

Sorry you are having this problem, it should not have happened, but we have several patients a year come in with this problem when aggressive lipo is done on thin abdomens that could have been left alone. It is almost impossible to correct. All the little irregularities are scarred tunnels in the fat from the lipo, probably burned with the laser, and are in the layer that is tightened with a TT. Although you will not get much improvement with a TT, at this time it is the best we have to offer. I can't imagine it would be made worse however, just may not be a lot better.

Fat grafting or tummy tuck for botched liposuction? (photos)

Answers (7)

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