What can be done to correct discoloration, lumpiness and loose skin after mini tummy tuck? (photos)

Dear cbq199,

I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It appears as if you still have laxity of the skin despite the liposuction and the mini tuck. Performing a full abdominoplasty with some liposuction of your hips that are full would probably correct most of the problems that you are having. I would seek out a plastic surgeon who is board certified and has a lot of experience in body contouring. Check with nurses and hairdresser's in your area who tend to know who the best surgeons are.

It would be helpful for you to send photos of your whole abdomen with no clothing. In the photos you submit, your clothing hides loose skin. You also might need some carefully placed fat grafting to even out your skin, but an examination is needed for this. Please go in for a consultation.

Hello; when energy-based devices; such as Laserlipolysis, Vaserlipo or Bodytite are used; these types of color changes may occur. On the other hand, a very intense, superficial Liposuction procedure may have been applied. If the sun is not shown in general manner; improvement may be seen within 1-2 years. Unfortunately, there are not much things for doing relevant with this. If there is skin laxity; apart from having surgery again and removing this excess; there are not many alternatives.

Delivering consistent quality, liposuction results is more difficult than most people realize.
The number of plastic surgeons who mastered this procedure is small.
There are significant differences in skill and experience among plastic surgeons.
There are a number of variables that can contribute to problems Such as those you describe.
Discoloration can be due to excessive bleeding during surgery from poor surgical technique.
That would coincide with individuals who have excessive bruising that last long time after surgery.
Skin discoloration can also happen from direct dermal injury. If aggressive equipment is used, and if cannulas are past damaging the back of the dermis.
The chance of problems is increased when aggressive equipment is used including ultrasound assistance a.k.a. VASER.
Some people may be predisposed to skin discoloration, but more likely than not. It’s a direct reflection of how the procedure was done.
Most likely the procedure was done in an aggressive fashion and done in a hurry.
Liposuction results should be considered permanent and irreversible.
Improving. Your outcome is going to be difficult and only partial improvements should be expected.
Improving Liposuction results is inherently difficult and revision work is many times more difficult than primary Liposuction.
This means that any attempt and improving your outcome can very easily make things worse.
Improving contour, irregularities is usually done by either removing more fat, a.k.a. revision liposuction, fat, transfer, or a combination of both.
Sometimes results can be improved by converting the procedure to a skin tightening operation like in your case of full tummy tuck.
There is no yes or no answer to your question.
Everything is and should be assessed on an individual basis.
I suggest you do not rely on virtual consultations, but instead rely exclusively on in person consultations.
To find the right provider I suggest patient start the process by having multiple in person consultations with plastic surgeons in their own community.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of the previous patients who had similar body characteristics to your own.
an experience plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
Being shown a handful of pre-selected images, representing only the best results of a providers career may be insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in a hands of each provider. What your results are likely to look like or how many of these procedures they’ve actually done.
Finding the right provider to do revision work is more or less the same process as finding the right provider to do primary Liposuction.
The best providers at revision work tend to be the same providers to do the best Primary procedures.
The only exception to this is when fat transfer is needed in which case you need to vet providers for both lip Section and fat transfer skills.
The two biggest mistakes patients make is number one having only one consultation and then scheduling surgery.
The second biggest mistake is assuming that plastic surgeons with board certifications year of experience and a few good reviews have mastered most plastic surgical procedures.
This also Includes the assumption that Liposuction is fairly easy and straightforward, which it is not.
You should probably avoid any providers who are overly optimistic and think it’s easy to improve your outcome.
Some improvements may be possible.
Whether this justifies the expense and happy more surgery, including potential risks, is something that you need to decide with an appropriate provider once you find them.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD