Can the dent near the triceps area be corrected? (Photos)

Question

Hi, I had gotten liposuction on my arms more than a year back and the surgeon removed more fat than was necessary from near the triceps area. This has now left a dent in the form of a line. Can this be fixed?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear lola010101,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went 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

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

It would be best to show your arms hanging down, with front, back and side views. However, if fat is missing, it can be added, or you can consider skin tightening with radiofrequency like Renuvion or ThermiTight or an arm lift.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Delivering consistent quality, liposuction results is more difficult than most people believe.
Your procedure was not done particularly well in the transition between treated treated areas is very obvious. Arms should be treated. Circumstantially using good technique leaves no skin contour irregularities. In your case, the area that was previously treated, may be difficult to improve upon but well done Liposuction of the untreated part of your arm should be able to improve your outcomes substantially.
Liposuction results very dramatically based on who does the procedure. Being board-certified and plastic surgery with years of experience, and an overall good reputation does not mean somebody has mastered liposuction. The number of plastic surgeons who are truly excellent at Liposuction is much fewer than people believe.
To find a sufficiently talented provider patients generally need to have multiple in person consultations.
During each consultation, your goal needs to be to get a clear understanding of the skill and experience of each provider. You need to try to get an idea of what average results look like and how many cases each provider has actually done. 
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of arm Liposuction before and after pictures. Bring pictures of your own arms and use those for reference. For revision surgery this may not be as helpful but it’s a good idea for primary procedures. Ask providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes, and outcomes that did not turn out, as well as they had hoped for. Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing the best work of a providers career it is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like or how many procedures they have actually performed. While seeing a provider’s best outcomes may be more impressive than seeing those that are average the majority of patients who get surgery don’t get the best outcomes. The majority of patients get average outcomes. 
Hopefully the difference between outcomes should be relatively small. When it comes to Liposuction candidacy for the procedure has a major impact on what’s possible. Generally speaking individuals with significant skin, laxity and thin layers of subcutaneous fat are not going to get great results while those with tight skin, a thick layers of fat should get excellent outcomes.
I prefer to take before, and after pictures with the arms in a down position. It’s a more accurate way of showing results, and it is in reality how we typically present ourselves to the world. Most people don’t walk around with their arms, stretched out most of the time. You can take a look at some of my arm liposuction results posted under my profile on this website to see examples of arm liposuction results. 
Providers may be apprehensive to show you more than just their best outcomes. If that’s the case, then tell them that your decision of choosing a provider is based on how many before and after pictures they show you and you want to see as many as possible. For reference and experience provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before, and after pictures. In reality, highly experienced surgeons will have hundreds or even thousands of before, and after pictures of commonly performed procedures.
Continue having consultations until you found a surgeon who seems to clearly have the skills and experience necessary to deliver, consistent quality results.
This means they should have a collection before and after pictures it seems like it goes on forever. You should be able to see picture after picture after picture until you’ve seen enough pictures to get a really good idea of what average results look like. Take notes during each consultation, particularly regarding the quality and quantity of before and after pictures. There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider. I recommend patient start by having a minimum of five in person consultations before committing to a permanent and irreversible body contouring procedure.
Most plastic surgeons think they’re far better at liposuction, and they actually are. The number of plastic surgeons who can do consistent quality work is relatively few.
Doing Liposuction well on a consistent basis, including the ability to make accurate assessment, and Deliver predictabl results is far more difficult than most people believe in this includes a substantial number of plastic surgeons.
Revision liposuction, work is much more difficult than primary Liposuction. The Importance of finding a sufficiently talented provider cannot be overstated.
Generally, the best plastic surgeons are doing revision work at the same plastic surgeons, who are the best at doing Primary Liposuction.
When in doubt continue scheduling more consultations.
You should not let anybody attempt revision of your arms until you’ve confirmed that they have sufficient skills and experience to do these type of procedures well on a consistent basis. I think you’ll find that the most talented and experienced providers are also the most open in regards to sharing a variety of outcomes and should all have collections before and after pictures that are read like telephone books.
When in doubt, slow down and schedule more consultations.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Can the dent near the triceps area be corrected? (Photos)

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Can the dent near the triceps area be corrected? (Photos)

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