If you have stretch marks on love handles are you a bad candidate for Lipo?

Question

I'm fairly young 21 but I have stretch marks on love handles no where else does this mean I'm a bad candidate.

Eugene Kim, MD · Answer

When I see stretch marks it is a concern that the skin will not
shrink back after liposuction and it may be loose and hang afterwards.However it doesn’t make you a bad candidate
for liposuction.The amount of fat to be
removed and the amount of skin you have hanging prior to surgery will determine
if you’re a good or bad candidate for liposuction.If you do not have any skin hanging prior to
the liposuction, you may be okay.If you
have pre-existing hanging skin, then it may get worse with liposuction.It is best to see a Plastic Surgeon for more
specific questions.

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Without photos- and the benefit of physical exam- it's difficult to comment accurately. Stretch mark are a permanent damage to the dermis. There is no surgical way to treat this short of surgical excision for example if they are in the area of a tummy tuck. To answer your question- stretch mark per se- are not a contra indication to liposuction. There are more important elements to consider with respect to liposuction. These will be discussed at your physical exam.

Alexander G. Nein, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Stretch
marks are simply small scars in your skin. Stretch marks won’t stop you from
getting lipo and surgeons don’t consider them when deciding if someone is a
good candidate for lipo. Surgeons identify ideal candidates based on their
health and weight, not the appearance of their skin. Because lipo is a body
contouring procedure to remove stubborn fat deposits, the best candidates are
within 30 percent of their target weight and have firm, tight skin because lipo
won’t improve loose or sagging skin. You may with to fine-tune your results
with a nonsurgical treatment like Exilis™, which can tighten and tone the skin.

Robert Brueck, MD · Answer

No you still can have lipo done.when you lipo you will have additional loose skin and how will it contact?how much fat needs to be removed?These are questions your plastic surgeon can answer.

George Lawson III, MD, FACS · Answer

Stretch marks are tears of the underside of your skin (dermis) resulting from stretch. Because of this, it is very difficult to improve their appearance. Liposuction is used to contour the body and remove fat deposits. Most liposuction techniques do minimal effect to the skin, so the stetch marks likely wont be changed. But you could have more excess skin in that location if you already have some there. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will help answer all of these questions.

If you have stretch marks on love handles are you a bad candidate for Lipo?

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If you have stretch marks on love handles are you a bad candidate for Lipo?

Answers (9)

Answer: Stretch marks and lipo

Answer: Stretch marks and lipo

Answer: Liposuction with Stretch Marks

Answer: Liposuction with Stretch Marks

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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